BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Sophomore Timmy Mulvey (Reading, Mass.) led four players in double figures with 21 points as second-seeded Babson College defeated third-seeded Salve Regina University, 78-58, in a NEWMAC Tournament semifinal on Friday night inside Staake Gymnasium. 

With its eighth consecutive victory, Babson improves to 20-6 overall and advances to the NEWMAC Tournament final for the third time in the last four seasons. Salve Regina sees a terrific season come to a close at 19-8. 

First-year Thomas Ferdinando (Andover, Mass.) provided 17 points, nine rebounds, and six assists as sophomore Ryan Frauenheim (Manasquan, N.J.) scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and classmate Logan Murphy (Sandwich, Mass.) contributed 12 points for the Beavers. Senior Timmy O'Toole (Milton, Mass.) scored eight points and led all players with 16 rebounds in the win. 

Senior Sean Seymour (Albany, N.Y.) and junior Domenic Malvey (Newton, N.H.) both scored 13 points to lead the Seahawks. Sophomore William Mensah (Newburgh, N.Y.) added 11 points and tied for game-high honors with three steals in the loss. 

Salve Regina jumped out to a 7-0 edge and took its largest lead of the game at 18-10 on two free throws by Malvey with 10:31 to go in the first half. The margin was still six with just over eight minutes left before the Green and White used a 9-2 run that included four points by Mulvey to go in front 24-23 at the 5:45 mark. 

The lead changed hands five times over the next two minutes, including a trey by Jack McMullen (East Greenwich, R.I.) for a 30-28 Salve edge, before the Beavers went on a 12-0 run keyed by seven consecutive points from Ferdinando to forge a 40-30 advantage in the closing seconds of the period. The Seahawks cut the deficit to nine twice early in the second half, but Babson scored on four of its first five possessions to stretch the margin to 50-36 on a layup by senior Tyler Lauder (Malvern, Pa.) with 16:59 remaining. 

Mensah went 1-of-2 at the free throw line to pull Salve Regina back within 54-43 at the 13:19 mark, but the Green and White followed with a 14-4 run to put the game away. O'Toole provided a pair of buckets in the paint, Mulvey scored five points, and Frauenheim splashed in a triple from the left wing to give the hosts their largest lead of the night at 68-47 with 8:27 left. 

The Beavers shot 55.2 percent in the second half and 50 percent from the field for the game while knocking down 12 three-pointers. They also scored 25 points off turnovers, 18 second-chance points, and finished with a 37-24 edge on the glass. The Seahawks shot 52.4 percent in the first half and 45.8 percent for the game, but were just 4-of-15 from beyond the arc and missed their final nine attempts. 

Babson will host fourth-seeded Wheaton, which upset top-seeded and 21st-ranked WPI 82-60 on Friday, in Sunday's NEWMAC Tournament final at 1 p.m. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Babson 78, Salve Regina 58
Records: Salve Regina (19-8, 11-5 NEWMAC), Babson (20-6, 13-3 NEWMAC)
History: Tonight was the 21st all-time meeting on the hardwood between the schools in men's basketball. Babson holds a 17-4 lead in the series.

NOTEWORTHY

• Sean Seymour and Domenic Malvey finished with 13 points apiece for Salve Regina.
• William Mensah added 11 points and tied for game-high honors with three steals in the loss.

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina's season comes to a close while No. 2 Babson will host No. 4 Wheaton for the NEWMAC Championship on Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m. on FloCollege.