ANNVILLE, Pa. (Basketball) – The MAC Commonwealth and MAC Freedom men’s and women’s basketball champions will be crowned on Saturday. All four champions earn their conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
MAC Commonwealth Men
No. 4 Lycoming at No. 3 Arcadia, 7 p.m.
Arcadia (16-10) and Lycoming (19-8) split their regular-season series. The Warriors won the first meeting in Glenside on Jan. 17 by a score of 70-68 in overtime. The Knights then traveled to Williamsport and defeated Lycoming, 72-67, on Feb. 8
Arcadia defeated No 2 Albright, 93-89 in overtime, on Wednesday in the semifinal round. Lycoming took down No. 1 Widener by a score of 90-77 to advance to the finals. The Warriors open the tournament with an 80-78 win over No. 5 Hood to make the semifinal round.
The Knights are seeking their second-straight, and second overall, MAC Commonwealth title in men’s basketball on Saturday. Arcadia defeated Widener, 92-56, a season ago in the title game.
The Warriors are looking for their fifth conference title. Lycoming has won two titles in both the MAC Commonwealth and MAC Freedom, most recently in 2017 when it beat Albright, 76-62. The Warriors defeated Arcadia, 78-73 in Glenside for the 2016 title.
MAC Freedom Men
No. 2 Eastern at No. 1 Stevens, 3 p.m.
Stevens (22-4) and Eastern (17-9) split their regular-season series. The Eagles won the first meeting on Jan. 25 in St. Davids by a score of 73-65. The Ducks returned the favor at home on Feb. 15 with a 75-61 victory.
The Ducks defeated No. 4 FDU-Florham, 72-53, in the semifinal round, while the Eagles took down No. 3 DeSales, 75-63, to advance to Saturday.
Eastern is seeking its first conference title in basketball since joining the MAC Freedom in 2008. Stevens, who joined the MAC Freedom this season, is also seeking its first basketball title.
MAC Commonwealth Women
No. 3 Albright at No. 1 Messiah, 7:30 p.m.
Messiah (22-4) swept the regular-season series with Albright (22-4). The Falcons won the first meeting by a score of 82-73 on Jan. 18, and then won by a score of 74-68 on Feb. 22. It will be the fourth time in the last five years that the Falcons and Lions will meet for the title. From 2016-18, they squared off for the conference title with Messiah holding the edge, 2-1.
The Falcons defeated No. 4 Stevenson, 78-44, in the semifinal round, while the Lions defeated No. 2 Widener by a score of 81-73 in overtime to advance to Saturday.
Messiah is looking to four-peat as conference champions for their 12th all-time. Albright is looking to claim its second title, first since 2016.
MAC Freedom Women
No. 3 King’s at No. 1 DeSales, 1 p.m.
DeSales (22-4) and King’s (16-10) split the regular-season series. King’s won the first meeting on Jan. 11 at home by a score of 55-54. The Bulldogs won the second meeting in Center Valley by a score of 75-56 on Feb. 1
The Bulldogs defeated No. 4 Eastern, 69-54, in the semifinal round, while the Monarchs defeats No. 2 Misericordia by a score of 74-63 to advance to Saturday.
DeSales is playing in its fifth-straight conference title game, and is looking to repeat after defeating Misericordia in last year’s title game. The Bulldogs have seven conference titles, including five since the MAC Freedom was formed.
King’s is looking for its third conference title, first since 2003. The Monarchs played in back-to-back title games in 2012 and 2013.