WORCESTER -- The top-seeded and host WPI men's basketball team was defeated in the semifinals in the 2026 NEWMAC Tournament, falling to fourth-seeded Wheaton 82-60 inside Harrington Auditorium on Friday.
 
The Lyons (16-10) advance to the NEWMAC title game for the third time in program history. They will face No. 2 Babson, a 78-58 winner over Salve Regina in Friday's other semifinal, on the road on Sunday, March 1. Wheaton, in its first semifinal appearance since 2007, will appear in the NEWMAC title game for the third time in school history, and the first time since 2005. Their previous appearances included losses to Babson (44-42) in 2002, and WPI (64-60) in 2005.

The Engineers (21-4), ranked 21st nationally in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and 25th in Friday's latest NCAA NPI rankings, will now await its postseason fate when NCAA selections are announced on Monday, March 2 at 1pm on NCAA.com.
 
Wheaton placed four players in double figures and used a decisive second-half surge to upset WPI, which had won 27 consecutive meetings against the Lyons and 41 of the previous 45 matchups overall.
 
Wheaton senior Tristan Herry (East Taunton, Mass.) scored a game-high 25 points, going 7-of-13 from the floor and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. Junior Dimetri Iafrate (Johnston, R.I.) added 24 points, six rebounds and seven steals, while senior Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) contributed 13 points and seven boards. Morrissey's free throw with 1:19 remaining marked his 1,000th career point, making him the 18th player in Wheaton program history to reach the milestone. Senior Sal Pedevillano (Parsippany, N.J.) chipped in eight points as the Lyons shot 54% from the field.
 
For WPI, junior Justin Molen (Newark, DE) paced the Engineers with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Graduate student Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) added 10 points, while junior Nathan Bledsoe (San Antonio, TX) finished with nine points, knocking down three three-pointers. Freshman Ryan Vedovelli (West Springfield, MA) contributed eight points in a spirited effort off the bench for WPI.
 
The contest featured six ties and multiple lead changes in the opening 10 minutes before Wheaton created separation late in the first half. Iafrate scored on a pair of early drives and added a three-pointer, while Herry connected from deep as the Lyons built an early cushion.
 
WPI answered with threes from Bledsoe and Molen and a layup by senior Matt Morvillo (Bedford, MA) to draw even at 26-26. The Engineers later tied the game at 28-28 and again at 33-33 with 2:36 remaining, but Wheaton closed the half with six straight points. Herry converted two free throws and Iafrate followed with a layup and a free throw to send the Lyons into the locker room ahead 39-33.
 
Up six to start the second half, the Lyons opened the frame on a 14-5 surge that pushed the margin into double digits for good. Iafrate accounted for multiple early baskets during the stretch and Herry added four points as Wheaton built a 47-36 lead. The advantage grew to 62-43 midway through the half and remained at least 15 points the rest of the way, with the Lyons extending the margin to as many as 22 before closing out the 82-60 victory.
 
Wheaton converted 20-of-24 free throws and held WPI to 40% shooting while forcing 15 turnovers. The Lyons also owned a 30-20 advantage in points in the paint and turned 12 steals into transition opportunities.