#1 WPI 66, #5 MIT 49 (NEWMAC Semifinals)

Worcester, MA --- The top-seeded WPI men's basketball team advanced to the NEWMAC Tournament Finals with a 66-49 victory over No. 5 MIT at Harrington Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

WPI (22-2), who is making its third consecutive trip to the conference title game, will play the winner of the No. 6 Wheaton-No. 7 Coast Guard matchup here Sunday at noon.  MIT ends the season at 14-13.

The hosts were down by one, 6-5, when they embarked on a 17-2 run to take firm control of the game. Jerome Kirkland (Boston, MA) and Antoine Coleman (Everett, MA) both hit baskets to take the lead, before MIT's Alex Krull (Boxford, MA) hit a jumper. It would be the last MIT hoop for the next 5:30, as WPI was able to control the boards and generate some big plays on defense to keep MIT scoreless.

Jim Marois (Worcester, MA) started off the spurt with a hoop off an offensive rebound, before Adam Lirette (Dover, NH) came up with a steal on the next MIT possession and brought it back for a layup. Ryan Cain (Webster, MA) then had a 17-foot jumper, before Coleman dished off to Ryan Bourque (Nashua, NH), who then hit a 14-footer to give the Engineers a 17-8 advantage.

Cain then hit a pair of free throws, before R.C. Grady (Shirley, MA) converted an old fashioned three-point play to make it 22-8. Krull then hit a 3-pointer with 7:12 remaining in the first half to end to the WPI run.

In the second half, Kirkland (team-high 13 points, five assists) was instrumental in helping WPI create a 14-4 run to give WPI a 25-point lead at one point. Kirkland had three baskets and an assist during the run.

Lirette added 12 points for the hosts, while Marois had eight rebounds to pace WPI. Bourque had three blocks. In addition, the home-standing Engineers bench outscored MIT 25-2, and had an advantage in the fast-break points (14-2).

For MIT, Jimmy Bartolotta (Littleton, CO) was outstanding.  The sophomore had a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds (14 defensive), while Patrick Sissman (Baltimore, MD) tallied 10 points and dished out a team-best four assists.