FARMINGTON -- The University of Maine of Farmington claimed its first-ever conference postseason men's basketball title with a 65-51 win over Castleton State College in the North Atlantic Conference Championship Game at Dearborn Gymnasium this afternoon.
With the win, the Beavers (14-11) receive the NAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. The announcement of the tournament field will be presented via Web cast on www.NCAA.com beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. The bracket will also be posted on www.NCAA.com at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Andrew Dean (Gorham, ME) netted 17 points, including five 3-pointers, for the Beavers, while Eric Taylor (Oakland, ME) posted a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds and Eric Lelansky (Portland, ME) chipped in 12 points and eight assists. Josh Tanguay (Gorham, ME), whose 25 points in the semifinals versus Green Mountain helped Farmington advance, was named the tournament MVP.
In the second half, the Beavers shot 50 percent from the field (10-20), while limiting the Spartans to 28.6 percent (8-28). Headlined by a 7-for-9 effort by Taylor, Farmington was able to grind out closure on the victory at the foul line over the final two minutes.
Derick Faragon (Schenectady, NY) led Castleton with 12 points, while Mike Knight (Spring Valley, NY) and Jared Paul (Tampa, FL) each scored 10 points.
Dean scored 15 of his game-high total in the opening half as Farmington led by as many as 14 points. Dean hit four 3-pointers in the first 6:33 as the Beavers built a 19-8 lead.
Farmington held a 30-16 command with 7:39 until intermission, but the Spartans outscored the hosts 16-5 to close out the frame to cut the lead down to 35-32 at intermission. Faragon hit a pair of threes during the stretch.
DJ Gerrish (Rumford, ME) and Tanguay opened the second half with baskets to push the lead to 39-32. A Lelansky 3-pointer gave the Beavers a 49-38 lead with 12:30 to play. The Spartans did not allow the lead to balloon any further until the later stages of the game, but a pair of four-plus minute stretches in the second half without a hoop did not allow Castleton to make any gains.
The Beavers were eight of 12 from the charity stripe over the last 2:43, but Taylor went six for six in the final 1:30 as Farmington sealed up the NAC championship with a 65-51 victory.
Tournament MVP
Josh Tanguay (Gorham, ME), Farmington
All-Tournament Team
Eric Taylor (Oakland, ME), Farmington
Greg Hughes (West Rutland, VT), Castleton
Mike Knight (Spring Valley, NY), Castleton
Jarrad DeVaughn (Brockton, MA), Thomas
Rui Carmo (Fort Meyers, FL), Green Mountain
