Corsairs reach Sweet 16 in NCAA Division III Tournament, finish with 25-3 overall record

(Dartmouth, MA) - The UMass Dartmouth men's basketball team returned to the national stage of NCAA Division III basketball during the 2000-2001 season as Coach Brian Baptiste's team led the nation in victories following a 25-3 season.

Ranked as high as #2 in some national polls during the season, the Corsairs finished with a Little East Conference regular season and tournament championship. In the post season, the Corsairs added an impressive second round NCAA Tournament victory and a berth in the Sweet 16. The Corsairs were the top-ranked team in New England after defeating Salem State, 86-64, in an NCAA tournament game before Carthage College eliminated UMass Dartmouth from the tournament.

For Coach Brian Baptiste, the LEC Coach of the Year and the NABC Chevrolet Northeast District Coach of the Year, UMass Dartmouth's NCAA Tournament invitation was his 11th in his 17-year career with the Corsairs.

UMass Dartmouth captured its 10th LEC championship in the conference's 15-year history with a thrilling 99-89 overtime victory over Keene State. Corsair sophomore forward Brian Cagle (Norwich, CT) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and senior co captain Marques Houtman (New Bedford, MA) joined him on the All-Tournament team.

A First Team All-LEC and ECAC New England Division III selection, Houtman led the Corsairs in scoring (18.8 pts/game), connecting on 42% from the floor and from three-point range (63-151). Houtman was fourth in LEC scoring and tops among three-point shooters.

Senior center and co-captain Nick Cecilio (Centerville, MA), also a First Team All-LEC selection, averaged 16.6 points (9th in LEC) and a team-high 9.6 rebounds per game. A Third Team All-ECAC choice, Cecilio was the leading rebounder in the LEC and finished fourth in field goal percentage by shooting 53.4% (171 of 320).

Cagle was the Corsairs' third player in double figures with 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He shot 56.7% from the floor and was second on the team in blocked shots with 20.

Sophomore point guard Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA) came off an injury marred first season and lifted the Corsairs with his steady play all season long. An LEC Honorable Mention, Gaspar had 221 assists, while adding 9.7 points and 3.75 rebounds per game. Gaspar led the LEC in assists (8.1 per game) and was tops in steals with 2.8 per game.

The Corsairs also benefited all season long from a very deep bench. Senior co-captain Frank Barrows (Dartmouth, MA) was a starter and the sixth man, always giving the Corsairs spark when needed. Barrows averaged 9.6 points per game and 3.8 rebounds Junior Ryan Cassidy (Framingham, MA) averaged 7.7 points and 4 rebounds, while senior forward John Madden (Carver, MA) chipped in 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds.

In addition to the Corsairs' post season success, UMass Dartmouth also successfully defended its Hampton Inn Classic title to open the season and during the holiday break, the Corsairs captured the Naismith Classic at Springfield College.