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NEC Player of the Week: Rodney Pryor, RMU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Nura Zanna, LIU
Previous NEC Releases: November 17
RMU’S PRYOR ANSWERS CALL
With Karvel Anderson now raining threes in Italy, there was a void to be filled on the Robert Morris team. So when Andrew Toole put out a want ad in the offseason for a long distance sharpshooter, junior college transfer Rodney Pryor (Evanston, IL/Notre Dame Prep (Cloud City CC)) was happy to answer the call.
Pryor hadn’t played a game in 2 1/2 years due to injuries, but has shown no signs of rust early on for RMU, having knocked down 12-25 shots from three-point range over the first four games of the season.
Against Bradley last Wednesday, Pryor helped the Colonials rally from a 15-point deficit to earn their first win of the new season. He led all scorers with 26 points and finished 7-8 from the floor, including 6-7 from deep, and made all six of his free throw attempts. He sank all four of his second half three-point attempts, most notably a corner trey with 54 seconds left to help seal the 68-61 win.
“He’s capable of knocking down shots,” Toole said. “That’s why we recruited him. He has great size and a high release; he can shoot when he’s guarded.”
Pryor, named the NEC Player of the Week, also paced the Colonials with 16 points and five boards in an 80-66 setback at Georgetown on Saturday. For the week, he averaged 21.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg while shooting 73.3 percent (11-15) from the field, 69.2 percent (9-13) from outside the arc and 91.7 percent (11-12) from the stripe.
Pryor leads RMU and ranks fourth in the NEC with 14.0 ppg on the season.
NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rodney Pryor, Robert Morris
6-5, 205 lbs.
Jr., G, Evanston, IL/Notre Dame Prep (Cloud City JC)
After missing the last 2 1/2 years with injuries, Pryor hasn’t skipped a beat early on his Robert Morris ca-reer. Last week, Pryor averaged 21.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 73.3 percent (11-15) from the floor, 69.2 percent (9-13) from three-point range and 91.7 percent (11-12) from the line in a 1-1 week for the Colonials. On Wednesday, Pryor led the Colonials back from a 15-point road deficit to upend Bradley, 68-61. The Evanston, IL native led all scorers with 26 points on 7-8 shooting from the floor and 6-7 from deep. He made all four of his three-point shots in the second half, including a clutch trifecta with 54 seconds left that pushed the RMU lead to five points. Pryor added a team-best 16 points on Saturday in an 80-66 setback at Georgetown. On the year, the junior guard leads the Colonials with 14.3 ppg and has made 12-25 shots (.480) from outside the arc.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nura Zanna, LIU Brooklyn
6-7, 240 lbs.
Fr., F, Kaduna, Nigeria/Coral Springs Christian (FL)
After sitting out all of last year due to a wrist injury, Zanna made an immediate impact in LIU Brooklyn’s season-opening starting lineup in a competitive 66-53 setback at St. John’s. The 6-7 forward posted 10 points and grabbed six rebounds while battling Red Storm big Chris Obekpa, who ranked in the top-20 nationally last season in blocks. Zanna went 5-12 from the floor in his 28 minutes of action and helped the Blackbirds to a 44-39 rebounding edge in the contest. His layup with 10:32 to play capped a 5-0 LIU run that trimmed the St. John’s lead to 46-43.
RECENT NEC GRADS MAKING WAVES IN THE PROS
A veritable who’s who of hoops players from recent NEC vintage are currently making a living playing the game professionally. Among the pros are 12 members from the 2013-14 graduating class, including NEC Player of the Year Karvel Anderson, who is averaging 13.4 points and nearly three 3PFG per game for Aget Service Imola in Serie A2 league in Italy. Anderson turned heads in just his second pro game, tallying 23 points and six three-pointers on October 12.
Two-time first team All-NEC forward Alex Francis, who finished his career at Bryant with 2,085 points and 990 rebounds, hasn’t skipped a beat since arriving in Iceland. Playing for Haukar, he is currently putting up 26.3 ppg and 15.7 rpg, including a 20-point, 20-rebound performance in his pro debut on October 10.
NEC career assist leader Jason Brickman continues to drop dimes in Russia, averaging a team-best 3.8 assists off the bench for Dynamo Moscow, including a career-high eight helpers in his team’s most recent Baltic League game. His former teammate at LIU Brooklyn, Jamal Olasewere, is averaging nearly 12 points per outing at Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium. The 2012-13 NEC Player of the Year, Olasewere missed the 2013-14 season with a medical ailment after signing with Vanoli Cremona of Italy Serie A, but was cleared over the summer.
