Press Releases

Mar 11, 2002
No. 4-Seeded Men's Basketball Team Wins First-Ever ECAC Tournament

Most Wins Since 1986; First Title in 30 Years; Senior Tandem Receives Honors

Contact:
Darren Johnson (PR@southampton.liu.edu)
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Philadelphia, Pa. - Seeded fourth out of four teams, Southampton College's Runnin' Colonials blew through this past weekend's Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament, upending two powerhouse programs en route to Southampton's first title in 30 years.

The Runnin' Colonials stormed to victories over No. 1 Philadelphia (19-9), the host school, 88-66, and No. 2 St. Rose (17-13), 113-101, on Saturday and Sunday. The two foes have storied Division II histories and had been 3-0 vs. Southampton College this year, with all wins coming by blowouts.

The senior tandem of Curtis Small and Jason Lewis ended their tremendous careers in a tremendous way, each being named to the All Tournament Team. Small, who was also named MVP, set a tourney record with 46 points against St. Rose in the finale. He previously had 28 points, leading all scorers, in the first-round upset of Philadelphia. The Rams were a team that, going into the post-season, had been predicted to make the NCAA Tournament.

This was the first-ever ECAC Tournament championship for the Runnin? Colonials and their first title of any sort in 30 years. The ECAC final was almost to the day of the anniversary of the Colonials' Northeast Regional win in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1972.

The Runnin' Colonials will now graduate NYCAC all-stars Small and Lewis who, before the ECACs, were Nos. 12 and 15 in the nation in scoring in NCAA Division II with 22.1 and 21.4 points per game respectively. Small (1668 career points) led the nation in free-throw percentage, hitting an amazing 93.8 percent of his foul shots. Lewis (1732 career points, 963 career rebounds) averaged a double-double on the year, including 10.4 rebounds per game, which places him at No. 15 in the nation. With Lewis injured the previous week (sprained ankle), the Colonials lost in the NYCAC Tournament to NYIT 83-71. Lewis and Small are the best scoring duo in College history, ranking third and fourth all-time.