Amherst Finishes Regular Season Undefeated to Earn Top Seed

HADLEY, Mass. — Amherst College finished regular season conference play undefeated and earned the top seed in the 2005 NESCAC Men’s Basketball Championship. The Lord Jeffs (9-0 NESCAC, 22-1 overall), ranked fourth nationally by d3hoops.com, will host Bowdoin (3-6 NESCAC, 12-11 overall) in a quarterfinal game on Saturday, February 19.

Tufts, who fell to Amherst 91-64 in the final regular season contest, earned the number two seed after completing the year with a 7-2 NESCAC mark and 15-9 overall record. The Jumbos will meet seventh-seeded Colby (4-5 NESCAC, 13-7 overall). The Mules dropped a seven point decision earlier this season at Tufts.

Bates and Trinity finished the regular tied at 6-3 in the conference. Bates (17-7 overall) earned the third seed with victory over Trinity on the final day of the regular season. Eliott Linsley’s jumper won the game for the Bobcats as time expired. Bates will host sixth seed Williams (4-5 NESCAC, 16-8 overall) while fourth-seeded Trinity (17-6 overall) will meet fifth seed Wesleyan (4-5 NESCAC, 13-10 overall).

The top eight teams qualify for the NESCAC Championship. Predetermined tie-breaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical records. Quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, February 26. Teams are rebracketed entering the semifinal round. The NESCAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.

2005 NESCAC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals - Saturday, February 19 at Higher Seeds
No. 8 Bowdoin at No. 1 Amherst - 3:00 p.m.
No. 7 Colby at No. 2 Tufts - 3:00 p.m.
No. 6 Williams at No. 3 Bates - 2:00 p.m.
No. 5 Wesleyan at No. 4 Trinity - 3:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 26 at Highest Remaining Seed
Highest remaining vs. lowest remaining seed - 2:00 p.m.
Remaining quarterfinal winners - 4:00 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, Feb. 27
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m.