Recent NEC Graduates Playing Professionally
Alex Francis (BRY, Haukar - Iceland): 26.3 ppg, 15.7 rpg, 59.1 FG%
Corey Maynard (BRY, Cairns Taipans - Australia): 1.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Scooter Gillette (FDU, Otto Baskets Magdeburg - Germany): 15.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 55.7 FG%
Mathias Seilund (FDU, Bristol Flyers - UK): 10.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 56.8 FG%
Jason Brickman (LIU, Dynamo Moscow - Russia): 4.2 apg
Jamal Olasewere (LIU, Verviers-Pepinster - Belgium): 11.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Julian Norfleet (MSM, Rilski - Bulgaria): 16.4 ppg, 3.8 apg, 53.8 3PFG%
Rashad Whack (MSM, Island Storm - Canada): 9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Karvel Anderson (RMU, Aget Service Imola - Italy): 13.4 ppg, 26 3PFG, 38.8 3PFG%
Ben Mockford (SFBK, Caceres - Spain): 14.1 ppg, 37.2 3PFG%
Naofall Folahan (WC, Saint John Mill Rats - Canada): 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg (incomplete)
Kenneth Ortiz (WC, San German - Puerto Rico): 2.7 ppg, 1.0 apg
Orlando Parker (WC, UL Eagles - Ireland): 18.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 51.7 FG%
DYAMI DELIVERS
Bryant desperately needed someone to step up late against New Hampshire on Thursday, and dynamic senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)) was just what the doctor ordered.
Bryant led by 28 in the first half but a furious UNH rally saw the Wildcats take a 61-60 lead with 6:21 to play. At that point Starks responded a three-pointer, the first of eight straight points for the Duluth, MN native as the Bulldogs ended the game on a 12-2 run. Starks wound up scoring 10 of those 12 points and finished the game with a game-high 19 to go along with a team-best six boards.
Starks, a preseason All-NEC pick, is averaging 18.5 ppg after two games to rank second in the conference.
SFU’S BROWN HEATS UP
After scoring a modest seven points in a narrow 49-46 loss to Patriot League favorite American, Saint Francis U senior forward and preseason All-NEC selection Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) picked up back-to-back double-doubles in wins over Keystone and UMES last week. In the 102-69 victory over Keystone, Brown hit 11-12 shots from the floor and finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He came back with a 19-point, 10-rebound effort two nights as the Red Flash held off UMES, 57-53, to even their record at 2-2 on the year. Brown drained 8-11 shots from the field in the win.
The double-doubles were the 21st and 22nd of his career, and the Philly product needs only 79 points to hit 1,000 for his career. He currently sits in the NEC top-five in scoring (14.0), rebounding (7.8) and field goal percentage (.622).
MOUNT WINS AT SOJKA
Not only did Mount St. Mary’s pick up its first win of the season in come-from-behind fashion against Bucknell on Saturday, but did so in Sojka Pavilion, one of the tougher places to win in the country. Down eight early in the second half, the Mount took the lead for good on senior forward Kristijan Krajina’s (Osijek, Croatia/Blue Ridge School (VA)) layup with 2:59 to play and sealed the game with four free throws in the final minute.
The Mount’s big frontline comprised of the 6-11 Krajina, 6-7 junior forward Gregory Graves (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) and 7-0 junior center Taylor Danaher (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg Christian School) proved to be the difference. The trio combined for 38 points and 17 rebounds in the win with Krajina matching his career-high of 16 points. Graves also added 16, one off his career-best. Mount St. Mary’s won the battle of the boards by a 21-8 margin in the second half, including 10 on the offensive glass, and held a 15-4 edge in second chance points.
Bucknell entered the game with a 122-39 all-time record at Sojka.
JONES x 3
For players around the NEC, “keeping up with the Joneses” is turning into a real problem. In an odd coincidence, the top three NEC steals leaders all go by the same surname. St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) ranks first in the league with 3.67 steals per game, followed by FDU senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) with 2.67 spg and RMU senior swingman Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) with 2.50 spg.
MOBLEY TOPS SCORING CHART
It didn’t take long for CCSU sophomore guard Matt Mobley (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) to go from productive role player to full-fledged star for the Blue Devils.
Mobley, who averaged 6.8 ppg as an All-NEC Rookie pick a year ago, has lifted his scoring average to an NEC-best 20.2 ppg after the first five games of the 2014-15 season. He has posted three 20+ games on the year, including a career-high matching 22 points against Bethune-Cookman on Sunday. Mobley, who is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, has already been to the line an NEC-high 41 times this season, shooting 75.6 percent.
