The Baruch College Bearcats will continue to play basketball into the month of March as the Bearcats went on the road to defeat the Pioneers of William Paterson University, 64-57, in a first round contest of the ECAC Division III Championship on Wednesday night in Wayne, New Jersey.

Senior Chimaechi Ekekeugbor entered the contest needing 37 points for 2,000 to become the first Baruch player and only second in CUNYAC history to reach the rare milestone. He did just that with 37 points, including 20 in the second half, to send the Bearcats into the quarterfinals on Friday 8:00 p.m. against Widener University.

The quarterfinal, semifinal and championship will be hosted this weekend by Wilkes University in Wilkes, Pennsylvania. 

The playoff tonight was tightly contested with the host Pioneers owning a two-point halftime lead (30-28), but the visiting Bearcats took control in the second half shooting 53 percent, compared to 33 percent by the Pioneers, to secure the road victory and also avenge an earlier loss on December 29 (WPU 67, Bearcats 63).

Andre Harris totaled a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks to contribute to the postseason win.

The Pioneers end their season with a 16-13 record. They were led by Richy Espinal in the scoring column with 13 points and 15 rebounds.