LANCASTER, Pa. – The Morrisville State College Mustangs became the first team in the 10-year history of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) to win three conference titles, and did so in three consecutive years no less, as they defeated the Lancaster Bible College Chargers 73-65 Sunday.

The Mustangs will now receive their third straight automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  They will learn their first-round opponent during the NCAA selection show Monday at 12:30 p.m., which can be viewed live here.

After hosting the last two NEAC Tournaments as the No. 1 seed, the Mustangs won the title on the road this time around, defeating the host and top-seeded Chargers today after beating No. 3 seed Penn State Abington in the semifinals Saturday.  It was the tale of two halves in this one, as Morrisville State built a 24-7 lead in the opening nine minutes of play and would maintain control with a double-digit lead through the rest of the half to enter intermission up 42-23.

The Mustangs would continue to control the tempo in the first 10 minutes of the second half with a 59-40 lead, but the Chargers would make a game of it with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to make it a 10-point game at 61-51.  Lancaster Bible would continue to chip away at the lead thanks to seven straight points from NEAC Player of the Year Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz.), as the junior cut the Mustang advantage to seven, 65-58, with 2:47 left. It would be as close as they could get though, as the Mustangs would convert six of their 10 free throw attempts down the stretch with the Chargers intentionally fouling en route to clinching their third straight title.

Senior Jordan Prior (Cortland, N.Y.) led the way for the Mustangs with 16 points that all came from either 3-point baskets (3) or the free throw line (7).  For his efforts, the NEAC All-Conference First Teamer (pictured left) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after posting two-day totals of 42 points, seven 3-pointers, six rebounds and five assists while going 15-of-18 from the charity stripe.

Senior Kucjok Ater (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Morrisville, while classmate Tom Wilk (Cortland, N.Y.) had 12 points, eight rebounds and a game-best four blocks.  Senior Brandon Hanks (Syracuse, N.Y.) led all players in rebounding for a second straight game after securing 10 boards in addition to nine points, three assists and a team-high three steals.

Suniga finished with a game-high 30 points behind eight 3-pointers for the Chargers.  Sophomore teammate CJ Dunston (Elkton, Md.) added 10 points and five rebounds.

The Mustangs will now look to continue their recent success in the NCAA Tournament, as they made a run to the Sweet 16 round a year ago, the second NEAC team to ever do so.

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has twelve 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, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Bryn Athyn College and Pennsylvania College of the Technology will both join the conference as full members in 2014-15.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Penn State Altoona (M Volleyball) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf & M Tennis).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of men’s and women’s tennis.