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NEC Co-Players of the Week: Dan Garvin, BRY
NEC Co-Rookies of the Week: Nura Zanna, LIU
Previous NEC Releases: January 6 | December 29 | December 22 | December 15 | December 8 | December 1 | November 24 | November 17
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
Nelson Castillo @NelCastBHJ
First #NECMBB final of the day and there are no undefeated teams left in
the NEC as Mount St. Mary’s knocks off SF Brooklyn 71-61.
And just like that the dream of a perfect season came to an end.
OK, the odds of that happening were remote at best, but it is an odd site to see no remaining unbeaten teams in league play following week two of NEC competition.
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
We have a four-way tie for first in #NECMBB with BRY, RMU, SFBK & SFU all at
3-1. Last time no NEC team started 4-0? Back in 2008-09.
So we head into week three with seven teams within one game of first place.
St. Francis Brooklyn, one of four teams tied for the top spot, had won six straight prior to the loss at the Mount and will be tested this week in its annual western PA swing taking on a pair of 3-1 teams in Robert Morris and Saint Francis U. With ESPNU coming to Robert Morris for a Friday showdown with the Terriers, a number of games have been shifted to Friday and Sunday this week.
Bryant, Mount St. Mary’s and Robert Morris all come off 2-0 weeks. The Bulldogs won their games by an average of 19.5 points, while the Mount moved to 2-2 on the year by posting an average win margin of 20.5 points. The Colonials won two on the road, including a 77-73 win at Wagner in the opener of the NEC-TV package on CBS Sports Network.
LIU Brooklyn also picked up its first NEC win of the season with an 82-81 double overtime victory over Sacred Heart on Thursday.
NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dan Garvin, Bryant
6-6, 215 lbs.
So., F, Bethel, CT/Bethel
Garvin recorded a host of new career-highs, including setting new career marks for points scored in both of Bryant’s NEC wins last week. The Bethel, CT native averaged 15.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals in a terrific all-around week. He shot 57.9 percent from the floor and 80.0 percent from the line as Bryant moved to 3-1 in NEC play. In an 80-54 win over Saint Francis U on Thursday, he netted a career-high 14 points on 7-9 shooting, and added seven rebounds and three blocks. Garvin followed with the most impressive performance of his young career in Saturday’s 73-60 victory win over FDU. He established new personal-bests with 16 points, 18 rebounds and four steals in the first double-double effort of the year by a Bryant player. The 18 rebounds tied for the most in the NEC this year and marked the highest total by a Bulldog since Alex Francis had 18 at CCSU on January 12, 2013. Garvin is averaging 8.2 ppg and a team-high 6.9 rpg on the year.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nura Zanna, LIU Brooklyn
6-7, 240 lbs.
Fr., F, Kaduna, Nigeria/Coral Springs Christian (FL)
Zanna is the recipient of his second NEC Rookie of the Week honor following the most productive week of his young career. He averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 80.0 percent from the field and 73.7 percent from the line in LIU Brooklyn’s 1-1 week. Zanna finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocks on Thursday in the Blackbirds’ first NEC win of the season, an 82-81 double overtime victory over Sacred Heart. His free throw with 50 seconds to play in regulation tied the game for LIU. Two days later, he hit all six of his field goal attempts and 5-6 from the stripe in a career-best 17-point effort at Wagner. He scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half of a nip-and-tuck battle that saw Wagner win, 87-82. Zanna averages 8.9 ppg and leads all NEC freshman with 6.1 rpg.
NEC CHAMPS BOUNCE BACK
After an 0-2 to start to its league season, a return home to Emmitsburg was just the doctor ordered for defending NEC champion Mount St. Mary’s.
“You don’t have must-win games in January, but you do want to start playing better basketball,” third-year head coach Jamion Christian said. “We’re the defending (NEC) champs. Everyone is coming out and giving us their best shot.”
The Mount shot 50.5 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from outside the arc in an 82-51 win over Central Connecticut on Thursday and a 71-61 triumph over previously unbeaten St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday. The Mountaineers played well on the defensive side as well, limiting CCSU and SFBK to a combined 56.0 ppg and 37.5 percent shooting.
“St. Francis Brooklyn came in playing the best of any team in our league, in our opinion,” third-year head coach Jamion Christian said. “The caliber of players that they have is very special. So this is a great win for us. Our young team is starting to find itself.”
