Men's Basketball Concludes 2024-25 Season in the GNAC Play-In Round

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Number Eighth Seeded Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted the Number Ninth Seed Mitchell College for the Play-In Round of the 2024-2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Monday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: No. 8 Elms College 72 | No. 9 Mitchell College 74
Records: Blazers 6-20, 6-8 (GNAC) | Mariners 15-11, 12-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms would start off strong with a layup made by graduate student forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with an assist from junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.). Sarlan would then get a defensive rebound, which gave him the opportunity to make a jump shot. Then, sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would steal the ball from Mitchell and would make a layup. After Sarlan got an offensive rebound, junior guard Aden Goffee would make a jump shot. Ciaglo would get a defensive rebound and would pass the ball to Goffe, who would make a layup. The Blazers would put up the first 10 points versus the Mariners. Mitchell was about to close the gap, but Ciaglo would pass the ball to sophomore guard Jaiden Lopez (Lebanon, Conn.) who would make a three-point shot. Unfortunately Mitchell would take the lead, but junior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) would be able to tie the half with a layup. After back and forth possession. Ciaglo would get a defensive rebound, which gave Goffe the opportunity to make a layup. Then junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) would get an offensive rebound and would be able to tip the ball in. Elms would be able to close the gap with a three-pointer made by Goffe. Elms would have a long offensive possession, which was started with a defensive rebound by Goffe. This gave Sarlan the opportunity to make an offensive rebound which led to him tip in. Sarlan would then be fouled and make his one free throw attempt. Mayfield would steal the ball and would make a layup with an assist from Ciaglo. Then Mayfield would block the Mariners, then followed by a defensive rebound made by Sarlan. Goffe would then be fouled and make one out of the two free throw attempts. After Mitchell took back the lead, they would foul first year forward Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn) who would make one out of the two free throw attempts. Cancel would be the next one to be fouled and make one out the two free throw attempts, but then would get an offensive rebound and was able to tip in the ball. At the end of the first half, the game would be tied, 32-32.

Even though Mitchell would be the first to score in the second half, Elms would answer back with a three-point jump shot made by Ciaglo. Then Goffe would pass the ball from mid-court to Mayfield for an alley-oop to stun the home crowd. After the Mariners were able to take the lead, Ciaglo would pass the ball to junior guard/forward Max Rolnick (Vaughan, Ontario) who would make a three-pointer. Mayfield would be foul and make one out of the two free throw attempts. Ciaglo would get a defensive rebound, which gave Rolnick the opportunity to make another three-point shot. Mayfield would block the Mariners shot and get an offensive rebound to be able to tip in the ball. Elms would hold the lead with a layup made by Cancel. Then Mayfield would pass the ball to Cancel, who would make a three-pointer. Senior forward/center Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.) would make a layup that was followed by a three-point shot, which was assisted by Goffe. Villanueva would get a defensive rebound, which gave Phifer the opportunity to make a layup that was followed by another layup made by Goffe. Goffe would be fouled and make one out of the two free throw attempts. After back and forth possession between both teams, Salran would get both a defensive rebound and an offensive rebound, which gave Cancel the opportunity to make a three-pointer. Villanueva would be fouled and would make both free throw attempts. With five minutes left of the second half, Sarlan would be fouled and make both free throw attempts. Cancel would get a defensive rebound, which gave Goffe the opportunity to make a layup. With the Mariners down by 10 with three minutes left, Ciaglo would make a defensive rebound, which was followed by Goffe making a layup. Mitchell was able to close the gap by one with 40 seconds left. Unfortunately, the Mariners would be able to score one last time before the final buzzer. Mitchell would take home the win, after a hard fight against Elms, 74-72, to advance to the GNAC Quarterfinals.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Goffe - 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

• Cancel - 13 points and four rebounds.

• Mayfield - nine points, six points, three blocks, an assist, and a steal.

• Sarlan - 14 rebounds, seven points, two steals, an assist.

• Phifer - seven points and two rebounds.

• Rolnick - six points.

• Ciaglo - six rebounds, five points, five assists, and a steal.

• Lopez - three points and a rebound.

• Villanueva - three points and a rebound.

• Bridgeman - two points and a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team have wrapped up the 2024-2025 season and look forward to next season this fall.

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