Dominic Dunn (6'5''-F) named MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP
READING, Pa. (Men's Basketball) - The Widener Pride defeated Alvernia, 74-69, on the road to claim the 2023 MAC Commonwealth title. It is the Pride's fifth MAC Commonwealth crown, first since 2009.
Alvernia led by 12 points midway through the first half, but Widener brought that deficit within two points, 33-31, at the break.
The Golden Wolves saw that lead vanish in the second half as the Pride swung the lead into their favor and led by two possessions for much of the final ten minutes. Alvernia got within one possession as the game came down to the wire, but the Pride made crucial foul shots to secure the 74-69 win.
Dominic Dunn was named the MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP for his performance through the entire tournament. Dunn finished the title game with a double-double on 15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.
Four of the five Widener starters finished in double figures.
Widener now has 16 all-time MAC men's basketball titles when including its 11 MAC titles before the confernece split into two in 2000.

Courtesy of gomacsports.com

All-Tournament MVP: Dominic Dunn (6'5''-F) of Widener
Player of the Year: Malik Green (6'4''-F) of Alvernia
Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Chamberlain (6'0''-PG) of Albright
Rookie of the Year: Zubair Lee (6'7''-F) of Eastern
Coach of the Year: Chris Carideo of Widener

All-MAC Commonwealth First Team 2023

Dunn

Fairweather

Green

Holden

Jones

First Team
Dominic Dunn (6'5''-F) of Widener
Jaron Fairweather (6'4''-F) of Eastern
Malik Green (6'4''-F) of Alvernia
Pat Holden (5'8''-PG) of Widener
Collin Jones (6'4''-F) of Lebanon Valley

All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team 2023

Cipalla

Kelly

Linton

Smalls

Strickland

Second Team
Kai Cipalla (6'4''-F) of York, PA
Jakob Kelly (6'4''-F) of Alvernia
Garrison Linton (6'5''-G) of Hood
Christopher Smalls (6'2''-G) of Hood
Trumaine Strickland (5'10''-PG) of Hood

All-MAC Commonwealth Honorable Mention 2023

Arrington

Cooke

Penley

Smith

Ward

Honorable Mention
Nate Arrington (6'6''-F) of Stevenson
Nigel Cooke (6'1''-G) of Alvernia
Tyler Penley (6'5''-F) of Messiah
Cameron Smith (6'7''-F) of Stevenson
Kaeshawn Ward (5'10''-PG) of Eastern

All-Tournament MVP: Jalen Watkins (6'6''-F) of Arcadia
Player of the Year: Jalen Watkins (6'6''-F) of Arcadia
Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Spellman (6'9''-F) of Stevens Tech
Rookie of the Year: Nate Ellis (5'11''-PG) of DeSales
Coach of the Year: Scott Coval of DeSales

All-MAC Freedom First Team 2023

Eberly

Harward

Lazdowsky

Spellman

Watkins

First Team
Elijah Eberly (6'4''-F) of DeSales
Dyson Harward (6'7''-C) of Lycoming
Kevin Lazdowsky (6'4''-G) of Misericordia
Jack Spellman (6'9''-F) of Stevens Tech
Jalen Watkins (6'6''-F) of Arcadia

All-MAC Freedom Second Team 2023

Goodall

Hamilton

Marshall

Money

Terry

Second Team
Mike Goodall (6'1''-G) of Stevens Tech
Steven Hamilton (6'0''-PG) of Lycoming
Drake Marshall (6'4''-G) of Wilkes
Justin Money (6'2''-G) of Arcadia
Mo Terry (6'4''-F) of Lycoming

All-MAC Freedom Honorable Mention 2023

Baldachino

Ellis

Fisher

Patton

Honorable Mention
Joseph Baldachino (6'2''-G) of Misericordia
Mason Barnes (6'1''-G) of DeSales
Nate Ellis (5'11''-PG) of DeSales
Trent Fisher (6'7''-F) of Wilkes
Chris Patton (6'2''-G) of King's, PA

Jalen Watkins (6'6''-F) named MAC Freedom Championship MVP
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The No. 3 seed Arcadia University men's basketball team captured its first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Championship and second MAC title overall with a 74-61 win at top-seeded DeSales University on Saturday afternoon. Jalen Watkins was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Nas Johnson led all scorers with 23 points. Justin Money (6'2''-G) and Joshua Okocha (6'5''-G/F) added 16 each while Watkins contributed 13. Nobody in the Bulldogs starting lineups surpassed double-figures in points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Knights came out on fire as a Johnson three-pointer started a 12-2 run to begin the contest.
-DeSales used a 17-6 streak to secure a 19-18 advantage with 9:10 on the clock.
-Arcadia trailed 35-34 going into the break.
-The Bulldogs hit a three-pointer to begin the second half that was immediately matched by one from Money.
-The Knights trailed 46-45 with 13:43 left in the game before an 8-0 run gave Arcadia a 53-46 lead with 12:03 left in the game.
-The Knights continued to hit their shots as time wore down as DeSales was unable to trim the advantage.
-Arcadia stormed the court as time expired to celebrate the first men's basketball conference crown since the 2018-19 season.

KNIGHT LEADERS
Points: Johnson (23) / Money (16) / Okocha (16) / Watkins (13)
Rebounds: Watkins (12) / Money (7) / Okocha (7)
Assists: Watkins (4) / Money (3) / Dom Vazquez (3)
Blocks: Watkins (3)
Steals: Vazquez (2)

INSIDE THE STATS
-The Knights shot 50 percent from three while holding DeSales to 26.9 percent.
-Arcadia shot over 50 percent from deep in both MAC Freedom Tournament contests after hitting 53.3 percent against Lycoming.
-Those two figures represent the Knights' two best showings of the season.
-Arcadia also scored 74 points in its win at Lycoming on Wednesday.
-The Knights have scored 74 points five times this season, all of them victories.
-Arcadia hit 83.3 percent of its free throws, the second best number this season.
-Watkins secured his 17th double-double of the season.
-Johnsons and Okocha both set a new career-high for points.

UP NEXT
The Knights will now wait to see where they are headed for the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. and can be viewed at ncaa.com.

Courtesy of gomacsports.com