Men’s Basketball Faces UCAP in Region 21 Tournament Play-In, Wednesday

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit men's basketball team will host the University of Connecticut at Avery Point in a Region 21 Tournament play-in game, on Wednesday at 6 PM.

The Warriors earned the No. 4 seed, finishing 12-8 in Region 21 play and 13-11 overall. UCAP, the fifth seed, owned an 11-9 league record and went 11-11 for the year.

The two squads met twice during the regular season, with the Pointers getting the better of the Warriors in both meetings. UCAP claimed the first game, 72-65, and edged Massasoit in the second matchup, 76-73 in overtime.

Over the last 10 matchups between Massasoit and UCAP, the Warriors own a slight edge with a record of 6-4. Most recently, the last seven contests have been decided by an average of 5.3 points, with four of those being by three points or less.

Both the Warriors and Pointers will be looking to right their ships on Wednesday, as the two teams have faltered in the second half of the season. Massasoit enters the regional tournament dropping four in a row and six of its last seven. UCAP defeated Gateway in its season finale to get into the regional tourney and had lost seven of eight prior to that contest.

Mike Ward (Brockton) tops the Warriors in scoring, netting 20.6 per game along with pulling down 8.5 boards per contest. Ward is just 26 points shy of netting 500 for the season. Ian Wade (11.2) and Jovani Harper-Lopez (10.6) also are averaging in double figures.

For the Pointers, Will Orr pours in a team-high 18.5 ppg, followed by Tyrell Martinez at 13.5.

The other Region 21 play-in game features No. 3 seed MassBay hosting No. 6 Gateway on Wednesday at 7 PM in Framingham, Mass.

The Wednesday night winners will advance to the regional semifinals hosted by Massasoit on Saturday where No. 1 Bunker Hill and No. 2 Bristol await their opponents.