LIU YOUTH MOVEMENT
The changing of the guard at LIU Brooklyn was on full display in the Blackbirds’ season opener at St. John’s last Wednesday. Five freshman saw the floor and three were in the starting lineup in a 66-53 setback that was much closer than the final score would indicate.
The youth movement hit its zenith in the second half when after head coach Jack Perri sent out five freshman on the floor, the quintet proceeded to go on a 5-0 run to trim the Red Storm lead to 46-43. Freshman forward Nura Zanna (Kaduna, Nigeria/Coral Spring Christian (FL)), and a pair of Icelandic guards - Elvar Fridriksson (Reykjanesbaer, Iceland/Njardvik) and Martin Hermannsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/Reykjavík) - were in the starting lineup, while Jamil Hood (Albany, NY/Green Tech) and Trevin Woods (Houston, Texas/Fort Bend Austin) also garnered double-figure minutes off the bench.
Zanna, who missed the 2013-14 season with an injury, finished with 10 points and six rebounds to earn NEC Rookie of the Week honors. Fridriksson and Hermannsson finished with five assists apiece.
TERRIER DROP PAIR OF NAILBITERS
St. Francis Brooklyn fell just short in a pair of games that came down to the wire last week. Senior point guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) missed a last second three-pointer in a 74-71 setback to Army last Wednesday which would have forced overtime, and then misfired on a potential game-winning trifecta in a 76-73 loss at Rutgers on Sunday evening. After trailing by 13 at intermission at the RAC, the Terriers mounted a furious second half comeback and led the Scarlet Knights with just under a minute remaining. Senior forward Kevin Douglas (Bronx, NY/Frederick Douglass Academy) scored a season-high 15 points at Rutgers on 6-8 shooting and currently leads the NEC with a 63.2 percent shooting from the field.
RANDOM ROCK & ROLL STAT OF THE WEEK
Saturday’s game against Georgetown marked the seventh time in Robert Morris history the Colonials have played in an NBA Arena. The Verizon Center is home to the Washington Wizards. The Verizon Center is also the eighth arena RMU has played in that has also featured a concert by the band Pearl Jam since the band’s formation in 1990.
GAETANO MOVIN’ ON UP
With seven assists last week, Sacred Heart senior guard Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) jumped past RMU’s Forest Grant (555) into eighth place on the NEC career list.
Gaetano finished with five dimes at #20 Ohio State on Sunday and now need just 46 more to pass Mount St. Mary’s Jeremy Goode for third all-time in the conference.
1. Jason Brickman LIU 1,009 2010-14
2. Drafton Davis MAR 804 1984-88
3. Jeremy Goode MSM 603 2006-10
4. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
5. Napoleon Lightning SFU 589 1981-85
6. Courtney Pritchard WC 563 2000-04
7. Andre Van Drost WC 560 1982-87
8. Phil Gaetano SHU 559 2011-14
9. Forest Grant RMU 555 1981-84
10. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
HERE & THERE
Fairleigh Dickinson senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) averaged 16.5 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 spg and 1.0 bpg in the Knights’ 1-1 week. He poured in 18 points on 6-12 shooting from long range and finished with three assists in FDU’s 102-61 win over FDU Florham on Monday. Jones also added a team-high 15 points against Rutgers on Wednesday. Teammate Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) posted career-bests with 18 points, nine assists and three steals against FDU Florham.
After sitting out all of last season due to a wrist injury, LIU Brooklyn fsenior forward Landon Atterberry (Detroit, MI/Cape Fear CC (NC)) tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds in his first career double-double performance last Wednesday at St. John’s.
Sacred Heart freshman center Filip Nowicki (Wloclawek, Poland/Midwest Elite Prep) averaged 7.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 1.5 bpg in two games last week. He shot 63.6 percent from the field. In his first home game, Nowicki scored five points to go along with four rebounds and a pair of blocks in 20 minutes of action against UMass Lowell on Thursday. Playing at #20 Ohio State on Sunday, he narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points (5-9 FG) and nine rebounds in 22 minutes. Both were team-highs for the Pioneers.
Wagner senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) averaged 14.3 points in three games last week, which included a career-best 22 points in the Seahawks’ first win of the year, an 83-49 conquest of SUNY Old Westbury. Teammate Aaren Edmead (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) also scored a career-best 15 points in Sunday’s setback to Hofstra. For the week, Edmead averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.7 apg and hit 7-16 (.438) from three-point range.
NEC NUGGETS
Bryant’s 50 first half points against New Hampshire on Thursday marked the first 50-point half for the Bulldogs since January 24, 2014 against Saint Francis U.
LIU Brooklyn outrebounded St. John’s, 44-39, in last Wednesday’s season opener for the Blackbirds.
