SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A season that started with a big question mark ended with a bigger exclamation point Sunday (Mar. 4) for the Western New England College men's basketball team.

Junior forward Jim Bayne (Bristol, CT) had game-highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds as the top-seeded Golden Bears held on for a thrilling 68-62 victory over second-seeded St. Joseph's (Maine) in the championship game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Men's Basketball Championship before a boisterous crowd of 869 at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

Bayne was named the Tournament MVP after compiling his 12th double-double of the season. He was the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player-of-the-Year this past season.

The victory gave the Golden Bears a final record of 22-8 that tied as the second highest win total in the program's history and its first ever post-season tournament title.

Both teams traded leads in the opening half before St. Joseph's settled down to take a 28-25 lead at half-time.

There were three ties in the first 1:36 of the second stanza before the Golden Bears opened a four-point cushion at 36-32 at the 17:14 mark. After the Monks cut the margin to one with a basket, Western New England College went on a 13-0 run for a 49-35 advantage capped by a
three-pointer by junior guard Ryan Hernandez (Hampton Bays, NY) with 10:49 left in the contest. Hernandez then drilled another three-pointer that gave the hosts its biggest lead at 58-41 with 5:55 remaining.

The Monks, however, staged a gallant comeback scoring nine straight points to get within 58-50 after two free throws by senior forward Matt Plummer (Naples, ME) with 3:28 left. Another charity shot by Plummer got the visitors within five at 63-58 with 1:17 remaining, but the Golden
Bears made five free throws in the final 50.5 seconds to seal the contest.

Western New England College junior guard Asif Abdul-Wadud (Springfield, MA) played a key role compiling a double-double of 11 points and a career high 10 assists. He committed only two turnovers in 37 minutes against the persistent Monks' pressure defense.

Hernandez, who set a school record with 77 three-pointers for the season, finished with nine points coming off the bench while junior guard Matt Maynard (Paterson, NJ) also had nine points, including a big three-pointer that gave the Golden Bears a 61-50 lead with 3:07 left in
the game. Senior center Deon Thomas (Albany, NY) contributed five points and five rebounds in a reserve role in his final game.

St. Joseph's (22-8) had four players scoring in double figures led by sophomore forward Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, NY) with 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Senior forward Colby Emmons (Portland, ME) (10 points, 7 rebounds) and Plummer (10 points, 6 rebounds) played well coming off the bench. Graduate student guard Chad Pulkkinen (Windham, ME) chipped-in with 10 points and five rebounds.

Western New England College started the season with a big question mark following the graduation of three-time All-GNAC guard Jon Godbout (1,440 points). Playing a tougher schedule, the Golden Bears opened the season with three consecutive losses, but re-grouped to capture the regular season conference title with a 14-2 mark. Coach Mike Theulen's squad
lost to Emmanuel in the semifinals of the GNAC Tournament, but ended the year by winning 14 of its final 15 contests.

2007 ECAC Division III New England Men's Basketball Championship

Game #1 - No. 1 Western New England College 74           
                   No. 8 Castleton State College 58

Game #2 - No. 2 St. Joseph's College (Maine) 70
                   No. 7 Roger Williams University 65

Game #3 - No. 3 Emerson College 88 
                   No. 6 Curry College 108

Game #4 - No. 4 Endicott College 68         
                   No. 5 Lasell College 67

Semifinal - Friday, March 2
Game #5 - Western New England 74
                   Endicott 57

Semifinal-Saturday, March 3
Game #6 - St. Joseph's (Maine) 76
                   Curry 67

Championship - Sunday, March 4
Game #7 - WNEC 68
                   St. Joe's 62

MVP: Jim Bayne, WNEC