March 7, 2003

Box Score

Brookville, N.Y. - The No. 2 seed Adelphi University men's basketball team topped No. 3 University of Bridgeport, 74-69, to advance to the finals of the NYCAC Tournament. Senior Wayne Nelson led the Panthers with 24 points, including 7-of-14 from the field. Adelphi improves to 21-8 on the season and will face the winner of the C.W. Post/New Haven contest on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Senior Sherman Whittenburg poured in 13 of his 17 points in the first half, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc as the Panthers opened the half on a 21-5 run. The Purple Knights came alive, answering on a 15-7 run to close to within eight points, 30-22. A three-point basket by freshman Jamaal Wagner, who had 12 points in the contest, spurred an Adelphi run as the Panthers closed the half with a 14-point advantage, 41-27. The Panthers hit 6-of-11, 54.5 percent from three-point range.

The Purple Knights took advantage of a Panther shooting slump in the second half opening on a 18-8 run to close to within four points, 49-45, with 10:39 remaining in the contest. Senior Tony Kellman hit a three-pointer to open the Panther lead to seven, 52-45, but Bridgeport rallied back, closing to within three on a layup by T.J. Newman at 8:43. Nelson scored the next six to open the lead, but the Purple Knights hit back-to-back three-pointers to close the gap, 58-55, with 6:36 remaining.

The teams would trade baskets over the next five minutes, with the Panthers leading by nine points, 67-58, with 2:35 on the clock. Bridgeport rallied on a 9-2 run, with Laverne Goulburne contributing seven points during the stretch to cut the Panther lead to two, 69-67, with 21 seconds remaining. The Purple Knights, who shot 50 percent from the field in the half, would never take the lead in the contest, as the Panthers held on for the win, 74-69.

On the game, Adelphi shot 37.7 percent from the field compared with 42.9 percent for Bridgeport. Junior Thomas McCormack led the Panthers with nine rebounds, but the Purple Knights still dominated on the boards, 43-36. Adelphi took advantage of 16 Bridgeport turnovers, racking up seven team steals.

Bridgeport was led by Jermaine Clark with 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Goulburne had 18 points. The Purple Knights, who advanced to the their first-ever conference semi-finals, drop to 22-7.

This is the first NYCAC Tournament final for Adelphi in two years. Last season, the then No.1 seeded Panthers were stunned in the semi-finals No. 5 NYIT with a 68-66 loss. Adelphi last won the NYCAC Tournament in 2001.