Junior forward Andrew Smeathers (Bargersville, IN/Center Grove (Butler)), a Butler transfer, had his best game of the season in the win over Terriers, finishing with a career-high 22 points on 6-7 shooting from outside the arc. He averaged 16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.0 apg on the week. In seven games since becoming eligible in December, Smeathers leads the team with 11.4 ppg and ranks second with 4.9 rpg.
“I just took what was given to me and I was just knocking down shots,” said Smeathers. “The old adage ‘KISS’ – Keep It Simple, Stupid – has really applied to me during the last four or five days. I’m just trying to do what I do and not get outside of that. I’ve been really focusing on that and that definitely showed today.”
Another transfer, junior guard Chris Martin (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Patrick (NJ) (Marshall)) tallied a career-best 22 points in the win over CCSU.
“I’m pleased with our development,” Christian said. “The biggest thing for me as we’re going on this journey, it isn’t going to be a straight rocket ship to the top of this league. Every game’s going to be a grind. People might perceive this as a big step forward. I think this is [just] another step in our progression.”
LUCKY REACHES RARE MILESTONE
With the ability to play numerous positions and a multifaceted skill set, Robert Morris senior swingman Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) has compiled career numbers that place him in rarefied air in NEC annals.
Jones, who is just one rebound shy of passing Tony Lee to become RMU’s all-time leader in the category, has amassed 1,385 points, 751 rebounds, 163 assists and 151 steals in his three-plus years at RMU. He is just the third NEC player to reach 1,300 points, 700 rebounds, 150 assists and 150 steals in a career, joining Lee and LIU Brooklyn’s Jamal Olasewere.
NEC Players With 1,300 Points, 700 Rebounds, 150 Assists & 150 Steals
Name School Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Years
Tony Lee RMU 1,489 751 487 275 2004-08
Jamal Olasewere LIU 1,871 963 164 170 2009-13
Lucky Jones RMU 1,385 750 163 151 2011-15
Last week, Jones helped the Colonials secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season by averaging 18.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.5 apg. He notched his first double-double of the season and eighth of his career with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-73 victory over Wagner on Thursday. Jones hit 6-6 from the line in the final 31.8 seconds to help RMU ice the game. In a 72-60 win over the Blue Devils, he paced the Colonials with 18 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out a season-high four assists. On the 2014-15 campaign, the Newark, NJ native is averaging 13.0 ppg and a team-high 5.9 rpg.
CCSU’S MOBLEY HEADS UP MOST IMPROVED SCORERS
When the NEC hands out its Most Improved Player award at year’s end, there will be no shortage of deserving players from which to choose. Glancing at scoring alone, there are a number players who have stepped up their game from last year, none more so than CCSU sophomore guard Matt Mobley (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy). Mobley has lifted his point production from 6.8 ppg as a freshman to a league-leading 18.4 ppg this season, a 171 percent increase.
Along with Mobley, St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) (+6.2), Wagner senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) (+5.4) and FDU senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann Goretti (Hartford)) (+5.0) have all lifted their scoring averages at least 5.0 ppg.
NEC Most Improved Scorers
Name 2013-14 2014-15 PPG Increase
1. Matt Mobley, CCSU 6.8 ppg 18.4 ppg +11.6 ppg
2. Brent Jones, SFBK 7.5 ppg 13.7 ppg +6.2 ppg
3. Marcus Burton, WC 11.0 ppg 16.4 ppg +5.4 ppg
4. Mustafaa Jones, FDU 9.7 ppg 14.7 ppg +5.0 ppg
5. Kevin Douglas, SFBK 4.0 ppg 8.8 ppg +4.8 ppg
6. Joel Hernandez, LIU 4.8 ppg 9.5 ppg +4.7 ppg
7. Tevin Falzon, SHU 3.7 ppg 8.1 ppg +4.4 ppg
8. Nolan Long, WC 1.8 ppg 5.7 ppg +3.9 ppg
9. Xavier Harris, FDU 4.3 ppg 8.0 ppg +3.7 ppg
10. Khalen Cumberlander, CCSU 6.5 ppg 9.8 ppg +3.3 ppg
THIS WEEK IN NEC-TV
Bring on the U!
In one of the most anticipated matchups of the conference season, the NEC makes it season debut on ESPNU this Friday when preseason favorite St. Francis Brooklyn takes on defending NEC regular season champion Robert Morris at the Sewall Center in Moon Township. Tipoff is at 9:00 pm. Zach Zaidman (PxP) and former Boston College head coach Steve Donahue (color) are on the call.
