UB Men's Basketball Earns First Regional Finals Appearance In 21 Years With 58-56 Win Over Assumption

Manchester, N.H.-Senior Dion Waiters (Brooklyn, N.Y.) converted a lay-up with 43 second to play to give the seventh-seed University of Bridgeport a 57-56 lead over the second-seeded Assumption College Greyhounds, as the Purple Knights advance to the NCAA Division Regional Final for the first time in 21 years, with a 58-56 victory.  Sunday night's tilt was a see-saw contest that featured nine ties and 15 lead changes.  UB moves on to Division II's Sweet 16 with an overall record of 23-9.  Assumption ends its season at 21-8.  The Purple Knights have won for games in a row and 16 of 17.

Waiters led Bridgeport with 18 points, and he was joined in double figures by classmate Darian David with 13 points.  Waiters also had a team-high seven rebounds for the Purple Knights.

Tim Beinert led three Assumption players in double figures with 18 points.

With the game tied 19-19 with 4:34 to play in the first half, Bridgeport closed out the first 20 minutes of play on an 11-2 to grab a 30-21 halftime lead.  The Greyhounds did not score a field goal over the final 6:22 of the first half.

Assumption stormed back early in the second half to take a 42-40 with 13:00 minutes to play, and neither team would lead by more than three points the rest of the night.

Playing in its first regional final since 1992, the Purple Knights will face the Ravens of Franklin Pierce, the number one seed in the region.  Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University.