Results

at Sarah Lawrence College

Semifinals - February 21, 2009
#1 St. Joseph’s def. #4 Culinary, 82-63
#2 Berkeley def. #3 Albany Pharmacy, 83-58 

Championship - February 22, 2009
#2 Berkeley def. #1 St. Joseph’s, 75-71

2009 Tournament MVP

Jonathan Pena •  Berkeley College
Senior  •  Guard  •  Brooklyn, NY (Park West)

For the second time during the last three years, Berkeley College is the HVMAC Basketball Tournament Champion after a thrilling 75- 71 win over top-seeded St. Joseph’s on Feb. 22. As seems to be the usual case when the two HVMAC powerhouses meet up in the Championship Game (St. Joseph’s and Berkeley have met during the last four years for the HVMAC crown), the game was a classic and went right down to the wire. Berkeley College senior Jonathan Pena earned Tournament MVP honors with an outstanding weekend of play, averaging 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and three assists per game, while shooting an incredible 52% from the floor and 50% from three- point range. After scoring 13 points and adding five assists against ACP in the Semifinals, Pena scored a game-high 27 points and added six rebounds in the HVMAC Championship Game.

2008-09 Coach of the Year

Chris Christiansen •  Berkeley College

After leading his team to a second place finish and an upset win over top-seeded St. Joseph’s College in the HVMAC Championship Game, Berkeley College Head Coach Chris Christiansen is the 2008- 09 HVMAC Coach of the Year. Christiansen’s season started with a Championship at the HVMAC Tip-off Tournament and ended with a 75-71 win over St. Joseph’s in the HVMAC Finals to give the Knights their second Tournament Title during the last four years. Christiansen led Berkeley to an 11-8 overall record that included several outstanding performances against several non-conference programs, and a 5-1 record during conference play, with the Knights’ only HVMAC loss coming against St. Joseph’s.