The next men’s game will air on Thursday, January 22 when two of the NEC’s most improved teams meet up in Fairfield. Fairleigh Dickinson visits Sacred Heart in a 7:00 pm game to air on Fox College Sports and ESPN3. Paul Dottino (PxP), Joe DeSantis (color) and Matt Harmon (sideline) are in the booth.
ALL ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
The first of three notes with a similar theme...
- Four of the top-five leaders in field goal percentage in NEC play are freshmen
- Six of the top-10 leaders in assists in NEC play are freshmen
- Five of the top-10 leaders in free throw percentage in NEC play are freshmen
- Four of the top-seven leaders in steals in NEC play are freshmen
- Four of the top-10 leaders in three-point percentage in NEC play are freshmen
MINNIE’S PERFECTION
Robert Morris freshman forward Elijah Minnie (Monessen, PA/Lincoln Park) certainly looked like a can’t miss prospect for the Colonials last week.
Minnie made all eight of his shots from the field, both his shots from long range and all four of his shots from the stripe in a pair of RMU road wins on the week as the Colonials improved to 3-1 in league play. He averaged 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.5 spg. In a 77-73 victory over Wagner, Minnie supplied nine points, four rebounds and two assists off the bench. He returned to the starting lineup in a 72-60 win over CCSU and posted career highs in points (13) and steals (three) while adding a pair of rebounds. Minnie finished 5-5 shooting from the floor, including 2-2 from deep. After the Blue Devils trimmed RMU’s lead to 50-47 with 8:59 remaining, Minnie ended the rally himself, burying a three-pointer and then converting an old-fashioned three-point play with a layup and free throw after being fouled by CCSU’s Khalen Cumberlander. On the 2014-15 campaign, the Monessen, PA product is averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor. In his first four career NEC games, Minnie has shot a scorching 87.5 percent (14-16) from the field, and is supplying 8.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
YOUNG BLACKBIRDS LEAD LIU TO FIRST NEC WIN, YOUNG SEAHAWKS SOARING
A popular writer once said, “If you’re young and talented, it’s like you have wings.”
The quote could not be more appropriate to describe a young LIU Brooklyn team, whose freshman class had them soaring last week in an 82-81 double overtime victory over Sacred Heart.
Of LIU’s 82 points against the Pioneers, a remarkable 56 came from freshman with four of the first-year players reaching double-digits. Freshman guard Elvar Fridriksson (Njardvik, Iceland/Njardvik) led the way with 18 points and added seven assists. NEC Rookie of the Week Nura Zanna (Kaduna, Nigeria/Coral Springs Christian (FL)) had 13 points and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Trevin Woods (Houston, TX/Fort Bend Austin) added 13 points and 12 boards off the bench. Another freshman guard, Martin Hermannsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/Reykjavík), scored 12 points for the Blackbirds, who won their first conference game of the season.
Two days later, LIU netted 82 points against Wagner with 43 coming from the freshman class.
On the year, LIU’s freshmen account for 47.6 percent of the team’s scoring.
Not to be outdone, Wagner has received 50.4 percent of its scoring this season from freshmen, including its second (Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac (Mount Zion Prep))), third (Corey Henson (Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic)) and fourth (JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord)) leading point producers on the year.
NEC CAREER REBOUND RECORD IN SIGHT FOR CANNON
It seems inevitable that St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) will make history, and he’s set out to do it quickly.
With 22 rebounds in two games last week, Cannon inched even closer to the NEC career rebounding mark. With 960 rebounds, he is just...
3 boards behind LIU Brooklyn’s Jamal Olasewere (963) for eighth place on the NEC list
40 caroms shy of becoming the fourth player in league history to reach 1,000 rebounds
63 rebounds away from unseating Quinnipiac’s Justin Rutty as the NEC’s all-time leader
After averaging 19.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg on 71.4 percent shooting from the floor last week, Cannon lifted his career numbers to 1,409 points and 960 rebounds, both first among active league competitors. He can become just the second player in NEC annals to finish with 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Rutty (1,521/1,032 from 2007-11).
Cannon hit 7-8 shots from the field in a 19-point, nine-rebound effort in a 78-69 win at FDU on Thursday and registered his league-leading 10th double-double of the year with 19 points and 13 boards versus the Mount on Saturday. The ten double-doubles rank him sixth nationally.
NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Justin Rutty QU 1,032 2007-11
2. Ron Robinson CCSU 1,022 2000-04
3. Carey Scurry LIU 1,013 1982-85
4. Alex Francis BRY 990 2010-14
5. Obie Nwadike CCSU 980 2003-07
6. Eric Taylor SFU 967 1994-98
7. Corsley Edwards CCSU 966 1998-02
8. Jamal Olasewere LIU 963 2009-13
9. Jalen Cannon SFBK 960 2011-15
10. Rahshon Turner FDU 927 1994-98
11. Ted Taylor MAR 923 1981-85
12. Greg Foster FDU 916 1982-84
BRYANT’S STARKS REACHES 3P MILESTONE
How prolific a shooter has Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)) been in his Bulldog career? Despite playing just two and one-half seasons in the black and gold, Starks has entered the NEC top-25 in career three-pointers made.
Starks, who sank three from distance last week, has now drained 224 career trifectas. He needs 15 more to crack the top-20.
20. Danny Basile MAR 239 1992-96
21. Terence Ward UMBC 233 1998-01
22. Dejan Delic MU 230 2003-07
23. Charles Jones LIU 225 1996-98
24. Dyami Starks BRY 224 2012-15
Steve Paterno MAR 224 1987-91
25. Ricky Cadell SFBK 222 2007-11
He currently leads the NEC and ranks xxth in the nation with 3.15 made three-pointers per game.
SFBK’S JONES NEARING NEC TOP-10 SPOT
With 10 dimes in two games last week, senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) moved up three spots to 16th on the NEC career chart with 513 helpers.
Jones is only the second Terrier in history to score 500 points and hand out 500 assists. He is 22 assists away from becoming the Terriers’ all-time leader in the category, a record currently held by Greg Nunn, who played from 1997-01.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
10. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
11. Rob Monroe QU 541 2001-05
12. Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 538 2006-10
13. Greg Nunn SFBK 534 1997-01
14. Gregory Harris MSM 529 1996-00
15. Mark Porter WC 523 2004-08
16. Brent Jones SFBK 513 2011-15
17. Mel Hawkins FDU 508 1987-91
18. Tristan Blackwood CCSU 506 2004-08
19. Dave Masciale LIU 504 1994-98
20. Antawn Dobie LIU 497 1999-03
GAETANO AMONG NEC PASSING GREATS
In an era that has featured some of the top distributors in league history, Sacred Heart senior Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) now enjoys a lofty status in NEC annals.
Firmly entrenched in third place on the NEC career assist list, only LIU Brooklyn’s Jason Brickman (1,009) and Marist’s Drafton Davis (804) have dished for more assists than Gaetano, who enters play this week with 645 dimes.
Gaetano leads the NEC and ranks 20th nationally with 5.9 apg this season.
1. Jason Brickman LIU 1,009 2010-14
2. Drafton Davis MAR 804 1984-88
3. Phil Gaetano SHU 645 2011-15
4. Jeremy Goode MSM 603 2006-10
5. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
6. Napoleon Lightning SFU 589 1981-85
7. Courtney Pritchard WC 563 2000-04
8. Andre Van Drost WC 560 1982-87
9. Forest Grant RMU 555 1981-84
10. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
ODD STAT OF THE WEEK
Despite scoring 82 points, LIU Brooklyn’s offense shot just 35.3 percent from the floor in an 82-81 double overtime win over Sacred Heart on Thursday, marking the lowest shooting percentage in an LIU win since a 68-62 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on February 18, 2010. The Blackbirds shot just 34.3 percent in that game. In contrast, the Blackbirds shot a season-best 56.0 percent against Wagner on Saturday but fell short, 87-82.
ON THE NATIONAL LEADERBOARD
Below are a list of NEC players who rank in the top-25 nationally in various statistical categories.
Category Name Team Stats Ranking
Rebounds Jalen Cannon SFBK 9.9 20th
Assists Phil Gaetano SHU 5.9 20th
3PFG/Game Dyami Starks BRY 3.15 12th
Double-Doubles Jalen Cannon SFBK 10 6th
HERE & THERE
Bryant senior guard Joe O’Shea (Burlington, VT/Burlington (Holy Cross)) has been hot as of late for the Bulldogs, and last week was no exception. The captain led the Bulldogs, averaging 20.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg per game on the two-win week while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor, 40.0 percent (4-10) from long range and 80.0 percent from the charity stripe. O’Shea tied his career-high with a game-best 21 points in Thursday’s 80-54 win over Saint Francis U for just the second 20-point game of his career. He then tallied a game-high 19 points to lead the Bulldogs to a second-consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon against FDU. O’Shea is the team’s second-leading scorer (9.5) and rebounder (5.8).
