The fourth-seeded Pride (11-15), which won for the sixth time in seven games, moves on to Friday’s semifinals when it will travel to WPI, the number-one seed, for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The winner advances to Saturday’s championship game with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament at stake.
SC shot a season-high 66.7 percent (28-42) from the floor, and hit 35-of-44 (79.5%) free throw attempts. Yvon, who was 17-of-18 from the free throw line, was one of four SC starters to score in double figures. Sophomore forward Mike DeCesar had 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Sophomore forward Joel Aponte added 14 points and junior guard Jason O’Tash chipped in with 13 points (5-of-6 FG) and six rebounds.
For Wheaton (15-11), junior guard Josean Vega poured in 27 points and senior forward Scott Mahan had 19 points.
The Pride held a tenuous 45-43 lead with 16:35 left in the second half when a basket by DeCesar sparked a decisive 17-6 run over the next 6:26 to extend the lead to 62-49 with 10:09 to play. The Pride, which led by as many as 16 (79-63), hit 15-of-17 free throw attempts in the final 2:15.