DOVER, DE. -- Gwynedd Mercy fell in the championship game of the Atlantic East Men's Basketball Tournament, 91-88, at Wesley Saturday afternoon.

The Griffins held a lead until late in the first half but were unable to reclaim that edge in the second half, but not after a valiant effort in doing so.

Rich Dunham scored 20 of his team-high 24 points in the second half, helping to close a deficit for the defending champs that reached 17 midway in the final stanza. Shane Ford topped his career-high effort on Thursday by netting 15 points off the bench. Jordan Perkins (13 points), Somah Slewion (12), and Austin Harriott (10) also went for double figures.

The Wolverines used Brian Cameron's 30 points, 22 of which came after halftime, along with 24 from Greg Bloodsworth to help claim their first Atlantic East Title.

Gwynedd shot 60% for the game (33-of-55) and held a 39-24 rebound edge, but just 5-of-16 from behind the arc and their 17 turnovers led to 24 Wolverine points. Ford's bucket in the paint with 8:09 in the first gave GMercyU its largest lead (25-16) but not before Wesley closed the period on a 22-7 run to take six-point advantage at the half.

A three from Mychal Stefanides put Wesley up by double digits with 15 minutes to play. Once the Griffins got it down to eight with just over a minute, Dunham hit from downtown to make it 84-79.

Dunham hit again from deep in the closing seconds, but the team would not get another possession.

The Griffins will now await a possible berth into the ECAC Tournament. Selections will be announced Monday evening.