MANCHESTER, N.H.  – The top-seeded Saint Anselm College men's basketball team won its 11th Northeast 10 Conference Championship in program history, defeating No. 6 Saint Michael's College, 75-69, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
With the win, the Hawks receive the automatic bid from the NE10 for the Division II Men's Basketball Championship tournament with regional play set to begin on Friday, March 13 after seeding is decided on Selection Sunday.
 
Highlights 

• Saint Anselm improves to 11-5 all-time in the NE10 championship game, winning their last three appearances (2026, 2023, 2020). This was the first meeting between the Hawks and Purple Knights in the title game, as they Hawks improve to 4-0 all-time in the NE10 tournament against Saint Michael's.
• This marked the 135th all-time meeting between these two programs, as Saint Anselm improved to 79-56 all-time in the series, which began in 1939. The Hawks and Purple Knights met four times this season, with Saint Anselm winning all four matchups.
• Senior Josh Morissette led the team with 28 points, earning himself the NE10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, recording six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
• Sophomore Will Davies had 17 points, earning a spot on the NE10 All-Championship Team, with seven assists, five rebounds, and a block.
• Sophomore Jovan Ristic had another outstanding game on offense and on the glass, scoring 16 points with nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Sophomore Isaiah Griffin was a spark off the bench for the Hawks, scoring four points, going 2-2, while grabbing four boards with three assists and a steal.
• Saint Anselm only led for 13 minutes (34%) in the game, but outrebounded Saint Michael's 47-40 and won the turnover battle, 8-7.

How it Happened
 
Saint Michael's made its first two field goals, but the Purple Knights 5-0 lead was short lived after a quick response from the Hawks that tied things up at 9-9. Morissette knocked down a three on the next offensive possession for Saint Anselm, giving the Hawks their first lead of the game 12-11.
 
Saint Michael's continued to convert on their shots, retaking a five-point lead, 26-21, but a stepback three from Morissette, good for his 15th point of the first half, tied the score again at 30-30. The Purple Knights used a four-point play on a deep three to spark a 7-0 run, taking a 44-36 lead into the halftime break.
 
Davies opened the second half with a three and Morissette hit a fadeaway jumper in the lane to make it a one-point game, 46-45. The Purple Knights went back up by five, 50-45, but the Hawks offense exploded, fueling an 18-2 run as Ristic led the way, scoring nine points, giving Saint Anselm a 65-54 edge with 6:29 on the clock. Despite building a 13-point lead, 71-58, with under four minutes to play, Saint Michael's continued to fight back, making it a four-point game, 73-69, with under a minute to play.
 
Morissette iced the game with a pair of free throws as the Hawks came out with their 11th NE10 title in program history, 75-69.
 
Up Next
The Saint Anselm men's basketball team (23-7, 14-4 NE10) will await its seeding for the NCAA Division II Championship, which will be decided Sunday night at 11 p.m. during the D2 men's basketball selection show.
 

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