RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician University men's basketball team has qualified for the 2018 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship tournament as the No. 4 seed from the North Division.
Felician (12-15, 9-10) reaches the CACC playoffs for first time since 2013, and the first occasion in the three-year tenure of head coach Ivan Lewis. Tonight, the Golden Falcons will travel to Wilmington, Del., to take on South Division No. 1 seed Goldey-Beacom College in first-round postseason action at the Joseph West Jones Center on the Goldey-Beacom campus. Tipoff time is 7 p.m.
More information about the 2018 CACC Men's Basketball Championship tournament is available at http://www.caccathletics.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/224Champ.
Felician is making its 12th CACC tournament appearance overall, and is seeking its second championship. The Golden Falcons captured the title in 2009-10, but have not won a playoff game since. This season, they rank third in the 14-team CACC in scoring offense and ninth in scoring defense, and are 5-8 in true road games.
Junior swingman Terrell Spaulding (Paterson, N.J./Eastside) was a first-team all-CACC selection. He averages 20.4 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from three-point range. Senior guard Giaimeir Stanford (Wilmington, Del./Howard) and sophomore guard Zamir Wright (Newark, N.J./University HS) score 16.1 and 15.2 points per game, respectively. Junior center Rahsaan Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./Chelsea CTE), meanwhile, leads the CACC in rebounding (11.0 pg), blocked shots (2.33 pg) and double-doubles (14).
"Sure, I'm beyond exited to play one more game in my hometown," said Wilmington native Stanford. "But I would say I'm more thrilled to have one last dance with my teammates and this coaching staff this week."
Goldey-Beacom (19-9, 15-4) seeks its first CACC title. The Lightning have been the tournament runner-up three times. This season, they are 9-4 at home. Junior guard Corey Taite (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) was voted CACC Player of the Year after averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals and topping the conference in three-point field-goal percentage (.462). Senior forward Dante Thompson (Coram, N.Y./Lackawanna College) scores 12.4 points with 8.1 rebounds per game.
"The big key for us tonight is to execute our game plan," Stanford said. "That means rebound, limit turnovers, and stick together throughout the game. We are a tough matchup for anyone when we play for one another."
Goldey-Beacom won the 2017-18 regular-season meeting between the schools, 80-67, on January 10 in Rutherford, N.J. GBC leads the all-time series, 16-13. The Lighting and Golden Falcons have met only one other time in the CACC tournament – Felician's 84-79 win in the 2010 conference championship game at Caldwell University.
Directions to the Goldey-Beacom College are available at http://www.gbcathletics.com/sports/2010/11/2/MBB_1102102259.aspx?id=131. Ticket prices for tonight's game are $6 for adults and $3 for children, students (with ID) and senior citizens (cash only). Children age three years and under will be admitted free.
Goldey-Beacom will also offer Live Stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/gbc/mbball/ and a live webstream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=403hAKzemqQ.
The Jefferson Rams will host the semifinals and finals of the CACC Championship tournament at the Gallagher Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Tonight's winner will take on the Wilmington (Del.) University-Dominican (N.Y.) College first-round winner on Saturday at either 5 or 7 p.m.
The 2018 CACC Championship Game is slated for Sunday, March 4, at 2:30 p.m. on the Jefferson campus.
