WESTWOOD, Mass. - As part of the NEWMAC's 25th Anniversary celebration, the conference is taking time throughout the 2022-2023 academic year to reflect on some of the pivotal moments that have transpired in the membership since its inception in 1998. These moments honor the dedication and positive influence of administrators, coaches, and student-athletes over the past two-and-a-half decades that have helped the NEWMAC, and its member institutions become champions of academic and athletic excellence and a preeminent conference in Division III.
In 2017, Babson College took home their first-ever NCAA men’s basketball title, as the third ranked Beavers topped Augustana, 79-78. Babson didn’t take the direct route to the title game, as the favorites fell in the NEWMAC Championship game. They would still get their shot at glory with an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and the Beavers took full advantage. They defeated Husson in the opening round and then Skidmore in the second-round to earn their third straight Sweet-16 berth. They would then go on to beat Tufts and Keene State to earn a spot in the Final Four. Their Final Four match-up was with top-ranked Whitman, and the Beavers pulled off the upset, coming back from 25 points down to reach the championship game.
Babson would play from behind in the championship game as well, as Augustana would jump out to a 26-16 lead in the first half. The Beavers chomped back, countering with a 25-5 run to take a 10-point advantage into the half. They would extend the lead to 12 in the second stanza, but Augustana would battle back to within 1 with only 10 seconds to go in the game. After missing the front end of a 1-and-1 with 7 seconds left, senior Joey Flannery would race back to block an Augustana layup attempt with 2.9 seconds left to secure the title for the Beavers.
Flannery scored a game-high 23 points with seven assists and six rebounds, while fellow senior Isaiah Nelsen scored 18 points and pulled down six boards for the Beavers. Flannery was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, with Nelsen being honored on the All-Tournament team.
Babson finished their historic season with a 31-2 overall record. Flannery would be named both the D3hoops.com and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player of the Year for his efforts, while head coach Stephen Brennan was named the NABC Coach of the Year.
ABOUT THE NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.
(Portions of this release courtesy of Babson College)