Hampton Inn Basketball Classic

Welcome to the Hampton Inn Basketball Classic hosted by the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Department and generously sponsored by Lafrance Hospitality and the Hampton Inn of Westport, Mass.  Since 1999, this four-team tournament has been the opening weekend of the NCAA Division III college basketball season, providing local college basketball fans with plenty of excitement at the Tripp Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Dartmouth.

The Athletic Department of UMass Dartmouth is proud of our association with Lafrance Hospitality and the Hampton Inn and are grateful for their generous support of the student-atheltes in this tournament for the last eight years.

For more information about the tournament, contact Jim Mullins at UMass Dartmouth by calling (508) 910-6930 or via email at jmullins@umassd.edu.

Hampton Inn Basketball Classic History 1999-2007

2007 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
Corsairs capture Hampton Inn Classic title with 77-59 win over Husson
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball team struggled offensively in the first half of their game against visiting Husson for the championship of the annual Hampton Inn Classic at the Tripp Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. So, in the second half, they emphasized defense.  Sophomore guard V.J. Divine (Brookline, MA/Brookline HS) entered the game at the start of the second half to help turn up the defensive pressure, the Corsairs turned two steals into fast break layups by sophomore guard Jeff Macchi (Franklin, M/Franklin HS) and Reece Freeman (Cambridge, MA/Rindge & Latin HS) and used them to start a 14-2 run that gave them the lead for good, and went on to defeat the Eagles, 77-59 to earn their second consecutive Hampton Inn Classic title and the sixth in the 10-year history of the tournament.  Macchi's layup tied the score at 44-44, and UMass Dartmouth promptly untied it with consecutive layups by Freeman, sophomore forward Matt Walker (Brockton, MA/Brockton HS) and senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, MA/Lexington HS/Westfield State). Husson rallied, using a three-pointer by Brock Bradford and a free throw by Matt MacKenzie to cut the Corsair advantage to four points with 8:15 remaining. UMass Dartmouth came back, scoring the game's next 13 points during a span of 3:42 to take a commanding 71-54 lead with 4:33 to play. Holbrook led all scorers with 20 points, grabbing 14 rebounds for a double double. He made eight of 16 shots from the field, earned the Most Valuable Player award for the second year in a row, and became the first player in tournament history to win the MVP award twice. Freshman Brandon Stephens (Dorchester, MA/Newton North HS) added 17 points, Macchi had 12 and Freeman added 10. Macchi, who led UMass Dartmouth Friday night with 18 points against Albertus Magnus, joined Holbrook on the All-Tournament Team. The Corsairs made 61.3 per cent of their shots from the field in the second half after shooting 30.6 per cent in the opening half, and limited Husson to 28 per cent after intermission after the Eagles made 50 per cent of their shots in the first half.

Read more about the 2007 by clicking on the following links:
Corsairs win Hampton Inn Title with victory over Husson College
Wentworth wins third place game with 90-56 win over Albertus Magnus
Corsairs breeze into Hampton Inn final with 102-51 win against Albertus Magnus
Wentworth falls to Husson in Hampton Inn Opener, 78-69
2007 Hampton Inn Classic Tournament Preview
Field is set for 2007 Hampton Inn Classic at UMass Dartmouth

2006 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
Men's Basketball Team Defeats Wesleyan, 84-77, for Hampton Inn Classic Championship
For the first time in three years, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball team is the champion of the Hampton Inn Classic. UMass Dartmouth used a 14-3 run midway through the second half to take command, and then held off a late rally to defeat Wesleyan, 84-77, at the Tripp Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Corsairs earned the tournament title for the first time in three years and the fifth time in the eight-year history of the tournament.  Senior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA/Brockton HS/Massasoit CC) began the run when he grabbed an offensive rebound, drew a foul and made two free throws. Freshman guard Jeff Macchi (Franklin, MA/Franklin HS) followed with a jumper, Abelard hit another, junior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford HS) connected from three-point range, freshman forward Matt Walker (Brockton, MA/Brockton HS) hit a jump shot, and freshman guard Tyler Turtoro (Shelton, CT/Shelton HS) capped the run with another trey.  Wesleyan took the lead midway through the first half, and controlled the pace of the game until the Corsairs scored the final six points of the first half. Abelard hit a pair of free throws, senior forward Paul Pawlowski (Taunton, MA/Taunton HS) hit another, and Abelard drilled a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to create a 37-all halftime tie.  Abelard led UMD with 14 points, senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, MA/Lexington HS/Westfield State) added 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Walker contributed 12, and Maiorano and Tavares had 11 points apiece. Kelly of the Cardinals led all scorers with 20 points, Jared Ashe added 17, Nick Pelletier added 14, and Jeremy Kaminer had 12. Ashe grabbed 11 rebounds and Pelletier had 10 as each team finished with 40 rebounds.   Holbrook, who had 15 points in UMass Dartmouth's victory Friday night, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Abelard joined him on the All-Tournament team, as did Pelletier and Kelly, Suffolk's John Murphy and Andrew Vayo of Fitchburg State.

2005 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
Catholic University knocks off Corsairs for HIBC title
Catholic University built a 19-point lead midway through the first half and defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s men’s basketball team, 75-58 in the championship game of the Hampton Inn Classic at the Tripp Athletic Center at UMass Dartmouth Saturday afternoon.  The Cardinals made 20 of 28 shots from the field in the first half for 71.4 per cent, and led at the halftime break, 51-27.  UMass Dartmouth outscored CUA in the second half, 31-24, but could get no closer than the final margin.  Junior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA/Brockton HS/Massasoit CC), the Corsairs’ representative on the All-Tournament Team, led all scorers with 21 points, making six of 11 shots from the field, including a pair of three-pointers. Sophomore guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford HS) added 15 points, making half of his ten shots from the field. Shane Sowden, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, led Catholic with 17 points and seven rebounds, making eight of 11 shots from the field. Scott Fumai added 13 points and Stephen Wheeler added 10.  Pat Satalin and Patrick Dwyer of CUA, Matt Grendal of Salve Regina and Maine-Fort Kent’s Darius Parker also made the All-Tournament Team

2004 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
Parish leads MIT to Hampton Inn title over Endicott
Brandon Parrish scored 20 points and Mike D’Auria added 19 to lead M.I.T. to a 74-69 victory over Endicott College in the 6th annual Hampton Inn Basketball Classic championship game played Saturday at the Tripp Athletic Center.  Parrish, who made five three-pointers, including three in the first half, was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. He was joined by D’Auria on the All-Tournament team for MIT (2-0).  MIT grabbed a 38-34 at halftime and outscored Endicott College, 36-35, in the second half. Alex Krull also scored in double figures for MIT with 10 points.  Samuel Evans led Endicott College with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Josh Oxton added 13 points and Nemanja Marinkovic added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Gulls (1-1).  Evans and Marinkovich were named to the All-Tournament team along with Brandon Parrish from Roger Williams University and Chris Lapriore from UMass Dartmouth.  In the consolation round game, UMass Dartmouth defeated Roger Williams University, 87-84, in overtime.  UMass Dartmouth’s Billy Cardoza hit a three-point shot with 2.2 seconds left in regulation to force the extra session,

2003 Hampton Inn Classic Review
Britto, Pawlowski lead Corsairs to Hampton Inn crown
Joey Britto (Fairhaven, MA) and Matt McAulliffe (Sutton, MA) each scored 20 points to lead UMass Dartmouth to an 83-57 victory over MIT in the championship game of the fifth annual Hampton Inn Basketball Classic at the Tripp Athletic Center.  Britto earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors with his 20 points along with five rebounds and three three-pointers. He also earned Honor Roll distinction from the Little East Conference for his efforts.  Paul Pawlowski (Taunton, MA) who had seven points and a pair of rebounds joined him on the All-Tournament team.  Jeff Hambley (South Hadley, MA) added 11 points on three of six from three-point range for the Corsairs, who recaptured the tournament championship for the fourth time in five years.  Andrew Tsai led MIT (1-1) with 16 points, including four of five from three-point range.  Tsai and teammate Kyle Doherty (11 points) were the named to the All-Tournament team for the Engineers.  UMass Dartmouth raced out to a 41-22 lead at halftime and cruised to the 26-point victory.

2002 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
UMD falls to Wheaton College HIBC final, 85-79
For the first time in the four-year history of the Hampton Inn Basketball Classic, the trophy does not reside in the UMass Dartmouth trophy case.  Wheaton College snapped the Corsairs’ three-year hold on the title, taking an 85-79 victory over the host Corsairs in the Hampton Inn Finals on Nov. 23.  UMass Dartmouth held a 38-37 lead at the half, but Wheaton College shot 44.1% in the second half and connected on 15 of 17 free throws to secure the six-point victory.  Josean Vega, the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player led the Lyons with 23 points.  For the Corsairs, who defeated Salve Regina in the tournament opener, 78-56, Matt McAulliffe (Sutton, MA) led the way with 20 points, including six of 10 from three point range.  Sean Walsh (East Sandwich, MA) added 18 points and six rebounds, while Jason Wiggins (Bloomfield, CT) added 13 points and nine rebounds.  Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA) added 13 points and seven assists in a losing effort. Joining Vega on the All-Tournament team were McAuliffe and Gaspar from UMass Dartmouth along with Tom Morrissey of Salve Regina, Scot Mahan of Wheaton College and Kyle Petrie of Bowdoin College.

2001 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
Corsairs capture HIBC with win over Colby-Sawyer
UMass Dartmouth's Ivan Britto (New Bedford, MA) scored 23 points, including 7 of 9 three-pointers, to lead the Corsairs to an 89-86 victory over Colby-Sawyer College on Nov. 17 for the championship of the Third Annual Hampton Inn Basketball Classic at the Tripp Athletic Center. The Corsairs' championship was the third in as many years for the season kick-off tournament sponsored by Lafrance Hospitality, owners of The Hampton Inn in Fairhaven, Westport and Franklin.  A senior guard, Britto was selected the Hampton Inn Basketball Classic Most Valuable Player. Also named to the All-Tournament team were UMass Dartmouth's Steve Patrick (Lynn, MA) along with Calen Paquette and Grant Kelly from Colby-Sawyer College. A pair of three-pointers by Brian Austin (Winchendon, MA) and captain Ryan Cassidy (Framingham, MA) gave the Corsairs a 79-73 lead with 3:40 to play. Britto nailed two three-pointers down the stretch, one with 1:49 to play and another with 55.9 seconds remaining to put the game away. Patrick had 18 points and 5 rebounds for UMass Dartmouth, while Chris Lapriore (Grafton, MA) had 17 points and 11 rebounds. 

2000 Hampton Inn Classic Review:
HIBC goes to Corsairs over Colby-Sawyer, 69-51
Senior center Nick Cecilio scored 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead UMass Dartmouth to a 69-51 victory over Colby-Sawyer College Saturday afternoon Nov. 18, 2000 for the championship of the second annual Hampton Inn Basketball Classic.  Cecilio was selected the Hampton Inn Basketball Classic Most Valuable Player. Also named to the All-Tournament team was UMass Dartmouth guard Tim Gaspar, who finished with 4 points with 8 assists, 5 steals and 4 rebounds. Also named to the All-Tournament team were Grant Kelly and Calen Paquette of Colby-Sawyer College along with Morales Louis of MCLA and Joe Kramarcczyk of Dominican University. The Corsairs (2-0) held a 5-point lead at halftime (37-32), before putting the game out of reach with a run early in the second half and solid defense throughout the game.

1999 Hampton Inn Classic Review
First HIBC goes to Corsairs, 82-72 winner over RWU
UMass Dartmouth’s Marques Houtman scored 25 points and Brian Cagle (Norwich, CT) added 16 points and 13 rebounds to lift the Corsairs to an 82-72 victory over Roger Williams University Saturday afternoon at the Tripp Athletic Center.  The victory gave the host Corsairs the championship of the inaugural Hampton Inn Basketball Classic.  Houtman, a junior guard from New Bedford, MA, earned All-Tournament and Most Valuable Player honors for the Corsairs. Joining Houtman on the All-Tournament team were Cagle, along with Chris Bagdis of Roger Williams University, Rob Robledo of Clark University and Jason Anderson of Fitchburg State College.

Hampton Inn Basketball Classic 1999-2007

Combined Team Records 1999-2007

Tournament Results Through the Years – 1999-2007