BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton men's basketball team captured the North Atlantic B District championship and punched their ticket to the NJCAA national championship tournament with a, 96-86, win over visiting Brookdale Community College on Saturday evening in front of a packed and excited crowd at the Arthur L. Scott Center.

The Spartans, ranked 9th in the final NJCAA regular season poll and the top seed for the North Atlantic B District bracket, jumped out to a, 47-40, halftime lead over the 3rd seed Jersey Blues and never looked back as the Spartans rolled to their first ever North Atlantic B District championship in program history.

"So proud of our team, players, program and coaches," explained Spartans Head Coach Brennan McCarthy, "This has been the goal from the start and today this collective group achieved the goal and made their special mark on our program. This was a complete team effort from top to bottom and start to finish and that is why I am so proud. This is something that can never be taken away from this group of young men. Champions. Plus, now we get the opportunity to continue playing as a unit a little longer and play in the national tournament. I am just so happy for this group and thankful for all the efforts."

Sophomore guard Kevin Rucker (Philadelphia, PA/Monsignor Bonner Prendergast) was the headliner with a game-high 27 points and 6 rebounds. Rucker was also 8-12 from the free throw line. Terrence Cobb (Chester, PA/STEM Academy) had 20 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists while also shooting 7-7 from the charity stripe. Jahad Marable (Philadelphia, PA/Science Leadership Academy - Beeber) helped spread the offense with 17 points and Mekhi Shillingford (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood High School) added 7 points with a game-high 13 boards. Sophomore Lamaj Mapp (Darby, PA/Penn Wood High School) added 8 points and 9 rebounds off the bench.

Northampton improves to 26-4 overall. Brookdale ends their season with a record of 21-10.

The Spartans will now advance to the 2026 NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball championship tournament held March 11-14 at Herkimer College in Herkimer, New York.

National tournament seeding will be announced Wednesday, March 4 at 6pm via the NJCAA Network.