Springfield, Mass. - February 22, 2020 - In a thrilling showdown between a pair of nationally ranked programs, the Springfield College men's basketball team defeated Babson College on Saturday afternoon in Blake Arena, 84-78, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. 

Springfield, ranked No. 15 in the latest D3hoops.com National Poll, improved to 22-3 overall and 13-1 in the NEWMAC to close out the regular season.  The win marked the Pride's 10th-consecutive victory, marking the best run of victories for the program since the 2001-02 campaign. Babson, ranked No. 22 in the most recent poll, drops to 20-5 and 10-4 in league play. 

Springfield will now prepare for the NEWMAC Championship Tournament, as the team has secured the No. 1 overall seed. Springfield will host the winner of Emerson and Coast Guard at Blake Arena on Friday in the semifinals.

Springfield was led by the duo of Jake Ross (Northampton, Mass.) and Heath Post (Cheshire, Conn.), as Ross scored 35 points while pulled down 14 rebounds, while Post finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.  Ross, who is already the program's all-time leading scorer, added another milestone to his resume as he became the all-time leading rebounder now has 979 career caroms. The total rebound record has stood since 2002. 

For the Beavers, Jack Coolahan finished with 31 points, six rebounds, three steals while Colin Bradnese added a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. Crew Ainge contributed nine points, seven assists,and five rebounds in the setback. Springfield held a 42-36 advantage on the glass in the victory. 

Babson scored a pair of buckets to open the game, before Post put Springfield on the board. Ross followed with a pair of layups to put Springfield ahead, 6-4. The two sides traded baskets as the half progressed, as there were 12 lead changes in the first half. Post hit a jumper at the elbow with 11:40 remaining to give Springfield a 12-11 lead. Springfield built its largest lead of the half, 19-16, after a Ross layup at the 8:01 mark. 

Trailing 23-21 with six and a half minutes remaining, Post nailed a three to regain the lead. The Beavers responded with eight unanswered points, capped by consecutive threes from Jack Coolahan to establish a 31-24 lead. After a pair of free throws from Trey Witter (Unionville, Conn.) Post hit another three to bring Springfield within two. Coolahan and Ross then traded baskets before Colin Bradanese nailed a jumper just before time expired, as the Beavers headed into the break with a 35-32 lead.

Babson led 37-34 roughly three minutes into the second half before Daryl Costa (Providence, R.I.) nailed a three to tie the game. Although Babson regained its lead, and kept it until a pair of free throws from Witter made it 43-43 with 10:50 remaining in regulation. Coolahan answered with a layup at the 10:44 mark, before Costa converted another three to give Springfield a 46-45 lead with 10:26 remaining in the game. With both teams swapping the lead over a five minute span, the Pride found themselves down 56-55, before Witter knocked down a pivotal three on the right wing to give Springfield the 58-55 lead with 5:20 remaining in the game. 

A pair of free throws from Ross at the 4:28 mark gave Springfield the 60-58 edge, but Babson responded with a Bradnese second effort to tie the game at 60 a piece. Back-to-back jumpers from Coolahan with 2:35 to go would give Babson a 65-62 lead, but Post would covert two more free throws to make it 65-64. On the next possession, Ainge found a cutting Aaron Gao for the lay-in allowing Babson to take a 67-64 lead with 1:21 left in the game. Out of a timeout, Ross would fake the hand off and go right to the rim for the lay up slimming the margin to 67-66. After Ainge knocked down a pair of free throws to take a 69-66 lead, Witter would take a three to tie and miss long, but Costa corralled the offensive rebound and kicked out to Ross for the straight-away three with five ticks remaining for to extend the game at 69-69. Babson would get a last second look for Coolahan, but Post would block the jumper, forcing overtime. 

At 1:19 in the extra frame, Witter would drill a three from the left wing to give Springfield a 76-75 lead. Later, with 45 seconds remaining, Ainge would get the friendly roll on a wing three to tie the game at 78-78. From there, the Pride would capitalize from the free throw line and finish out the game with a 84-78 victory. Springfield was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the overtime period. 

No. 15 Springfield will now focus on the NEWMAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament as they enter next week's postseason play as the No. 1 overall seed and will face the winner of No. 4 Emerson College and No. 5 Coast Guard Academy next Friday night. 

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