Bryant freshman guard Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, GA/North Cobb Christian) averaged 12.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg in a pair of Bryant wins last week. The rookie guard finished with 16 points, just one point shy of his career high, in Saturday’s win over SFU. He sank 6-11 shots, including 4-7 from distance. Ware ranks fourth on the Bulldogs with 7.5 ppg.
CCSU senior forward Faronte Drakeford (Aberdeen, NC/Pinecrest (Cape Fear CC)) averaged a double-double with 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds last week. He scored 12 points and snared a career-high 17 boards last Thursday at Mount St. Mary’s.
CCSU junior forward Brandon Peel (Forestville, MD/Riverdale Baptist) grabbed a career and NEC single-game season-high 18 points against Robert Morris on Saturday. He added 11 points in his fourth double-double effort of the season. Peel ranks seventh in the league with 8.7 rpg.
Fairleigh Dickinson freshman guard Marques Townes (Edison, NJ/St. Joseph Metuchen) led the Knights with 12.0 ppg on 72.7 percent shooting from the floor last week. He hit five of his six shot attempts and finished with a team-high 15 points in 24 minutes off the bench at Bryant on Saturday. Over his last five games, Townes has averaged 13.4 ppg to lift his season scoring average to 8.1 ppg. Over that same stretch, he has converted 58.8 percent of his shot opportunities.
Fairleigh Dickinson junior forward Xavier Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against St. Francis Brooklyn last Thursday. Harris currently ranks ninth in the NEC with 6.2 rpg.
LIU Brooklyn freshman guard Trevin Woods (Houston, TX/Fort Bend Austin) came off the bench to register his first double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the Blackbirds’ 82-81 double overtime win over Sacred Heart on Thursday. He hit 3-6 from three-point range and also blocked a pair of shots.
Mount St. Mary’s freshman guard Junior Robinson (Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance) averaged 9.0 ppg and 5.5 apg while shooting 54.5 percent from the field in the Mount’s 2-0 week. Robinson tallied 10 points and five assists in the 81-52 defeat of CCSU, and followed with eight points and six assists as the Mount earned a 71-61 win over previously unbeaten St. Francis Brooklyn. Robinson posted a 3.67-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio for the week. He is seventh in the conference with 3.5 apg.
Sacred Heart senior guard Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) led the Pioneers last week with 16.0 ppg and also added 5.5 rpg. He secured team scoring honors in both games, collecting 17 at LIU Brooklyn and 15 at home against Saint Francis U.
Freshman guard Cane Broome (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford (St. Thomas More)) contributed 14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.0 spg in his typically strong all-around week for the Pioneers. Broome is the NEC’s seventh leading scorer (14.1 ppg), and also ranks in the top-10 in free throw percentage (.770) and steals (1.6).
Saint Francis U sophomore guard Malik Harmon (Queens, NY/Chris the King) scored a career-high 25 points in the Red Flash’s 77-68 win at Sacred Heart on Saturday. He recorded the first six points of the second half, taking the Flash from a two-point lead at the break to an eight-point cushion that held up. He made seven of his 14 shots from the field and was 10-11 from the free throw line. Harmon is second on the Red Flash with 10.8 ppg and leads the team with 2.9 apg.
Saint Francis U senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Red Flash’s 77-68 road win over Sacred Heart on Saturday. He hit 5-6 from the floor and added three assists. Brown is currently fourth in the NEC in scoring (15.8), sixth in rebounding (6.9) and second in field goal percentage (.552).
Wagner senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) remained one of the league’s hottest players after averaging 19.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.5 apg last week. He scored 21 points, including 4-8 from beyond the arc in a close loss to Robert Morris on Thursday, then scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to spark the Seahawks to an 87-82 win over LIU Brooklyn on Saturday. His three-pointer brought Wagner within four points with 5:05 to play and stopped a 9-0 LIU run. Burton has averaged 20.0 points over his last five games and now ranks third in the NEC with 16.4 ppg on the year. In league play, he paces the circuit with 21.3 ppg.
