BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The nationally ranked Northampton men's basketball team advanced to the North Atlantic B District championship on Wednesday evening with a, 72-64, victory over Bergen Community College in front of an energetic crowd at the Arthur L. Scott Center.

Northampton, ranked 9th in the final regular season NJCAA national poll, and the top seed in the North Atlantic B District bracket, used a strong 2nd half to muscle past visiting 7th seed Bergen Community College.

The Spartans and Bulldogs were tied at the half, 37-37, and the Spartans outscored the visitors, 35-27, and put the game away in the final minutes of the second half to seal the win and advance to Saturday's championship game.

The Spartans dominated on the boards with 59 rebounds while also forcing 11 turnovers and 10 steals. 

"Great battle tonight and excited to see us moving on," stated Spartans Head Coach Brennan McCarthy, "This was a hard and physical game tonight and we answered the challenge. Playoff Basketball. Bergen gave us all we could handle and we did what we needed to do to get the victory and move on to Saturday. Proud of our team. Back to work tomorrow."

Sophomore Kevin Rucker (Philadelphia, PA/Monsignor Bonner Prendergast) led the Spartans with 24 points with 4 rebounds while Terrence Cobb (Chester, PA/STEM Academy) chipped in with 20 points and 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Mekhi Shillingford (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood High School) scored 11 points with 14 rebounds for a double-double and Jahad Marable (Philadelphia, PA/Science Leadership Academy - Beeber) scored 9 points and grabbed 8 boards in the win.

The Spartans improve to 25-4 overall on the season.

Bergen ends their season with an overall record of 15-13.

Northampton advances to the North Atlantic B District championship on Saturday at 6pm at the Arthur L. Scott Center. The Spartans will play the winner of the semi-final match-up between #3 Brookdale and #6 Union being played at Brookdale Community College on Thursday, February 26th.

The winner of Saturday's North Atlantic B District championship advances to the NJCAA national championship tournament being held March 11-14 at Herkimer College in Herkimer, New York.