ASTON, Pa. – The No. 15 Neumann University men's basketball team won the 2017 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship with a 77-53 win over Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday afternoon.

The win is the second title for the Knights in three seasons, and the first coming on their home court at the Mirenda Center. Darian Barnes was named the tournament MVP. The senior finished the game with a triple-double 15 rebounds, 11 points and 10 blocks.

DeShawn Lowman tallied 25 points in the win. Carl Wallace notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. He also blocked three shots. Tony Parker added 10 points.

The teams opened the game battling back and forth and were tied five times over the first 10 minutes. The Knights started to take control of the game after they held a 24-22 lead with 6:40 left in the first half. Neumann went on a 20-0 run over the next five minutes, starting with six straight point by Parker, to take a convincing 44-22 lead just before halftime. Two Griffin free throws broke scoreless drought. Billy Cassidy connected on a three with 23 seconds remaining before halftime. Gwynedd Mercy sank the final basket of the half, but Neumann took a 47-25 lead into the break.

Each team had mini runs during the second half. For most of the half, Neumann held a 20+ point advantage. But the Knights used the lead built right before halftime to cruise their way to the 2017 Championship.

Neumann (25-2) receives the CSAC automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights will learn the where and who when the selection show takes place on Monday at 12:30 PM.