WPI had rallied from a 34-24 deficit with a 13-0 run to take a 37-34 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining. Springfield quickly countered with nine of the next 11 points to take a lead it would not relinquish. The bulge was five points at 49-44 before Chris Rodgers (Franklin, MA) trimmed the deficit to two with 1:06 left.
The Engineers looked to get a stop on the other end but Piretera canned a trifecta from the left wing against the Division III's top 3-point defense to send the Pride to their fourth straight conference tournament title game.
Piretera was the difference. The junior connected on all four of his 3-pointers attempts while everyone else on both teams was just a combined 2-for-26 (with Springfield 0-for-13) from long range. Piretera also was a force on the boards, equaling his career-best with 12 rebounds en route to posting his fourth double-double of the season and third in the last four contests.
Sean Martin (Rindge, NH) led the Pride with 12 points and grabbed eight boards while Josh Downes (East Sandwich, MA) added nine points and Tim Swenson (Milbury, MA) pitched in with 10 rebounds and seven points.
Rodgers was easily WPI's most dynamic player. The rookie came off the bench and tallied 11 of his 12 points in the second half. Rodgers, who missed his career-high in points by one, also had two of the Crimson and Gray's four steals on the day.
Sam Longwell (Acton, MA) registered 10 points and eight rebounds while Zach Karalis (North Andover, MA) accounted for WPI's only two 3-pointers on his way to nine points. Point guard Sean Doncaster (Medford, MA) shared game-high honors with three assists and Domenick Mastascusa (North Reading, MA) corralled a team-best nine rebounds.
WPI took its biggest lead of the game at 13-9 on a three-pointer by Karalis with 12:19 to play in the first half. Springfield responded with a 13-4 run though, getting six points from Martin and four from Downes to build a 22-19 halftime lead. The Engineers made just two field goals over the final 12 minutes of the first half, and both teams shot under 30 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
The Pride opened the second half with a 12-5 run and took its biggest lead of the game at 34-24 on a three-pointer by Piretra with 12:28 to go in the contest before WPI's aforementioned 13-0 spurt.
Springfield shot 34 percent (18-of-53) on the afternoon and held a 26-22 advantage in paint scoring. The Pride also outrebounded the WPI, 42-36. The Engineers shot just 32.7 percent (18-of-55).
Springfield (19-7) faces host and top seed Babson Sunday at 1pm in the championship game. WPI (21-5) awaits word on a possible NCAA Tournament bid. The 62-team field will be announced Monday at 12:30pm.
Portions of Release Courtesy Babson Sports Information