PURCHASE, N.Y. – The postseason is here! Manhattanville College men's basketball gets a busy week of conference championship play underway tonight with the second-seeded Valiants playing host to No. 7 Mount Saint Vincent for the quarterfinals of the Skyline Conference Championship.
  How We Got Here
The Valiants enter the postseason winners of four straight, claiming the Skyline's North Division crown and the overall No. 2 seed for the tournament as a result. Manhattanville concluded the regular season with a 19-6 overall record and a 12-4 mark in conference play, holding off USMMA and Maritime for the coveted home court advantage through the first two rounds of the tournament.

A crucial 2-0 week to conclude the regular season resulted in the Valiants claiming the division, started by a 58-44 victory over Merchant Marine on Tuesday. Jackson Leech (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) went off against the Mariners, putting up 22 points with 12 rebounds to lead the way and put the Valiants atop the North standings. Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) added 14 points with six assists in the win alongside five rebounds, a total matched by Ryan Giordano (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) and Matt Bielenda (Wethersfield, Conn./Xavier).

Controlling their own destiny entering the final game of the season, Manhattanville would just need to defeat Purchase on Saturday to secure the No. 2 seed. A full-team effort took care of business, as 22 Valiants took to the floor as part of the 73-50 victory. Leech led the way once again with 10 points, while Trevon Setzer-Smith (New Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) finished with nine off the bench.

It will be the Dolphins heading to the castle for the Valiants' opening round draw, with Mount Saint Vincent sporting the conference's No. 7 seed. The Dolphins finished the year 12-13 overall with an 8-8 Skyline record. Mount Saint Vincent snapped a three-game skid in their regular-season finale on Saturday, defeating Old Westbury 78-66. The Dolphins received double-digit efforts from Dan Porcic, Dillon Hod and Joshua Cabezudo, with the latter earning a double-double with his 10 rebounds.

Last Time Out
The Valiants will look to avoid a similar outcome as the last time the Dolphins were in town, as Mount Saint Vincent defeated Manhattanville 63-58 on Jan. 25. The Dolphins shot 52 percent in the second half of that one to erase a five point halftime lead for the Valiants. It was Hod, Cabezudo, Porcic and DJ Tucker all putting up 10 or more for the Dolphins, led by 18 from Hod and a 12 point, 12 board double-double out of Cabezudo. For the Valiants, Lotito scored 17 while Jake Dunn (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) added 13, but the Valiants were unable to find an answer to hold off the Dolphin offense.

Team Leaders
Manhattanville

• Points Per Game: Lotito (16.9), Leech (13.4), Dunn (8.9)
• Rebounds Per Game: Leech (7.0), Lotito (6.6), Giordano (4.5)
• Assists Per Game: Lotito (4.2), Giordano (1.6), Dunn (1.4)
• Steals Per Game: Lotito (1.8), Dunn (0.9), Scanlon (0.8)
• Field Goal Percentage: Leech (.504), Lotito (.502), Giordano (.488)

Mount Saint Vincent

• Points Per Game: Cabezudo (14.7), Tucker (13.5), Procic (11.5)
• Rebounds Per Game: Tucker (7.5), Cabezudo (7.2), Porcic (5.5)
• Assists Per Game: Darab (3.0), Tucker (2.3), Cabezudo (2.0)
• Steals Per Game: Darab (2.5), Tucker (1.7), Cabezudo (1.2), Hod (1.2)
• Field Goal Percentage: Hod (.514), Smith (.456), Cabezudo (.442)

History

• All-Time Record: 31-7
• Streak: Mount Saint Vincent W1
• Last 10: Manhattanville 9-1
• Series Record at Manhattanville: Manhattanville 14-4
• Scores From Last Five Meetings:
  • 1/25/2023: Mount Saint Vincent 63, Manhattanville 58
  • 1/30/2022: Manhattanville 69, Mount Saint Vincent 59
  • 1/22/2020: Manhattanville 71, Mount Saint Vincent 67 (OT)
  • 1/24/2007: Manhattanville 97, Mount Saint Vincent 54
  • 2/14/2006: Mount Saint Vincent 84, Manhattanville 100

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