Top-seeded MIT (22-3) will host No. 5-seeded Clark University (14-12) on Saturday, February 27 at 1 p.m. after the Cougars defeated No. 4 Wheaton (10-15), 58-55, at the Lyons' Emerson Gymnasium. As expected, the game was virtually even across every statistical category, but the Cougars held on despite leading by nine with three minutes to play and a poor performance at the charity stripe in the game's final minutes. The Lyons had a chance to tie the game, but Brendan Degnan's buzzer-beating three missed.
In earlier action, No. 3 WPI (19-6) jumped out to an 18-2 start before prevailing, 76-71, against No. 6 Coast Guard. Kyle Nadeau paced four players in double figures with 16 points and seven assists. Fernando Perez added 14 points and 14 rebounds. Coast Guard climbed back into contention behind a phenomenal performance by Greg Marshall, who dropped in a game-best 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting. The Bears finish the season at 7-16.
Worcester's version of the Engineers will face No. 2 Springfield College (14-12) in the second semi-final hosted by MIT on Saturday. It took all 40 minutes for the Pride to shake last-place Babson (10-16). Matt Zoia hit two three's in providing the Beavers with a late push, but led by Ryan Coburn's 9-for-10 effort at the line and game-high 15 points, Springfield advanced, 71-65.
