SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Junior forward Jim Bayne (Bristol, CT) had game-highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds as the top-seeded Golden Bears held on for a 68-62 victory over second-seeded Saint Joseph's in the title game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship before a boisterous crowd of 869 at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

Bayne was named the Tournament MVP after compiling his 12th double-double of the season. He was the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player-of-the-Year this past season.

The victory gave the Golden Bears a final record of 22-8 that tied as the second highest win total in the program's history and its first ever post-season tournament title. The Monks, competing in their first ECAC Championship, also finished 22-8.

Both teams traded leads in the opening half before St. Joseph's settled down to take a 28-25 lead at half-time.

There were three ties in the first 1:36 of the second stanza before the Golden Bears opened a four-point cushion at 36-32 at the 17:14 mark.

After the Monks cut the margin to one with a basket, Western New England went on a 13-0 run for a 49-35 advantage capped by a three-pointer by junior guard Ryan Hernandez (Hampton Bays, NY) with 10:49 left in the contest. Hernandez then drilled another three-pointer that gave the hosts its biggest lead at 58-41 with 5:55 remaining.

The Monks, however, staged a gallant comeback scoring nine straight points to get within 58-50 after two free throws by senior forward Matt Plummer (Naples, ME) with 3:28 left. Another charity shot by Plummer got the visitors within five at 63-58 with 1:17 remaining, but the Golden Bears made five free throws in the final 50.5 seconds to seal the contest.

St. Joseph's (22-8) had four players scoring in double figures led by sophomore forward Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, NY) with 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Senior forward Colby Emmons (Portland, ME) (10 points, 7 rebounds) and Plummer (10 points, 6 rebounds) played well coming off the bench. Graduate student guard Chad Pulkkinen (Windham, ME) chipped-in with 10 points and five rebounds.

WNEC junior guard Asif Abdul-Wadud (Springfield, MA) played a key role compiling a double-double of 11 points and a career high 10 assists. He committed only two turnovers in 37 minutes against the persistent Monks' pressure defense.