Box Score LORETTO, Pa – In a key NEC match with playoff seeding implications, visiting Binghamton men's tennis (13-9, 7-1 NEC) defeated St. Francis (10-6, 5-1 NEC) Saturday morning at Ebensburg Tennis Center.

With two wins on the weekend, BU closed its regular season by winning six of seven and in the process, pinned a first league loss on the Red Flash. Binghamton should be assured of a top-two seed for the upcoming nine-team NEC Championship, held next Friday through Sunday at the Mercer County Tennis Center in West Windsor, N.J.  

On Saturday, the Bearcats pulled out a tight doubles point with freshman Filipe Costa and sophomore Andrew Fang grinding out a 7-6 clinching win at No. 3. Earlier, junior Kyle Weekes and sophomore Ronin Lotlikar were first off the court with a convincing 6-2 win at No. 2.

After St. Francis won two of the first three singles matches completed, the match was tied at 2-2 with three singles matches remaining. Sophomore No. 5 James McPherson battled back from one set down to give BU a 3-2 lead and classmate Andrew Fang played hero again with his straight-set, clinching win at No. 6.

"It was a great team weekend," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "We juggled the lineup a little but everyone was ready to play and even though today wasn't our best day striking the ball, mentally we continue to grow and improve. The doubles point was huge again. We are happy with the way we wrapped up the regular season and are looking forward to the conference championship." 
 
Binghamton 4, St. Francis (Pa.) 3
DOUBLES
1. Tyler Nguyen/Mathis Tremblay (SF) def. William Morais Binnie/James McPherson (BU), 7-6 (3)
2. Ronin Lotlikar/Kyle Weekes (BU) def. Marc Fuste/Gregory Troyan (SF), 6-2
3. Filipe Costa/Andrew Fang (BU) def. Alan Gonzalez/Kevin Kruzel (SF), 7-6 (5)

Order of Finish: 2,1,3

SINGLES
1. Marc Fuste (SF) def. William Morais Binnie (BU), 7-5, 5-7, 6-0
2. Tyler Nguyen (SF) def. Filipe Costa (BU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Ronin Lotlikar (BU) def. Alan Gonzalez (SF), 7-5, 6-3
4. Mathis Tremblay (SF) def. Kyle Weekes (BU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
5. James McPherson (BU) def. Gregory Troyan (SF), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Andrew Fang (BU) def. Patrick Reese (SF), 6-2, 6-1

Order of Finish: 3,2,1,5,6,4