Men's Basketball To Host Blazer Invitational

BLAZER INVITATIONAL MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES 

Dates: Friday, November 16 - Saturday, November 17
Site: Maguire Center (Chicopee, MA)
Click here for directions to Elms College

Tournament Bracket 

Saturday, November 17
Game 1: Maine-Machias vs. Elms College     6:00 p.m.
Game 2: Bowdoin College vs. Newbury College 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 18
Consolation Game: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2  1:00 p.m.
Championship Game: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 3:00 p.m.

* - An award ceremony will follow immediately following the conclusion of the
championship game.

Participating Teams

Elms College Blazers
Location: Chicopee, Massachusetts
Conference Affiliation: North Atlantic Conference (NAC)
2006-07 Record: 20-9 overall, 12-3 NAC

Scouting The Blazers: The past three seasons have been nothing short of sensational for Elms College. During that span, the Blazers have gone 62-25, won three consecutive North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament titles, posted three straight 20-plus win seasons and earned three straight NCAA Division III Championship berths. The Blazers, who went 20-9 last season and are this year's preseason coaches poll favorite to defend as NAC champions, return nine players, including three starters. Sophomore guard Juan Galdon (Holyoke, MA) takes over at the point following an extremely impressive postseason stretch that saw him earn NAC Tournament MVP honors last season. The Blazers have solid size and depth in the frontcourt, including 6-6 senior forward Nate Hawes (New Hope, MN) and 6-6 sophomore forward Austin Sylvia (Seekonk, MA). Hawes comes into this season just 105 rebounds away from becoming the program's all-time leader. The Blazers also return 6-4 junior forward Malakie Berry (Enfield, CT), who averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.

University of Maine-Machias Clippers
Location: Machias, Maine
Conference Affiliation: Sunrise Conference (NAIA)
2006-07 Record: 19-8 overall, 8-2 Sunrise

Scouting The Clippers: Maine-Machias is the only non-NCAA team in this year's tournament. The Clippers, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, come into Saturday night 1-3 overall. Maine-Machias earned its lone win of the season over Mount Allison University (82-76) on October 28. The Clippers feature a balanced offense that includes four players scoring in double figures, led by senior guard Charles Calligan's (Manchester, ME) 24.0 points per game. 

Bowdoin College Polar Bears
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Conference Affiliation: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
2006-07 Record: 15-10 overall, 3-6 NESCAC

Scouting The Polar Bears: The Polar Bears have qualified for the NESCAC Tournament in each of the past six seasons and posted winning seasons in 13 of the last 15 years. Bowdoin fell to NCAA Division III Championship qualifier Trinity in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC Tournament a year ago. Senior guard Andrew Hippert (Worcester, MA) averaged a team-leading 15.7 points per game a year ago - sixth-best in the NESCAC - and the Polar Bears ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense (65.7).    

Newbury College Nighthawks
Location: Brookline, Massachusetts
Conference Affiliation: Independent
2006-07 Record: 15-12 overall

Scouting The Nighthawks: Newbury recorded its most successful season in five years following a 15-win campaign that concluded with a 92-52 win over Mitchell College in the consolation game of the Association of Division III Independents Northeast Regional Championship. The Nighthawks return senior guard Arch Mitchell (Framingham, MA), who averaged a team-leading 16.0 points in 35.0 minutes per game a year ago. Senior guard Steven Morris (Somerville, MA) added 8.8 points and 5.6 assists per contest.