Flushing, N.Y. – The C.W. Post Pioneers
men's basketball captured the 2012 ECC Championship behind a
86-67 win over Bridgeport in today's final at Queens College.
This marks the fourth championship in five years and seventh
overall conference championship in program history. This is
also the second championship in two years for Coach Chris
Casey.
Bridgeport jumped out to an early lead behind two three pointers
and the Pioneer unable to hit a field goal attempt until Stefan
Bonneau (Middletown, N.Y.) hit a three from the top of the arc on
the right side 4:32 into the game. C.W. Post then took a
12-10 lead on a lay-up and free throw by Vaughn Allen (Mount
Vernon, N.Y.) and then was followed up by a Bonneau three-pointer
to cap off a 10-0 spurt, giving the Pioneers a 15-10 lead early in
the first half.
Each team went back and forth for a majority of the opening half,
as both the Pioneers and Purple Knights grew leads as large as six
over the opening 18 minutes of play, with two lead changes as
well. Bonneau was able to give the Pioneers a short lived
seven point lead behind a four-point play, with a three and a free
throw. Dante Menter then connected on a lay-up on the next
play, as he was found on the wing by Hakeem Rodriguez to cut the
Pioneer lead to five.
The 36-31 lead was the score as both teams entered halftime.
Bonneau led all scorers with 17 points, behind three shots made
from beyond the arc. Allen led the team in rebounding with
six boards while Charles McCann (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) came up
with three blocks. Darien David was the high-point man for
the Purple Knights behind 11 points and William Harrison led all
players with seven rebounds.
Bridgeport opened up the first five minutes of the second half on
a 12-11 run, cutting into the lead and having the deficit down to
one during two instances over that run. However, Bonneau hit
his fifth three of the game with a little over 13 minutes to go in
the game, giving the Pioneers the first double-digit lead of the
game at 53-43. The lead then grew to as large as 16 during
the opening ten minutes of the second half and then up to 17 a few
moments later after two free throws by Tobin Carberry (Hamden,
Conn.).
Over the final ten minutes of the game, the Pioneers continued to
play strong and grow the lead. The spread grew to as many as
21 after back-to-back dunks by Allen and Tyuan Williams (Newark,
N.J.), each assisted by Bonneau. The Pioneers ended the game
strong, closing out the win behind a 86-67 victory.
Bonneau finished with a game-high 29 points behind five
three-pointers made, as well as dishing out five assists, earning
tournament Most Outstanding Player. Carberry registered a
double-double behind 19 points and 11 rebounds while Allen also
claimed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. David
led the Purple Knights with 17 points.
C.W. Post earns the automatic-bid for the NCAA tournament and now
will wait seeding during tonight's selection show, scheduled for
10:30 p.m.
2012 ECC Men's
Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
John Merchant - Dowling
Dyrek Jones - University of the District of Columbia
Hakeem Rodriguez - Bridgeport
Darian David - Bridgeport
Tyuan Williams - C.W. Post
Tobin Carberry - C.W. Post
Most Outstanding Player: Stefan Bonneau - C.W. Post
Provided by the C.W. Post Sports Information Department.
