Story thanks to Marywood University Athletic Communications

Hackettstown, N.J. — Fifth-seeded Marywood University defeated No. 4 Centenary University 82-66 in the Atlantic East Conference men's basketball first round on Monday. The Pacers advanced to the Atlantic East semifinals to take on top-seeded Neumann University on Wednesday. 

Marywood (14-12) earned its second-ever conference playoff victory in program history. The Pacers broke their 31-year playoff victory drought last season in a first round win over Cabrini University.

Brendan Franko led the Pacers with 23 points and eight rebounds. Franko made 7 of 14 from the field with two assists and two steals. 

Michel Loftin scored 16 points with four steals. Corey Perkins had 11 points.

Centenary's Kenneth Rankin led the Cyclones with 24 points and nine rebounds. Devin Strickland scored 19 points, and Jasir Lane had 12 rebounds. 

Marywood came back from trailing by as many as 5-points in the second half. Behind 46-41 with 14:09, Michel Loftin sank a 3-pointer from Mason Mendygral. Cole Johnson made a pair of free throws to even the score at 46-46. After a tip-in basket from the Cyclones, Johnson came through again with a 3-pointer to claim a 49-48 advantage with 11:02 remaining. 

Loftin's two free throws made it a 12-2 run over a 4:11 span. 

Strickland brought the Cyclones within single digits at 6:30. From there, Marywood scored six straight to take the lead to 14 points, out of reach of Centenary down the stretch. Corey Perkins made a layup on the next possession, followed by free throws by Shilo Bivins. 

Marywood limited Centenary to a 36.67 percent shooting clip in the second half. The Pacers were 26 for 28 (92.9 percent) from the free-throw line. 

The Pacers won for the fourth time in five meetings against the Cyclones. It was the first time the two programs have faced in the postseason.

Marywood's bench outscored the Cyclones by a 44-21 margin. Centenary dominated the Pacers 17-6 in second-chance points.