Box Score
Middletown, Conn. – A career-high performance of 28 points and nine rebounds from forward Manny Barkor wasn't enough for the Lehman College men's basketball team as it fell by a score of 76-66 to the hosts Wesleyan University in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Silloway Gymnasium on Friday evening.  

The 2026 CUNYAC Champion Lightning concludes its season with a 21-7 overall ledger, while the Cardinals improved to a 22-6 mark and advanced to the NCAA Second Round against NYU on Saturday (March 7th).

Lehman, which was making its first appearance at the NCAAs since 2004, was holding its own against Wesleyan in the first half and trailed by as many as 13 before rallying and cutting the deficit to just three points (37-34) at the intermission.

In the start of the second half, the Lightning went on an 11 to 6 run and took a 45-43 advantage.  Lehman had a brief 52-50 lead after Brakor made a pair of free throws.  However, the Cardinals would score six unanswered to take a lead they would not surrender.  A layup by Barkor tied the game at 56 with 6:21 to play.  The Cardinals ended the game and avoided the upset outscoring Lehman 20 to 10 the rest of the way for the final margin of victory.

Forward Ricardo Dixon was the other Lehman player that scored in double figures as he recorded 11 points while grabbing eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.