CALDWELL, NJ – It took a fadeaway jump shot by Felician University junior forward Dee-End McRae (Newark, NJ/Newark Central) with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation time. That one-point margin powered Felician University to capture the 2022 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men’s basketball title, with a championship game victory over Dominican (NY) College on Sunday afternoon on the George R. Newman Center’s Corino Court.

After leading for much of the day, the Golden Falcons saw the lead change hands six times during the game’s final 2:06. “This means everything,” said seventh-year Felician head coach Ivan Lewis. “It just shows the character of our guys. They’re resilient, and they’re Jersey strong. We have guys from some of the toughest areas of New Jersey, and they bring that toughness to this program.”

In congratulating the team, President Crawford remarked, “Coach Ivan Lewis gave a master’s class in coaching throughout this season and was particularly impressive during the tournament, culminating in this championship. We fans only see the end-product, the flash and dash on game day; however, having been a player, I know what it takes to pull a group of individuals together and shape them into a TEAM. Congratulations Coach Ivan and our Felician Men’s Basketball Team. You have made Felician University proud. We offer this victory as a thanksgiving to our God and praise Him for His beneficence to this University.”

This is Felician University’s second CACC championship in men’s basketball, with the other coming in 2010. In 2004, Coach Lewis was a tri-captain of the squad that won the CACC regular-season title and an ECAC Division II crown. Overall, Felician claimed its 15th CACC title, having also won nine in men’s cross-country, two in men’s soccer, and two in baseball.

[Photo credit is Ellen O’Brien, CACC Associate Commissioner]

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About Felician University

Felician University inspires and engages more than 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students through programs in its schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. In the past three years, Felician University has ranked 3rd in New Jersey in “Best Return on Investment for Private Colleges” by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and the “#1 Safest College Campus in NJ” by niche.com. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, the Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.