GNAC Semis Sends Men's Basketball to JWU Thursday

BOSTON – Competing in the GNAC semis for the first time since in a decade, the sixth seeded Suffolk men's hockey team is set to visit second seeded Johnson & Wales Thursday, Feb. 22 for a 7 p.m. showdown.

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics by connecting with the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes.

2018 GNAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 20
Game 1: #1 Albertus Magnus defeated #8 Anna Maria, 87-66
Game 2: #4 Lasell defeated #5 Regis, 88-72
Game 3: #6 Suffolk defeated#3 St. Joseph's (Maine), 69-65
Game 4: #2 Johnson & Wales defeated #7 Norwich, 77-72 

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 22
Game 5: #4 Lasell at #1 Albertus Magnus - 7 PM
Game 6: #6 Suffolk at #2 Johnson & Wales - 7 PM

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 24
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5

LAST TIME OUT
For the first time since 2007, Suffolk men's basketball will compete in the GNAC semifinals as the sixth-seeded Rams held of the tournament's third seed and upset Saint Joseph's (Maine), 69-65, Tuesday night at the Harold Alfond Center.

MORE READING: Men's Basketball Advances to GNAC Semis, Holds off St. Joseph's (Maine)

POSTSEASON PUSH
In its sixth straight appearance and 14th overall trip, Suffolk did what only three teams have done before it in Rams' GNAC history, advance to the semifinals thanks to a 69-65 upset quarterfinals win at Saint Joseph's (Maine) Tuesday. 

Suffolk, who took down the Monks for the first time in the league's postseason, moves onto the semis for the first time since 2007, fourth overall and first time under Jeff Juron and as the field's sixth seed. 

The Rams improved to 1-3 as the sixth seed and 6-13 all-time in the conference postseason and looks for its second-ever trip to the championship contest. The last and only time Suffolk competed for the league championship was when the Rams hoisted the trophy in 2002.

A RAM IN THE GNAC POSTSEASON

• With 25 points Tuesday night, Michael Hagopian tied Sam Nwadike for the most points scored in a GNAC postseason game. Nwadike accomplished the feat in the 2014 quarterfinals at Saint Joseph's (Maine).
• Hagopian made nine field goals in the league's postseason for the second straight season to tie Adam Chick and hold the all-time record for FG made in a postseason outing.
• Hagopian set a program-record of three-pointers made in a conference postseason contest as the junior struck six times behind-the-arc, upstaging the previously set record of 5 held by himself at JWU last season and Adam Chick at Lasell in 2016.

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk improved to 15-11 on the season and ride a four-game win streak into Thursday's tilt.

The Rams offense has been consistent this season. Suffolk, who produces 71.0 ppg, sees three players in double figures in Thomas Duffy (16.2 ppg), Michael Hagopian (15.0 ppg) and Brendan Mulson (11.9 ppg). The trio is also crucial on the glass as Mulson leads the way with 6.2 rpg with Duffy (4.7 rpg) and Hagopian (3.4 rpg) adding to the Rams' 32.9 rpg effort.

WILDCAT WAYS
Second seed Johnson & Wales beat Norwich, 77-72, to open tournament play Tuesday. The 17-9 Wildcats also take a four-game win streak into Thursday night. 

Brian Hogan-Gary boasts team-high numbers in points (17.2 ppg) and rebounds (8.8 rpg). The junior guard is joined in double figures by Jarell Lawson (13.6 ppg), Randall Ferdinand (13.0 ppg) and Matt Madoian (12.4 ppg). Nate Patenaude helps Hogan-Gary defensively with 5.8 rpg with Lawson and Ferdinand each recording 5.5 rpg to aid in the Wildcats 39.2 rpg effort.   

WE MEET AGAIN
The conference foes met back on Jan. 20 with JWU cruising past the Rams, 94-57.

MORE READING: Men's Basketball Tripped Up on the Road at JWU

INSIDE THE SERIES
JWU has taken down Suffolk in the last 13 meetings to hold a commanding 28-13 lead over the Rams. 

In the GNAC postseason, the two foes have met four times with the Wildcats boasting a 3-1 record in such meetings. 

Suffolk's lone postseason win over JWU came in the 2002 championship when the blue-and-gold best the Wildcats, 76-71, to take home GNAC glory.

The team's will meet for the second time with Suffolk as the sixth seed and first such instance since 2013 when the fourth-seeded Wildcats defeated Suffolk, 96-93, in the quarterfinals. 

Suffolk and JWU will clash for the first time in the semifinals.

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday's tilt will play for the championship crown Saturday, Feb. 24 and take on the winner of regular-season champion Albertus Magnus and fourth seed Lasell.