Mount St. Mary’s is 4-0 vs. Patriot League teams over the past two seasons.
Robert Morris climbed out of a 15-point deficit to earn a 68-61 win at Bradley, marking the 16th time in five seasons under head coach Andrew Toole the Colonials have erased a double-digit deficit to win.
With 685 boards, RMU’s Lucky Jones slipped past former NEC Player of the Year Jeremy Chappell (681 from 2005-09) into fifth place on the school’s career rebounding list.
Sacred Heart senior guard Steve Glowiak moved into a tie for seventh place on the school’s career three-pointers list with 174 after making two on Sunday night at Ohio State.
With its 102-69 win over Keystone on Thursday, Saint Francis U hit the century mark for the first time since a 100-82 win over FDU on January 13, 1994 under former coach Tom McConnell. McConnell was in attendance Thursday.
With Saturday’s 57-53 win over UMES, Saint Francis U improved to 6-3 in Loretto during the 2014 calendar year.
Wagner freshman guard JoJo Cooper finished with 11 assists against Old Westbury on Thursday. The 11 dimes were the most by a Seahawk since Kenneth Ortiz dished out 11 at LIU Brooklyn on January 10, 2013.
QUOTABLE
“Our guys really fought and stayed together and were able to get back in the game by halftime. We came up with some big stops late. This will be big for our team.” - RMU head coach Andrew Toole on the Colonials’ comeback win at Bradley on Wednesday
“We were aggressive defensively, and we shared the ball offensively. We broke down a lot of tape over the last two days, and went over it with our guys. Some feelings got hurt. But I thought we had a little something different in our step tonight.” - Wagner’s Bashir Mason following his team’s win over Old Westbury on Thursday
“(The win) just gives us a sense of confidence going into our next game because we just took on two tough teams, and to come back and get a victory boosts everybody’s ego.” - Saint Francis U’s Earl Brown after the Red Flash defeated Keystone on Thursday
“There was a point with twelve minutes to go in the game, I had five freshmen on the court and they were getting stops. They played with some grit. They played with some toughness. Overall, I was kind of happy with our effort. Not happy with the outcome but at the same time, I think we can make some progress with that.” - LIU Brooklyn head coach Jack Perri after the Blackbirds pushed St. John’s in a 13-point setback on Wednesday
“They remind me of some of the UConn teams that led the country in blocked shots three or four years (ago). Because they’re long at every position. They’re not just big. I know Kentucky’s front line is bigger than half the NBA teams but these guys may be one of the few programs in the country that can match Kentucky’s length.” - Sacred Heart head coach Anthony Latina after Sacred Heart’s loss at Ohio State.
TWEET DECK
Chris Shovlin @chrisshovlin
Very impressed with the Colonial comeback last night RMU 68 Bradley 61 @RMUMBasketball @970espn Next @ Georgetown
Andrew Chiappazzi @BCT_AChiappazzi
Rodney Pryor seems to have a little bit of the assassin in him. Deadly 3-pointer.
Coach Jess Mannetti @jmnetter33
Big congrats to @SHUBigRed Men’s Basketball player De’von Barnett for #NECMBB Player of the week honors! #goheart http://northeastconference.org/news/2014/11/17/MBB_Rel_11_17_14.aspx …
Phil Kasiecki @PhilKasiecki
Dyami Starks was already one of the best players in the NEC, but now his body looks even better and he’s more athletic and bouncy.
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
Nice breakout game for @SFUathletics Earl Brown tonight. 24 points, 11-12 FG, 12 boards for preseason All-#NECMBB pick in win over Keystone.
HoopDreamsMag.com @HoopDreamsMag
Matt Mobley is averaging 26ppg two games into the season. Watched him have a great showing against Maryland last night
Mount St. Mary’s MBB @MountHoops
Winning on the road is never easy. Great win at Bucknell 73-69! Krajina and Graves combined for 32 pts & 13 rebs #MountMayhem
Matt Hladik @MattHladik919
#Rutgers is up 40-30, but Kevin Douglas from St. Francis just threw down an absolutely vicious one-handed putback dunk
Patrick Stevens @D1scourse
Central Connecticut has activated “Matt Mobley: Search and Destroy” mode. He has 12 with a perpetual green light. Maryland 28-22.
Logan Bittle @LBittle8 (former RMU hockey player, Peoria native)
I think my allegiance has shifted a bit! Big W @RMUMBasketball #ColonialPride @jim_duzyk https://twitter.com/LBittle8/status/535271892677320704/photo/1
Ari Kramer @Ari_Kramer
Hermannsson is going to be a nice player for LIU. Frosh PG from Iceland, who looks a step quicker than the St. John’s guards.