PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. ­– The top-seeded Pace University men's basketball team defeated Stonehill College inside the Goldstein Fitness Center, 83-73, in the quarterfinals of the NE10 Championship Tournament on Monday.
 
The Setters' eighth straight victory sends them to the NE10 semifinals for the first time since 2007. Pace will now host Franklin Pierce on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
 
Pace led the game wire-to-wire, thwarting several Skyhawk comeback attempts.
 
On the same day that he was named to the NE10 All-Conference First Team, junior forward Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) was plagued by foul trouble and only played 19 minutes, but he made the most of every one of them. 
 
Powell scored a team-high 24 points, going 9-of-11 from the field, and knocking down all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, to go along with team-highs of six rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Graduate student Dominick Cristiano (Valhalla, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic/Greens Farm Academy) also dealt with foul trouble, but as with Powell it didn't hinder his play, as the Valhalla-native made all seven of his field-goal attempts, including two thunderous second-half dunks, for 15 points and five rebounds.
 
"Both of those guys work extremely hard, they're total team-first players, no selfishness, and it's a real testament to them," said head coach Matt Healing. "They remained composed. Bryan didn't play much of the first half, but he stayed locked in, cheering on his teammates, and then when he came in, he didn't miss a beat. That's what it's all about."
 
"Even though I was off the court, it was important for me to find ways to help my teammates like they help me," said Powell. "Making sure their heads were in the game, making sure to tell them things they can't see on the floor from the perspective of someone who is off it. It also helped me stay locked in for when I got back into the game," he added.
 
Grad students, Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and Austin Gilbertson (Etters, Pa./Trinity) were the Setters' other double-digit scorers on the night, as well as being the team's main facilitators. Jacobs scored 13 points to go with six assists, while Gilbertson went for 12 points and eight assists.
 
Pace will now host the Northeast #2 seed Franklin Pierce on Thursday night, with the winner advancing to the NE10 Championship Tournament finals on Sunday.
 
Pace lost to the Ravens on the road, 89-85, back on Jan. 25.
 
"I wouldn't want it any other way to be honest with you," said Powell. "I like seeing a team that we lost to in the regular season. We have to bring our energy and focus and correct our mistakes."



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The Blue and Gold will be back home on Thursday night to host Franklin Pierce at 7 p.m.