Box Score WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Top-seeded Binghamton men's tennis (16-9) roared past No. 3 seed St. Francis (Pa.) (12-8) 4-1 in the NEC Championship final Sunday afternoon at the Mercer County Tennis Courts. In an outdoor match played amid 20-mile-per-hour winds, the Bearcats won their first NEC title in their first year in the conference.  

Making the program's 13^th appearance in a Division I conference title match, BU won its 11^th championship and will advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2013. It was BU's first championship appearance since 2015 when they were runnersup in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Before that, BU won its 10^th and final America East championship in 2014.

The Bearcats surrendered the doubles point but turned it around in singles.

Junior No. 4 Zubin Omar was first off the courts with a 6-3, 6-4 win. Junior No. 5 Kyle Weekes was next with a 7-5, 6-3 win. The victory capped an unbeaten tournament for Weekes, who was named tournament MVP. Sophomore No. 1 William Morais Binnie battled for a 7-6, 6-4 win at the top spot to make it 3-1. No. 6 James McPherson clinched the title moments after Binnie's win, with BU's full team on a dead sprint to cover the distance between the two courts in the sprawling outdoor complex. McPherson completed a three-set win with a 6-0 punch in the deciding set.

"We lost the doubles but all year long we've talked about having a response," 10th-year head coach Nick Zieziula said. "It was great to see the guys put into play all the things we talked about all year. We are so grateful for President Stenger and Director of Athletics Gene Marshall for finding us a home in the NEC and giving the guys an opportunity to be successful. And the guys, week-in and week-out, kept learning and growing and focusing on the process. I'm so proud of them."

The Bearcats will now carry the NEC banner into the 64-team NCAA Regionals, which will be announced on Monday, April 29. First-round matches will take place on Friday, May 3. Binghamton's last NCAA appearance was 2013, when they lost at No. 2 Georgia 4-0.

NOTES
McPherson and Binnie joined Weekes on the seven-player All-Tournament Team ... the win was BU's sixth straight and ninth in its last 10 matches.
 
No. 1 Binghamton 4, No. 3 St. Francis (Pa.) 1
DOUBLES
1. Tyler Nguyen/Mathis Tremblay (SF) def. William Morais Binnie/James McPherson (BU), 6-4
2. Ronin Lotlikar/Kyle Weekes (BU) def. Marc Fuste/Gregory Troyan (SF), 6-3
3. Alan Gonzalez/Kevin Kruzel (SF) def. Filipe Costa/Andrew Fang (BU), 7-6 (3)

Order of Finish: 1,2,3

SINGLES
1. William Morais Binnie (BU) def. Marc Fuste (SF), 7-6 (3), 6-4
2. Tyler Nguyen (SF) led Filipe Costa (BU), 7-5, 1-4 unfinished
3. Ronin Lotlikar (BU) led Alan Gonzalez (SF), 6-3, 2-6, 3-3 unfinished
4. Zubin Omar (BU) def. Mathis Tremblay (SF), 6-3, 6-4
5. Kyle Weekes (BU) def Kevin Kruzel (SF), 7-5, 6-3
6. James McPherson (BU) def. Gregory Troyan (SF), 7-5, 4-6, 6-0

Order of Finish: 4,5,1,6