MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College Mustangs claimed the 2011-12 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Men’s Basketball Championship after defeating the Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions 76-72 Sunday and will now head to the NCAA Division III Tournament after earning the conference’s automatic qualifying bid.

This was the first-ever conference championship for the Mustangs, who finished the season 19-8 overall and will now await further tournament information as the NCAA selection show for Division III takes place tomorrow at noon, which can be viewed here.

For the second time in as many nights, the Mustangs had to overcome a second-half deficit before claiming victory, as they found themselves down seven, 68-61, with just 4:55 remaining on the clock in today’s contest.  A jumper by sophomore Kucjok Ater (Syracuse, N.Y.) on Morrisville’s next possession would begin a 15-4 Mustang run to close the game, though, allowing them to secure the victory and celebrate the championship on their home floor.

Ater finished with 11 points and 12 boards for Morrisville State, while sophomore Mickey Davis (Jamesville, N.Y.), the NEAC Player of the Year, finished with game highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds.  Junior Andrew Lucio (Solvay, N.Y.) scored 14 points while sophomore Brandon Hanks (Syracuse, N.Y.) and senior Kyle Gordon (Riverhead, N.Y.) each had 10 points.  Gordon also added five assists and three steals on the day en route to being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after two-day totals of 26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, four steals and six 3-pointers made. 

Freshman Amani Glenn (Harrisburg, Pa.) had 18 points to lead the Nittany Lions, including hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while senior Kenton Alston (Harrisburg, Pa.) added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and four blocks.  Senior David Reisinger (Harrisburg, Pa.) chipped in 12 points.

Penn State Harrisburg, the NEAC South Division regular season champion, finishes the season a program-best 20-7 overall.

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has thirteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, Pennsylvania State University -Harrisburg, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Hilbert College (M Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of baseball, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis.