Coast Guard wins NEWMAC title in men's basketball

<p>Coast Guard wins NEWMAC title in men’s basketball</p>

<p>Bears qualify for NCAA Div. III tournament for the second straight year</p>

<p>Worcester, Mass. — Steve Blum equaled his career-high with 19 points to help lift the Coast Guard Academy men’s basketball team to an 82-66 victory over WPI in the championship game of the New England women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon.</p>

<p>It marked the second straight year the visiting Bears have defeated the Engineers in the title game. Coast Guard earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. The field will be announced at noon Monday with first round games slated to be played Thursday and Friday. WPI, who has earned an NCAA bid the last three years, sits on the bubble. </p>

<p>Blum, who was 8-of-11 from the floor, was one of four Coast Guard players in double figures. Grant Johnson scored 17 points to go along with game-highs of nine rebounds (all defensive) and seven assists. Al Sowers scored 15 points while freshman Jevon James came off the bench to score 11 points.</p>

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<p>Way to go!</p>