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Men's Basketball's Season Ends in ECAC Semifinals at York (NY)

03/08/08

New York University's defense of its 2007 Eastern College Athletic Conference Metropolitan Division III Tournament championship officially ended Saturday night with a 56-44 loss in the ECAC semifinals to York College in Jamaica, NY.

Despite the defeat, the sixth-seeded Violets (16-11) defied expectations after entering the 2007-08 season fielding one of its youngest and most inexperienced rosters during the distinguished tenure of 20th-year head coach Joe Nesci, yet made its fifth postseason appearance in six seasons.

And despite a cold-shooting opening 20 minutes, NYU appeared primed to advanced to Sunday's championship game, overcoming a double-digit deficit to whittle second-seeded York's (21-8) lead down to 37-35 after a tip-in by freshman Richie Polan (7 points, 8 rebounds) with 6:43 remaining.

However, the Cardinals reeled off a 13-4 run to seize an insurmountable 50-39 cushion with 2:43 remaining. Chris Roberts scored six of his eight points during the decisive burst for York, which will now advance to Sunday's championship game.

NYU did well just to remain in the game after being held scoreless for respective stretches of 5:43 and 8:08 in the first half. The Violets scored just one point in the final 10:26 of the half after a three-pointer from senior guard Charlie Parker, who tallied 15 points on five treys in his final collegiate game, and trailed 22-14 at the break.

Although the Violets posted a season low for first-half points and shot just 22.7% (5-for-22) in the first 20 minutes, including 3-for-15 (20.0%) from deep, their saving grace proved to be their own defensive effort in keeping the Cardinals to 28.6% (6-for-21) shooting in the opening stanza.

However, York did go 9-for-11 (81.8%) at the charity stripe in the half; conversely, the Violets were just 1-for-2 from the foul line.

Both teams struggled offensively, with NYU shooting 36.4% (16-for-44) from the floor, 24.1% (7-for-29) from beyond the arc and 50.0% (5-for-10) at the charity stripe. York hit 37.2% (16-for-43) of its attempts, including 30.0% (3-for-10) from long distance, but went 21-for-26 (80.8%) from the line.

Junior center John Mish finished with a game-high 16 points for NYU, including 14 in the first half, for NYU.

Aaron Wilson led York with 14 points, while Omari Phipps finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Michael Salamanca added 10 points and four assists for the Cardinals.