Lancaster, Pa. – (2/20/2022) – With completion of Saturday's (Feb. 19) contests, league commissioner Jessica Huntley has officially announced the field for the 2021-2022 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. Tiebreakers in hand, Marymount University edged out Neumann University for the top seed and a bye in the first round of the postseason bracket. Quarterfinal play will take place on Monday, February 21; as the #3 seed, Gwynedd Mercy University will host #6 Centenary University for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off. Likewise, the Knights will host #7 Marywood University and #4 Cabrini University will host #5 Immaculata University.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University (15-9, 7-5) and Centenary University (10-12, 4-8) played their two regular season meetings within a week of each other and saw the visiting team victorious in both affairs. The Griffins lost the first game in overtime, where the Cyclones proved to be the superior side with a 6-0 mid-period run that sunk Gwynedd Mercy University in an eventual 92-85 (0:24) final. Graduate guard Matt O'Connor (Philadelphia, Pa.) led four Griffins in double figures with a season-high 25 points. He also recorded a rebound and three assists. Senior guard Ty Jones (Harlem, N.Y.) offered 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Graduate forward Donaven Spencer (Sicklerville, N.J.) contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. And sophomore guard Manny Clark (Pottsgrove, Pa.) scored all 15 of his points in the second half; he added five rebounds and two assists to a 6-of-8 (.750) shooting performance that included a pair of three pointers (2-of-3, .667) and an additional free throw (1-of-1, 1.000).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University got revenge for the overtime loss in a lower-scoring affair on February 7. This time Jones headlined the Griffins' 62-57 victory with his fourth double-double of the season; 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jones' performance was supported by 14 points, four rebounds, six assists, and a steal from O'Connor as well as valuable contributions from Clark (11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals) and Spencer (5 points, 14 rebounds, 1 steal). In the end, a 56-35 rebounding advantage and a 10-of-12 (.833) free throw shooting performance ensured the Griffin win.
 
The Griffins finished the season with a five-win February that included league wins over Cabrini University (W, 68-55 on Feb. 5), the Cyclones, Immaculata University twice over (W, 55-50 on Feb. 9 and W, 92-88 on Feb. 14), and Marywood University (W, 90-81 (OT) on Feb. 16). Parker (15.0 PPG), Jones (12.9), Clark (10.9), and O'Connor (10.8) finished the regular season averaging double digits, while Spencer has been a consistent force in the paint with 9.8 points per game (PPG) and 8.0 rebounds per game (RPG). Parker has paired his team-high scoring average with 3.2 RPG, 26 assists, six blocks, and 24 steals. Jones has turned it on since New Year's with four performances of 20 points or more and four double-doubles. Meanwhile, Clark and O'Connor's peaks have played a major roles in the multiple Gwynedd Mercy University victories.