BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the second straight week, Bridgewater State College senior forward Stace Garrick has been named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Garrick shares the honor this week along with Salem State's Dylan Holmes.

A native of West Warwick, Rhode Island, Garrick averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two wins for Bears during first two rounds of NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.  He also shot 67% (12-for-18) from the field in the two games.

Garrick scored 21 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining, and grabbed seven boards in 78-76 second round triumph at Middlebury while adding eight points and four caroms in 95-79 opening round victory over Saint Joseph's (Maine).

In the dramatic upset win over Middlebury, Bridgewater overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of the game.  Trailing 74-69, Garrick drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points with 37 seconds left to play.  Sophomore teammate Nicholas Motta then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and knocked home a game-tying layup. Middlebury, however, reclaimed the lead, 76-74, with 32 second remaining on a transitional layup.  That would set the stage for Garrick's game-winning shot as he buried another three with just 17 ticks left on the clock.

In 18 games since joining the team over the winter break, Garrick is averaging 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.  He is also shooting 52.2% from the floor, 84.6% from the free throw line and 40.9% (9-for-22) from behind the arc. 

Four members of the Bridgewater State men's basketball squad have combined to capture seven MASCAC Player of the Week honors this season.  In addition to Garrick, Roland Millien was named player of the week three times, and Judah Jackson and Nicholas Motta once each.

BSC will travel to Pomona, New Jersey for the sectional round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. The Bears, one of only 16 teams remaining from the original 60-team tournament field, will play Farmingdale State University of New York on Friday night at 6 PM.

The game will be played at Richard Stockton College, which is facing St. Lawrence University in the other sectional semifinal at 8 PM. The two winners advance to play on Saturday night to determine which team will be in the Final Four.

The Bears set the school record for victories and became the first team in program history to win a pair of NCAA tournament games. BSC has also won 16 of its last 17 games and carry a five-game winning streak into Friday night's game with Farmingdale.