With the win, the Bears won their first ever home NEWMAC Tournament game and they advance to the semifinals for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
Coast Guard (17-7) got off to a great start leading 15-4 with 15:25 left in the first half and the Bears led 40-33 at halftime. The Bears, who were outrebounded 37-31 in a 60-54 loss to Clark on Saturday, outrebounded the Cougars 24-10 in the first half.
The Bears never trailed in the second half and appeared to be cruising as they led 69-61 with 3:27 left before Pat Ochoa knocked down back-to-back three-pointers pulling Clark to within 69-67 with 2:25 left.
The Cougars had chance to tie, but Dominque Beck missed a shot and at the other end Coast Guard’s Al Sowers also missed, but Dan Sheppard grabbed the offensive rebound. Grant Johnson would get fouled and make a pair of free throws with 27.4 seconds left for a 71-67 lead.
Prebeck made two free throws with 19.9 seconds left to extend the lead to 73-67 before Alfred Thomas hit a three-pointer with 9.2 seconds left to make it a one possession game at 73-70.
Craig Johnson had 14 points and 12 rebounds while Grant Johnson (12 points) and Al Sowers (11 points), who had a game-high six assists, were also in double figures for the Bears.
Cory Szklarz led five Cougars in double figures with 16 points. Beck (15 poitns), Tim Dutille (12), Thomas (10) and Ochoa (10) were also in double figures for Clark (11-15).
The Bears, who are the top rebounding team in the nation (+11.5) outrebounded Clark 40-24.
Coast Guard will take on second-seeded MIT, a 49-40 winner over seventh-seeded Babson, in the semifinals on Saturday at 3:00 at WPI. Top-seeded WPI will take on fourth-seeded Wheaton in the first semifinal at 1 p.m.