YORK, Pa. - The Salisbury University men's basketball program celebrated its biggest win of the 2007-08 season on Tuesday night in York, Pa., as the eighth-seed Sea Gulls upset top-seed York (Pa.) College with a 76-71 victory in the Capital Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Salisbury (7-19) advances to the CAC semifinals where the maroon and gold will travel to St. Mary's City, Md., to face the fourth-seed Seahawks of St. Mary's (Md.) College on Thursday, February 28, at 7 p.m. The Seahawks defeated fifth-seed Wesley College 89-82 in another Tuesday quarterfinal game. SMC swept both regular-season matchups with Salisbury this season.

Sophomore Greg Palmer scored 17 of his team-high 23 points in the second half as the Sea Gulls outscored the Spartans 45-39. Palmer also led the team with 10 rebounds and three assists. This is his third double-double in the past four games he has played in.

The two teams played the second half close after the Spartans led 32-31 at the half. The Sea Gulls took the lead for good at the 7:09 mark on a Palmer three-pointer to break open a 60-60 game. SU led by as much as seven, 68-61, down the stretch as the Sea Gulls held off the Spartans.

In addition to Palmer, three other Sea Gulls reached double figures in the victory. Junior Brandon Abney (14 points) finished a point shy of his career-high at SU. Senior Jonas Vaitkus and sophomore Sean Whittaker both chipped in 10 points apiece.

York (18-8) was led by Chad McGowan (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Levi Winters (20 points) in the loss.

Salisbury shot 45.8 percent from the field and outscored York 30-28 in the paint. Both teams were fairly even in other statistical categories including second chance points (10-10), bench points (12-11 SU) and rebounds (36-34 York).

The Spartans swept the regular-season series with the Sea Gulls. York won 73-62 on December 5 in the Maggs Center and 84-74 on February 6.