2023 MBB Tournament Bracket

Worcester State has claimed the top spot in the 2023 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament after their regular season championship winning season. The tournament begins Tuesday with the quarterfinal games.

Starting off the tournament is the quarterfinal contests on Tuesday, February 21 with #3 Westfield State hosting #6 MCLA and #4 Salem State hosting #5 Fitchburg State both at 5:30 pm. In the semifinals on Thursday, February 23, #2 Bridgewater State will host the winner of Westfield State/MCLA while #1 Worcester State will host the winner of Salem State/Fitchburg State.

The tournament concludes Saturday, February 25 with the championship game between the two semifinal winners. Location and time is yet to be determined. Not only will winning team take home the MASCAC crown, but they earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Lancers grabbed the top spot in this year's tournament after going undefeated in MASCAC play with a 12-0 mark. Aaron Nkrumah finished the regular season atop the league in several categories, including total points (399) and steals (64) while finishing second in points per game (17.3). He also blocked 21 shots, 182 total rebounds and 50 assists this season.

Earning the second first round bye with the second seed is Bridgewater State. The Bears were 8-4 in conference action. In his first season with the team, Emerson Halbleib found a spot on the conference leader board, finishing first in block (64) and field goal percentage (68.1), third in total points (357), rebounds per game (10.2), total rebounds (254) and more specifically, defensive rebounds (173). He also had 41 steals and 43 assists.

Westfield State lands the third seed after finishing the regular season 8-4 in the league schedule. Leading the way for the Owls is JT Thompson who ended the regular season first in free throw percentage (79.1), third in points per game (16) and in the top 10 for three-point percentage (36.4) and steals (31).

With the final hosting duties in the quarterfinal round is Salem State with the fourth seed. The Vikings had five wins throughout the MASCAC slate of games. Connor Byrne concluded the regular season towards the top of the MASCAC. He was second in total points (370) defensive rebounds (181) and rebounds per game (10.4), third in field goal percentage (52.8) and fourth in blocks (35).

Landing the final two tournament spots are Fitchburg State and MCLA in fifth and sixth, respectively. The Falcons had four wins and the Trailblazers three in league play. Quincy Taylor nearly averaged a double-double of points and rebounds at 9.7 and 11 per game. He had the second most rebounds (263) and fourth-best field goal percentage (52.1) in the conference. Noah Yearsley finished the regular season first in the MASCAC in points per game, averaging 20.5 with 5.1 rebounds. He collected 36 assists, 35 blocks and 27 steals while shooting 73.8 percent from the charity stripe.

During the 2022 MASCAC Men's Basketball Tournament, Westfield State defeated Worcester State to win their second straight tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.