Mountaineers Claim Championship;
Make March Madness Appearance
Alisha Yocum
The Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball Team captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship with a decisive 63-49 victory over the Iona Gaels on March 16. This win marked the Mountaineers’ 22nd victory of the season, setting a new record for most wins in a single season as a Division I program. The previous record of 22 wins was achieved during the 1986-87 season when the team was still competing at the Division II level.
Tournament MVP Dallas Hobbs led the Mount with 18 points and 7 assists, playing a crucial role in securing the championship. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Dola Adebayo and Arlandus Keyes, both of whom made significant contributions to the Mountaineers’ offensive success.
With the MAAC title in hand, Mount St. Mary’s earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament Opening Round/First Four, marking just the seventh tournament appearance in school history.
The Mountaineers faced American University, where Jedy Cordilia and Adebayo each scored 22 points, while Hobbs added 16, leading the team to an 83-72 victory—just the third NCAA Tournament win in school history. Their previous tournament wins came in 2008 against Coppin State and 2017 against New Orleans.
However, the road ahead was a daunting one. The Mountaineers squared off against top-seeded Duke, a powerhouse program with 47 NCAA Tournament appearances. Keyes led the Mountaineers’ offense with 15 points, all coming from three-pointers, matching his season high. Despite their efforts, the Mount couldn’t overcome Duke’s firepower. Blue Devils’ guard Tyrese Proctor scored 19 points, while star freshman Cooper Flagg returned from an ankle injury to help propel Duke to a dominant 93-49 victory. With the win, Duke advanced to face No. 9-seeded Baylor, securing another victory and entering the next round as this article goes to print.
While the season came to an end against Duke, the Mountaineers’ remarkable run was highlighted by the success of Head Coach Danny Lind. In his first season, Lind led the team to a 23-win campaign, surpassing legendary coach Jim Phelan, who recorded 22 wins in his inaugural season in 1954-55.
Though their tournament journey was cut short, Mount St. Mary’s proved itself as a rising force, making history and setting the stage for future success.
Mount Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball team celebrates after winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Senior Jedy Cordelia goes up for a basket during Mount Saint Mary’s March Madness appearance against Duke.
Photos Courtesy of Mount St. Mary’s University
