Worcester State Grabs Top Spot in the 2024 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Worcester State grabbed the top spot in the 2024 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament after landing the regular season title and headline the tournament which begins Tuesday with the quarterfinals.
MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket | Champ Gear Store
Worcester State grabbed the top spot in the 2024 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament after landing the regular season title and headline the tournament which begins Tuesday with the quarterfinals.
Tuesday, February 20 kicks off the tournament with the quarterfinal round. Up first #4 MCLA hosts #5 Salem State at 6 pm while #3 Westfield State hosts #6 Fitchburg State at 7:30 pm. In the semifinal round Thursday, February 22, #1 Worcester State will host the lowest remaining seed while #2 Bridgewater State will entertain the highest remaining seed.
The tournament concludes on Saturday, February 24 at a host and site to be determined with the MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament title and spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
For the second straight season, Worcester State has earned the top spot in the tournament after winning the regular season crown with a 10-2 record. Reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Aaron Nkrumah averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game while collecting 64 steals, 59 assists and 21 blocks, all within the top 10 of the conference to end the regular season.
Bridgewater State lands the other first round bye with the second seed. The Bears were 9-3 in MASCAC play. Last season's MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year Emerson Halbleib averaged a double-double of 11.9 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 58.4 percent from the floor and 74.5 percent from the free throw line. He also tallied 53 blocks, 55 assists and 23 assists throughout the season.
Sitting in third with quarterfinal hosting duties is Westfield State. The Owls were also 9-3 and led by Brendon Hamilton who averaged 12.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. His rebounds per game is currently sixth nationally and first in the conference. He also led the league with 79 blocks while collecting 31 assists and 17 steals this season.
With the other quarterfinal host opportunity is MCLA with the fourth seed. The Trailblazers were 7-5 during the league slate. Quentin Gittens led the team with 20 points per game with nine rebounds a contest while also finishing with 97 assists, 28 steals and 14 blocks. He also shot 78.1 percent from the free throw line.
Rounding out this year's tournament field with the fifth and sixth seed are Salem State and Fitchburg State. For the Vikings, Jaden Castillo averaged 19.6 points per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 48.1 percent from the three point line and 79.1 percent from the charity stripe. He also had 79 assists and 30 steals on the year. For the Falcons, Frederick Siayor led the squad with 11.7 points per game while tallying 62 total rebounds, 31 steals, 22 assists and six blocks.
At the 2023 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament, top seed Worcester State defeated third seed Westfield State 65-53 to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.