NEW LONDON, Conn. - The SVC men's basketball team faced a must-win game in its quest to make the NECC playoffs on Saturday, and came thorugh with an 80-70 victory over host Mitchell College.

The Mountaineers (7-15 overall, 4-7 NECC) were led by Joe Karnik and Brendan Kordana, who scored 25 and 24 points, respectively. Center Cameron Herrington chipped in 18 points for SVC, while Ben Naaktgeboren added 11 rebounds.

"We went into this game knowing the importance of it, and I thought we had the appropriate focus," said SVC head coach Mike McDonough, whose team is one of four squads, each with four conference wins, jockeying for the final three postseason spots in the NECC. "We played hard for as close to 40 minutes as we have all season."

The Mountaineers still face a tough road to the postseason, as nationally-ranked Elms College (12th Division III) visits the SVC Field House on Tuesday before McDonough's crew hits the road to play Wheelock on Thursday.

The Mountaineers' regular season comes to an end with a home game Saturday against Becker who is tied with SVC for the NECC playoff spot.

"We're still in the hunt, but it won't be easy," McDonough said.