Medaille Sports

Just four years ago the Mavs sat at the bottom of the Division III basketball world. Today, they are champions of the AMCC and heading to the programs first ever NCAA Tournament.  The Mavs used blistering shooting, (62.7%) for the game, to outgun Pitt-Bradford (82-71) in the AMCC title game.  It was a game that saw the Mavs hit big shot, after big shot and an MVP type performance from junior, guard, Keith Hack (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) who played the game of his life.  Hack finished the game shooting (11 of 13) from the floor, including (2 of 2) from behind the three point arc and (5 of 7) from the charity stripe, for a career high (29) points, he also tied a game high by collecting (7) caroms.  Both teams came out sizzling as they were trading buckets early.  The Mavs hit a trio of three pointers in the span of (2:30) to build an early (7) point edge, and they would go up by as many as (13) with (4:28) remaining in the first half.  The tide would change at that point as Pitt-Bradford went on a (17-2) run to end the half with a (38-36) lead.  As the Mavs have done all year, they came out of the locker room and had answers for what the Panthers were trying to do. In the first five minutes of the second half the Mavs turned a two point deficit into a seven point lead, they would never trail again.  The lead would balloon to as many as (16) points in the final half as the Mavs received clutch plays from many different players, including Chris Moscato (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) who parlayed his huge semifinal performance into an encore presentation, knocking down three more triples and finishing with (12) points.  Each one of Moscato’s three pointers came at a critical time for the Mavs.  Senior, forward, Bill Gersitz (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) played one of the most complete games of his career as he scored (10) points, pulled down (7) boards and, most importantly, dished out a career high (6) helpers. The Mavs played the game in front of a frenzied capacity crowd which created an electric atmosphere and the game did not disappoint.  As the clocked ticked away to zeroes the fans showed their overwhelming appreciation for the Mavs as they got to see Medaille cut down the nets.  The win gives the Mavs a (21-6) record and they await the NCAA Division III Tournament Selection show on Monday morning (3/2), to see where they are headed and who they will play.