HERKIMER, N.Y — The top-seeded Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team saw five players score in double figures as their fast pace subdued ninth seeded Genesee Community College on Thursday afternoon, 99-78.
The Knights 31st win of the season propels them onto the program’s first-ever NJCAA Final Four. Northern Essex next plays on Friday night in the national semifinal game.
Haverhill’s Alejandro Delgado gave the Knights the lead for good with a hoop that made it 10-8. The lead expanded to as many as 25 in the first half before NECC took a 44-23 advantage to the halftime break.
Delgado led five Knights in double figures as he had team highs of 14 points and nine rebounds. Lawrence’s Joan Vidal and Johnarieus Davis each scored 11, while Alex Johnson and Jay’von Depina dropped 10 apiece.
Cristian Moscat of Lawrence added nine points on three of five shooting from behind the three-point arc. Yunosuke Matsuda also finished with nine points and a game high six assists.
For the game, the Knights shot 54.9 percent from the floor including 47.4 percent from three (9-19). Genesee was held to 34.6 percent shooting and the Knights bench outscored Genesee, 48-20.
NECC faces Salem CC in the semis, Friday at 5 p.m.