Boston, MA --- Justin Molen (Newark, MA) poured in a game-high 28 points, Nicholas Margetson (Baldwin, NY) dished out a career-best eight assists and Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) knocked down four 3-pointers as WPI reached the 20-win mark and clinched a share of the NEWMAC regular-season championship and the conference tournament's top seed with an 83-75 victory over host Emerson on Wednesday evening.
 
With the triumph, WPI — ranked 24th in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 and 28th in the most recent Division III NPI — improves to 20-4 overall and 13-2 in conference play, while Emerson falls to 9-15 on the season and 5-10 in NEWMAC action. The Crimson and Gray remain one game ahead of second-place Babson (a 61-49 home winner over MIT) with one contest remaining, and the Boynton Hillers own the tiebreaker by virtue of their season sweep of the Beavers.
 
The Engineers have now captured five consecutive league crowns and a NEWMAC-best 14 regular-season titles. It also marks the 19th time in the last 22 seasons — and sixth straight year — the Crimson and Gray have reached the 20-win plateau under head coach Chris Bartley.
 
Molen posted 8-of-12 shooting and a perfect 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line while adding four rebounds and four assists. Reidy buried four 3-pointers on his way to 14 points and chipped in three assists, while J.R. Newman (Havertown, PA) also netted 14 points and collected three rebounds. Nathan Bledsoe (San Antonio, TX) provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and five boards, and Margetson orchestrated the offense with eight assists to go along with four points and two rebounds.
 
Jacob Armant (Plano, TX) led Emerson with 25 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and converting all seven of his free-throw attempts while adding four rebounds and three assists. Linus Helmhold (Hamburg, Germany) contributed 20 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting performance, including a perfect 2-for-2 effort from beyond the arc, and grabbed six rebounds. Giulio Volonte () provided a strong interior presence with 16 points and a team-best eight rebounds as the Lions shot 42 percent from the field and connected on nine 3-pointers in the setback.
 
WPI used balanced scoring and strong ball movement to take a 38-29 lead into halftime against Emerson. The Engineers jumped out early behind a pair of 3-pointers from Reidy and continued to find success inside as Newman and Matt Morvillo (Lynnfield, MA) supplied key baskets to build separation. Margetson directed the offense throughout the half, helping WPI assist on 12 of its 13 field goals.
 
Emerson remained within striking distance thanks to free throws and timely scoring from Helmhold but WPI consistently responded to maintain control. A late 3-pointer and two free throws from Molen helped the Engineers preserve the nine-point cushion heading into the locker room.
 
The Crimson and Gray maintained control coming out of the break, pushing their advantage to double digits behind timely perimeter shooting and interior finishes from Molen and Bledsoe. A 3-pointer from Bledsoe at the 10:08 mark and a driving layup by Newman moments later helped the Engineers build a 60-53 cushion, while free throws from Newman and a layup from Jack Bleier (Victor, NY) kept the margin intact.
 
WPI later stretched the lead to 12 following a Molen layup with 7:50 remaining, but a pair of 3-pointers from Armant trimmed the deficit to three at 66-63. Reidy then buried a deep triple to beat the shot clock with 2:12 to play, helping the Engineers fend off the Lions' final charge.

WPI closes out the regular season Saturday, hosting Wheaton for Senior Day in Harrington Auditorium with a 1pm tip, while Emerson wraps up its slate on Hank Smith Court against Babson at 3pm.