WORCESTER, Mass. — Tournament Most Outstanding Player Will Tashman, an MIT sophomore, notched game-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds, and MIT shot a sizzling 72.7 percent from the floor in the second half to upset top seed and host WPI 63-52 in the championship game of the 2011 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, MIT (19-8) captures its second NEWMAC crown in the last three years and assures itself a bid to a third consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament. WPI, which was playing in its sixth final in the last seven years, entered the week ranked third in New England in the latest regional rankings and should receive strong consideration for an at-large bid. Tournament selections will be announced on Monday at 1 p.m.

Trailing 28-26 at half, the visitors rattled off the first six points of the second stanza and would not relinquish the lead the rest way. The advantage swelled to 12 following a conventional 3-point play by Eric Zuk with 8:28, capping a 13-2 run. WPI battled back with six straight points, including four from Jeffrey Robinson to slice the advantage to 46-40, but MIT responded with a 9-2 spurt that featured 6-for-6 shooting from the free throw line to secure the victory.

To read a full recap of the game, visit the MIT Athletics website.

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