Nighthawks Make History, win ECAC New England Championship

The Newbury College Nighthawk’s men’s basketball team made school history this season by being the first men’s basketball team to make the ECAC Championship post-season tournament. But just making the tournament was not enough for this team. Under the leadership of coaches Evan O’Brien (1st year) and Kyle O’Connor (2nd year), the Nighthawks finished their season with a record of 21-9, winning the 2008 ECAC Division III New England Men’s Basketball Championship, which they hosted on their own court.

Winning the ECAC tournament was definitely the highlight of the season for the Nighthawks, but that was not the only history that this team made. The Nighthawks also made national news this season in a wild matchup at Daniel Webster College after Newbury guard Steven Morris (Somerville, MA/Somerville) sank a 75-foot miracle shot that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, giving the visiting Nighthawks a stunning 100-97 overtime victory. The shot was featured in the #3 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Ten.

The men’s basketball team also had three student athletes selected to the 2007-2008 All-Independent Basketball Teams by the Association of Division III Independents. Newbury’s all-time leading scorer, senior guard Arch Mitchell (Framingham, MA/Framingham) was selected as First Team All-Independent. This is the third time that Mitchell has been selected as a first team recipient, having received the honor for the past two seasons. In his final season, Mitchell led the Nighthawks in scoring, averaging 20.0 points per game, shooting 49% from the field and 36% from behind the three point arc. Mitchell finished the 2007-2008 season with 601 points, and finished his career as a Nighthawk with 1955 total points. At the conclusion of the ECAC Championship, Mitchell was chosen as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, after racking up 78 points in the three-game championship.

For the second year in a row, senior Steven Morris was honored as a third team selection for the All-Independent Team. Morris was integral in running the Nighthawks' offense, dishing out 149 assists this season alone. Morris also collected 58 steals, and averaged 9.1 points per game for the Nighthawks. In his three seasons as a Nighthawk, Morris racked up 425 total assists, 705 total points, and 160 total steals.

The third Nighthawk to receive honors was Kevin Cleveland (Lynn, MA/Lynn Vocational Tech) who was chosen as a third team honoree for the All-Independent selections. Cleveland proved to be a highly versatile player for the Nighthawks, leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and steals (2.7 spg) and finishing third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and assists (3.2 apg). Cleveland also had the highest shooting percentage on the team, an impressive 60% from the field. Cleveland finished the 2007-2008 season with 408 points, 258 rebounds, 94 assists, and 80 steals. This is the first time on the All-Independent Team for Cleveland.

Ivan DaSilva (New Bedford, MA/West Bridgewater) and Javon Mathis (West Hartford, CT/Plainville) were also an integral part of the Nighthawks' outstanding season. DaSilva, a senior guard, finished his career at Newbury with an exceptional season, contributing 107 points, 129 rebounds, and 98 assists this year. Mathis proved to be a threat this season as well. Second on the team in scoring and rebounding with 418 points and 217 boards this season, Mathis, only a sophomore, will look to be a force for the Nighthawks in upcoming years.

Also returning for the Nighthawks and expecting to see plenty of floor time next year will be Paul Beckford (Somerville, MA/Somerville), John Rowley (Hartford, CT/Rockville), Husain Abdul-Gaffar (Springfield, MA/New Leadership Charter), Randy Orisma (Malden, MA/ Malden), and Neil Martin (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate).

The 2007-2008 men’s basketball season was one for the history books at Newbury College, with only more future successes to come for this program.

Coach

Evan O'Brien has been named Head Coach of the Men's Basketball team at Newbury College. This will be O'Brien's second year with the Nighthawks, starting the 2007-2008 season as an assistant, and taking over mid-year as the interim head coach. After taking over in the second half of the season, O'Brien led the Nighthawks to an outstanding 17-4 record. The Nighthawks finished the year with an impressive 21-9 record and the 2008 ECAC Division III New England Championship title.

O'Brien attended Suffolk University in Boston, MA, where he received his undergraduate degree in Government, in 2002, and a Masters degree in Business Administration, in 2005.

During his time at Suffolk, O'Brien was actively involved in the athletic department as a member of the men's basketball team as well as working in the department over the course of four years as an undergrad. O'Brien also worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Suffolk Athletic Department while he completed his Masters and served as an intern for the Boston Celtics in their Media Relations Department.

O'Brien has coached basketball for a number of years at the youth level as well as serving as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Lasell College. For more information about the Newbury College Men's Basketball team or to contact Coach O'Brien, please call 617-730-7165 or email evan.o'brien@newbury.edu.