VIDEO PREVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MONDAY'S WIN

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The fourth-seeded Immaculata men's basketball team (12-13, 11-7 CSAC) will make its fourth consecutive CSAC playoff appearance this Saturday when they play host to the fifth-seeded Neumann Knights (12-13, 11-7 CSAC) at 3 p.m. at Alumnae Hall.  It is the first-ever playoff meeting between the two men's basketball programs and the first home playoff game for the Mighty Macs since February 22, 2010 when they defeated Gwynedd-Mercy 87-82 in the CSAC quarterfinals.
 
This matchup will pit two teams against each other that split their two matchups during the regular season and played just five days ago on Monday night at Alumnae Hall.  In that back-and-forth contest, the Mighty Macs prevailed 61-59 to snap a five-game losing skid in a game that featured big runs each way.  Beginning the second half with a 32-31 lead, the Mighty Macs went on a 15-0 run early in the half to open up a 47-33 advantage with 11 minutes remaining in the contest as they threatened to run away with the game.  However, the Knights responded with a 15-0 run of their own over the next four minutes to grab a 48-47 edge with seven minutes to go in the game.
 
After the teams exchanged the lead four times over the next four minutes, the Mighty Macs went on an 8-0 run late led by senior Nelson Torres (game-high 22 points) to take a 59-52 advantage with 90 seconds remaining.  Neumann continued to fight and two T.J. Klinger (10 points) free throws gave Immaculata a four-point edge with under a minute to go.
 
The Knights had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seconds down 61-59, but two attempts by Neumann's Mark Blount (13 points, 11 rebounds) were off the mark as Immaculata picked up the pivotal win that would earn them home-court advantage for this quarterfinal matchup.
 
Junior Brandon Smith played a pivotal role in the team's victory as he added 13 points and nine rebounds after being held to two points and two rebounds in the first matchup with Neumann.
 
In the first game this season between the teams on January 14^th, Neumann jumped out to a commanding 32-18 lead at halftime and never looked back as their suffocating defense forced Immaculata into 34% shooting on the night and the Knights locked up a 70-53 home triumph.  Blount again had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Neumann, while Torres led the Mighty Macs with 13 points.
 
In the two games with Immaculata, Neumann's CSAC All-First Teamer Mark Blount averaged 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds while Reggie Coleman averaged 12.5 points per game after pouring in 20 in the second contest between the teams.  Rich Whitten (11.8 ppg) and TaVaune Griffin (10.8 ppg) averaged double figures for Neumann throughout the season.
 
For Immaculata, CSAC All-First Team member Nelson Torres averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds to pace the Mighty Macs against Neumann.
 
For the season, Torres finished fifth in the conference in scoring with 14.4 points per game, while Honorable Mention All-CSAC member Brandon Smith was second on the team in scoring (12.1 ppg) and led the league in field goal percentage at 62.2%.  Mid-season transfer Xavier Brown is third on the team in scoring with 8.3 points per game on a team best 39% three-point shooting.
 
This matchup will pit the two best defensive teams in the league against each other as Neumann is the stingiest giving up 63.5 points per game, while Immaculata is second best in the CSAC surrendering 65.7 points per game.  The Knights lead in field goal percentage defense (40.1%) while Immaculata is the best in the CSAC and seventh best in the country in three point defense at 29.5%.
 
Both teams rebound the ball very well as Immaculata is third-best in the conference and Neumann is fourth best, while the Knights are best in the CSAC at blocking shots at 5.8 per game, more than double that of second place.
 
The Mighty Macs earned the tie breaker over Neumann by virtue of their 66-60 victory over top-seeded Cabrini on Wednesday, December 5^th, which granted them home court advantage for the CSAC quarterfinal.
 
In the other CSAC quarterfinal sixth-seeded Centenary (10-8 CSAC) will travel to third-seeded Keystone (13-5 CSAC) at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
 
In the semifinals on Tuesday night, the highest remaining seed will travel to #2 Gwynedd-Mercy (14-4 CSAC) while the lowest remaining seed will travel to #1 Cabrini (16-2 CSAC).
 
The champion of the CSAC conference tournament will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.