AMHERST, N.Y. —The No. 6-seeded Assumption University men's basketball is in the NCAA East Regional Final / NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Greyhounds will battle the No. 5-seeded Saint Thomas Aquinas College Spartans on Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 pm in the Lumsden Gymnasium on the campus of Daemen University. The winner will advance to the NCAA Elite-Eight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. 
 
No. 6 Assumption University Greyhounds
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record: 21-9 (14-6 NE10), 9-6 at home, 10-3 on the road, 2-0 at neutral sites. 

• Three Greyhounds players were voted for All-Northeast-10 Conference honors: Daouda Dembele was named to the Second Team and All-Defensive Team, Njavan Stewart was named to the Third Team, and Lenny Tangishaka was honored to the All-Rookie Team.
• Assumption's offense had the top ranking (80.4 PPG) in the Northeast-10 Conference this season while ranking sixth in points allowed per game (73.8). 
• The Greyhounds have been known for their balance this season, ranking in the top ten nationally in bench points per game (8th—36.93). The Hounds are also ranked in the top 25 nationally in fast break points (12th — 17.82) and blocks per game (22nd—4.3)
• Assumption has not faced off against St. Thomas Aquinas since December 14, 2022, when the Spartans won the non-conference meeting 72-58. Jamal Barnes on the STAC Spartans—yes, Jamal Barnes- led the game by scoring 23 points. He went 6-11 from beyond the arc.

 
STATISTICS:

• Points Per Game: Njavan Stewart (11.2), Daouda Dembele (10.9), Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton (9.9)
• Rebounds Per Game: Daouda Dembele (6.3), Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton (5.6), Baril Mawo (5.4)
• Assists Per Game: Zee McCown (3.7), Noah Payne (2.6), Lenny Tangishaka (2.0)
• Field Goal Percentage: Baril Mawo (.538), Lenny Tangishaka (.521), Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton (.484)
• 3-Point Percentage: Lenny Tangishaka (.420), Njavan Stewart (.387), Baril Mawo (.385)

 
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY

• The Greyhounds' last East Regional Championship win came 50 years ago when Assumption defeated Bentley 87-82. 
• Assumption is making its 28th appearance in the National Dance. They are 38-30 after Sunday's 81-75 win over No. 7 Dominican (NY) and Saturday's quarterfinal 92-66 win over SNHU.
• 2008 was the last year Assumption made the final of the East Regional.
• The Hounds won five straight regional titles (1971-1975).
• The last time the Greyhounds were in the East Regional (2012-2013), No. 3 Assumption played to a 73-65 win over No. 6 SNHU. The Greyhounds were eliminated in the semifinal by No. 7 Bridgeport by a close score of 58-56.

No. 5 Saint Thomas Aquinas College Spartans
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record: 25-9 (13-3 CACC), 9-4 at home, 12-3 on the road, 4-2 at neutral.

• Four Spartans earned ECC All-Conference honors: Hartnel Haye was named to the First Team, Shaun Arnold was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Year and honored on the Second Team, and Derrick James and Luis Risquez were also featured on the Second Team. 
• St. Thomas is ranked inside the top ten in five team statistics: Assist: Turnover Ratio (8th—1.58), Bench Points Per Game (6th—32.5), Offensive Rebounds (5th—15.5), Rebounds Per Game (6th—43.50), and Turnover Margin (5th—5.0)

 
STATISTICS:

• Points Per Game: Luis Risquez (11.8), Hartnel Haye (11.5), Shaun Arnold (11.2)
• Rebounds Per Game: Hartnel Haye (7.9), Shaun Arnold (6.9), Luis Risquez (6.1)
• Assists Per Game: Derrick James (4.7), Shaun Arnold (1.9), Troy'reon Ramos (1.7)
• Field Goal Percentage: Daouda Traore (.583), Luis Risquez (.515), Kyle Jones (.500)
• 3-Point Percentage: Deshawne Crim (.383), Troy'reon Ramos (.356), Derrick James (.303)

POSTSEASON HISTORY

• This is the team's tenth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, with the seven trips (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) coming under former coach Tobin Anderson and the last three appearances (2023, 2024, 2025) coming under current Head Coach Matt Capell's watch. St. Thomas Aquinas College is 9-7 in 16 previous NCAA East Region postseason matchups.
• 2024-25 ECC Tournament Runner-Up. Lost the conference title game to No. 1 Daemen 88-80.
• Made the East Regional Final / NCAA Sweet 16 by beating No. 2 Pace in the opening round 79-72 and eliminated No. 1 and then-undefeated Daemen 79-74 on Sunday night. 

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