Hawks Advance To NECC Finals

Sophomore center Trey Jacobs (Lexington Park, MD) led four players in double figures with 20 points and added eight rebounds, and Rajai Leggett (New Haven, CT) added 14 points and nine rebounds as the second-seeded Becker College men's basketball team held on to nip third-seeded Daniel Webster College, 74-71 in the semifinals of the inaugural NECC championship tournament Friday night at Elms College.

Senior guard Travis Suber (Springfield, MA) notched 12 points and freshman guard Terrance Favors (Boston, MA) hit for 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Hawks (19-8) advanced to the title game to face host top seeded Elms College.

Sophomore guard Chris Hanson (Salem, MA) led the Eagles (17-9), who had set a record for wins in a season, with a game high 21 points including five three-pointers and pulled down 11 rebounds. Senior guard Brian Inge (Fort Washington, MD) added 12 and senior guard Tim Jackson (West Henrietta, NY) notched 11 in the career finale for both seniors.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout with numerous momentum swings. The Eagles held a seven point lead (55-48) with 12:05 remaining in the contest after an Inge three-pointer, but Becker would follow with a steady 7-0 run over the next two and a half minutes including a tip in from Jacobs and jumper from Suber to forge a tie.

Tied at 57 with 8:46 remaining, the Eagles went cold over a three minute stretch and Becker heated up as sophomore guard D.J. Exum (New London, CT) buried a layup for a 59-57 lead, Leggett followed with two inside and added another huge jumper with 5:15 to go. The 10-0 run gave Becker control over the final five minutes.

Trailing 67-60 with 4:05 left, DWC mounted one final charge. After two freebies at the line from Hanson, freshman guard William Kemp Harris (Suitland, MD) added one, and Hanson buried a trey for a 67-65 game with 3:16 to go.

But Suber drew a foul burying one and followed with a nifty inside move off an Eagle turnover to rebuild a five-point lead.

Trailing 74-67 with 1:55 left, a Jackson layup and Hanson three closed the gap to 74-71 and the Eagles had possession in the closing moments.

But a Jackson three with two second left just barely missed and the Hawks escaped with the victory.