GALLOWAY, NJ (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The No. 2 seeded SUNY College at Old Westbury men's basketball team claimed the 2013 ECAC Metro Region Championship with a 74-73 win over the top seeded Richard Stockton Ospreys (21-8) on Sunday afternoon in Galloway, New Jersey.  Darnell Chavis took home the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award while Old Westbury's program best 25-4 season concludes with their first ECAC Championship since 1987.

Rashawn McCarthy scored Old Westbury's first five points as the Panthers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead 4:11 into the contest.  Josh Blamon connected on a three-pointer to cap a 14-6 Richard Stockton run to put the Ospreys in front by one with 8:29 left.  Old Westbury replied with a 13-2 run from 8:08 to 4:13 to grab a 26-16 advantage.  Richard Stockton sliced the deficit to one with a 10-1 run to close out the final 3:13 as Old Westbury held a slim 29-28 halftime lead. 

Richard Stockton tied the game twice and took a 36-34 lead 2:35 into the second-half off a Kevin Johnson jumper.  On the ensuing possession, McCarthy's triple answered for Old Westbury, which gave the Panthers the lead for good.  Richard Stockton kept it close, but Old Westbury created separation by going up by 12 points three times in the final 10 minutes. Down by 12 with 3:55 remaining, Usuwa Nnamdi's layup sparked a 13-2 Osprey run to close out the game.  Jesse Hunt's trifecta with 30 seconds left made it a one point game for Richard Stockton.  Omari Trebuse stepped to the line for the Panthers and misfired with 17 seconds remaining.  

With Richard Stockton down by one, Blamon drove the lane and Darnell Chavis forced a held ball with three seconds left as the possession arrow went Old Westbury's way.  McCarthy, the in-bounder, couldn't find anybody open on the in-bound and threw the ball long to avoid a five second call.  McCarthy's ball was intercepted by Blamon in the backcourt who passed it to Hunt, for an off-balanced 28-footer that rimmed out. 

Tyrik Tucker's 23 points led three other Panthers in double-digit scoring.  Tucker added eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 40 minutes of action.  Kerel Mitchell followed with 15 points and three steals while Rashawn McCarthy and Darnell Chavis each contributed 13 points.  McCarthy pulled down seven boards and Chavis snagged three steals.

Josh Balmon poured in 30 points to pace all scorers in addition to racking up four steals and four assists.  Kevin Johnson was the other double-digit scorer for the Ospreys, finishing with 15 points to go along with five assists and two steals. 

Old Westbury connected on 54.7 percent from the field (29-53), 38.9 percent from three-point territory (7-18) and 69.2 percent from the free-throw line.  Richard Stockton hit 44.3 percent from the floor (27-61), 34.5 percent from beyond the arc (10-29) and 52.9 percent from the charity stripe (9-17).  Old Westbury committed 23 turnovers, their second highest total of the season, which resulted in 16 points for Richard Stockton.  The more efficient Panthers converted 19 Osprey miscues into 31 points.  Old Westbury also outscored Richard Stockton in the paint (34-28) and on the fast break (14-0).  Both teams drew even in the rebounding department, finishing with 31 boards each, while Richard Stockton scored 19 second chance points off 15 offensive pull downs. 

For the latest news on the Panthers, log on to www.oldwestburypanthers.com – the official site for Old Westbury athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Twitter (OW_Panthers) and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (Old Westbury Panthers Athletics / Old Westbury Athletics Alumni).