Wagner freshman guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Mount Zion Prep) contributed 14.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.5 apg in two games last week. He tallied 12 points and four assists against Robert Morris on Thursday, then hit 5-6 from the floor, including 3-3 from distance, in a 17-point outing as the Seahawks outlasted LIU Brooklyn, 87-82. Saunders currently ranks second on Wagner with 9.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg.
NEC NUGGETS
Bryant leads the NEC in field goal percentage defense (.418) and three-point percentage defense (.295), and ranks second in scoring defense (65.0 ppg).
LIU Brooklyn’s 82-81 victory over Sacred Heart was the first for a Blackbirds unit in a double-overtime game since defeating FDU, 91-88, on January 29, 2009.
Mount St. Mary’s has had a player score 20 or more points in three straight games after failing to do so in its first 12 outings.
Mount St. Mary’s is 24-6 at home under Jamion Christian, including 4-1 this season.
Robert Morris is 20-0 in the Andrew Toole era when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
The freshman duo of Marcquise Reed and Elijah Minnie have combined to supply Robert Morris with an average of 23.0 points in the team’s first four NEC games while shooting 68.8 percent from the field.
Sacred Heart’s 60 rebounds against LIU Brooklyn on Thursday were the most in an NEC game since Quinnipiac pulled down 61 against the Blackbirds on January 7, 2012. Interestingly, LIU won both games.
St. Francis Brooklyn enjoyed its first six-game win streak since the 2001-02 season after beating FDU last Thursday. The streak was snapped in a 71-61 loss at Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday.
St. Francis Brooklyn’s Jalen Cannon converted his 500th career field goal in last Thursday’s win over FDU.
QUOTABLE
“We’ve talked a lot about remaining in character. Remaining in character, meaning each one of our guys has different strengths and weaknesses. We really want to have a program where we play to our strengths 100 percent of the time. I thought tonight we were very close to doing that.” - Mount head coach Jamion Christian after an 82-51 win over CCSU on Thursday
“The goal is to make the playoffs. And to be ready to play good basketball by the time that gets here.” - Wagner head coach Bashir Mason after an 87-82 win over LIU Brooklyn that improved the Seahawks to 2-2 in NEC play
“At first it was hard because I really didn’t know what my role was going to be to help make the team better. But coach told me, ‘You’re not a freshman any more.’” - Wagner freshman Romone Saunders
“Velton Jones had one other thing going for him. He used to chew nails for breakfast.” - NEC sideline reporter Paul Dottino commenting on the former NEC great and current RMU assistant during Thursday’s CBSSN game
“In the second half, we play very, very hard defensively and we finally got into an offensive rhythm. We competed on every possession but we just were not able to get over the hump today.” - FDU head coach Greg Herenda after Saturday’s setback at Bryant
TWEET DECK
John Templon @nybuckets
Jalen Cannon with 19-9 tonight for SFC. No big deal. Just you know leading the Terriers to 3-0 start in the league.
Anthony Rushing @AnthonyRushing_
Gut check win tonight for LIU Brooklyn over Sacred Heart, Trevin Woods took full advantage of opportunity. 13pts,12 reb. #NECMBB
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
Loving this @WagnerHoops - @RMUMBasketball battle. Always seems to be magic in these TV games at Spiro. #NECMBB @CBSSportsNet
John Templon @nybuckets
This has been a pretty entertaining game on @CBSSportsNet for #NECMBB fans. Wonder if @WagnerAthletics has that one run in them?
Ryan Peters @pioneer_pride
Trevin Wood is having a coming out party in this second half. If LIU hangs onto its thin margin, it because of the freshman.
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
SEND IT IN RODNEY PRYOR
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
CCSU’s Brandon Peel with an impressive double-double. 11 points, 18 boards. Also known as the Tyson Chandler statline
Matt Dewkett @MDewkettPhoto
@NickCoit Keep an eye on Dan Garvin. Covered him in HS here in CT. Fun to watch!
Matt Hicks @radiohicksie
Old stomping grounds tweet. Watching some NEC hoops w/my man @DavePopkin & former Wagner coach @TimCapstraw on pbp.
John Templon @nybuckets
Jalen Cannon scored 2 points his sophomore year of HS. Now he’s an #necbmbb POY candidate. Here’s how: http://www.nycbuckets.com/2015/01/humility-devotion-driving-jalen-cannon/ …