Atlantic East

Pioneers Overturn Griffins in Opening Round of ECAC DIII Championship Tournament

Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (3/2/2022) – #8 Gwynedd Mercy University (15-11) and #9 William Paterson University (13-12) played a close game in tonight's Opening Round contest of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The difference came just past the 11-minute mark of the second half, when key Pioneer three pointers pushed the visitors to a quick six-point lead, 69-63 (8:28). The Griffins looked to close in the final minutes and eventually whittled the William Paterson University lead to just two points, 78-76 (2:23), on a three-point bucket from sophomore guard Aziz Parker (Westhampton, N.J.). Unfortunately, the Pioneers had one more shot in the barrel as their responding basket was the last in an eventual 80-76 (2:05) final. Parker led the Griffins with 23 points, hitting a season-high 6-of-9 (.667) from beyond the arch in an 8-of-14 (.571) shooting effort that came with three rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal.