HERKIMER, N.Y. (March 18, 2023) — College of DuPage's improbable postseason came to an end Saturday afternoon in an 89-66 loss to North Essex Community College in the NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship fifth-place game.
 
Sophomore Matt Elliott led the Chaps (22-15 overall) with 17 points and eight rebounds as all 14 Chaparrals saw action in the final game of the year.
 
Fellow sophomore Drew Gaston was the only other Chap in double figures with 10 points.
 
He finished his career as the only Chap in program history with at least 1,100 points (1,113), 290 free throws (290) and 100 steals (120).
 
Northern Essex, which finished 33-2, never trailed and led 49-36 at halftime. Its lead never dipped below double digits in the final 21 minutes and 12 seconds.
 
The sixth-place finish at nationals is the Chaparrals' best since placing third in the 2007 classic.
 
NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship
March 15-18, 2023
Herkimer, N.Y. | Herkimer College

Wednesday, March 15
Game 1: No. 9 Mohawk Valley def. No. 8 Prince George, 92-87 
Game 2: No. 5 Northampton def. No. 12 Duchess, 81-65
Game 3: No. 10 Rochester def. No. 7 Butler County 84-81
Game 4: No. 11 Chaparrals def. No. 6 Fulton-Montgomery 89-85 OT
Thursday, March 16
Game 5: No. 8 Prince George def. No. 12 Duchess, 90-85
Game 6: No. 7 Butler County def. No. 6 Fulton-Montgomery, 83-76
Game 7: No. 1 Sandhills def. No. 9 Mohawk Valley, 92-85
Game 8: No. 5 Northampton def. No. 4 Northern Essex, 69-67
Game 9: No. 10 Rochester def. Dallas-North Lake, 73-63
Game 10. No. 3 Brookdale def. No. 11 Chaparrals, 77-62
Friday, March 17
No. 4 Northern Essex def. No. 9 Mohawk Valley, 67-62
No. 11 Chaparrals def. No. 2 Dallas-North Lake 53-51
No. 1 Sandhills def.  No. 5 Northampton, 88-78
No. 3 Brookdale def. No. 10 Rochester, 76-62
Saturday, March 18
5^th place — Northern Essex (33-2) def. Chaparrals (22-15), 89-66
3^rd place — Rochester (23-8) def. Northampton (30-5), 68-53
Championship — Brookdale def. Sandhills, 90-82