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NEC Players of the Week: Jalen Cannon, SFBK
NEC Rookie of the Week: Marcquise Reed, RMU
Previous NEC Releases: February 2 | January 26 | January 19 | January 12 | January 6 | December 29 | December 22 | December 15 | December 8 | December 1 | November 24 | November 17
NEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Jalen Cannon, St. Francis Brooklyn
6-6, 235 lbs.
Sr., F, Allentown, PA/William Allen
Cannon’s league-best fourth NEC Player of the Week award comes after an incredible two-game stretch for the senior forward. The Allentown, PA native averaged 32.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists, while shooting 67.6 percent from the field and 62.5 percent (5-8) from long distance in a pair of victories for the first place Terriers. And if that wasn’t enough, Cannon also became the NEC’s career rebounding leader on Saturday, passing Quinnipiac’s Justin Rutty (1,032 rebounds) to set the new mark with 1,039 boards. Cannon dropped a career-high 35 points on 13-19 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point territory, in Thursday’s 90-81 win over CCSU. He scored 28 in the second half and also added 13 caroms in the comeback win. Two days later, Cannon led all scorers with 29 points, making 12 of his 18 shots from the floor, and snared 11 rebounds as the Terriers beat Wagner, 66-51, to take a two-game lead in the NEC standings and clinch an NEC Tournament spot. Cannon leads the NEC with 9.9 rpg and 14 double-doubles, and ranks fourth in scoring (16.1) and sixth in field goal percentage (.528).
NEC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week
Marcquise Reed, Robert Morris
6-3, 180 lbs.
Fr., G, Landover, MD/Capitol Christian
Reed’s stranglehold on the NEC Rookie of the Week award continues after a terrific weekend that saw him average 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. The freshman guard has now been honored on six occasions this season, including five times over the past seven weeks. The six ROW honors ties him for fifth on the NEC’s single-season list. Reed scored a game-high 22 points on Thursday in a seven-point setback at LIU Brooklyn. He made 9-14 shots and finished with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. It marked his eighth 20+ game of the season, matching the RMU freshman record. On Saturday, Reed converted 7-10 shot opportunities and finished with 15 points, three rebounds and four assists in RMU’s 76-62 win at FDU. Tied at 45 with 14:35 to play, the Colonials used a 17-8 run to take control with Reed supplying nine points and a pair of assists, On the year, the Landover, MD native leads all NEC freshman and ranks sixth in the conference with 15.0 ppg. Reed is also second in the league in steals (1.8), fifth in field goal percentage (.532) and ninth in free throw accuracy (.755).
CANNON’S CORONATION: TERRIER SETS NEC REBOUND MARK
“Coaches would come to see me play, and they’d come back a couple of times. But St. Francis was the only one that offered. They made me feel like they really wanted me.”
Those are the words of St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen), remembering his recruitment process four years back.
Little did SFBK head coach Glenn Braica know at the time that his investment in the Allentown, PA native would result in greater returns than he could have ever imagined.
On Saturday, the under-recruited power forward made Northeast Conference history when he established a new career rebounding mark in a 66-51 win at Wagner.
Cannon, who pulled down the milestone rebound with 5:16 to play in the first half, finished the game with 1,039 career boards, seven more than Quinnipiac’s Justin Rutty, who collected 1,032 rebounds from 2007-11.
NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Jalen Cannon SFBK 1,039 2011-15
2. Justin Rutty QU 1,032 2007-11
3. Ron Robinson CCSU 1,022 2000-04
4. Carey Scurry LIU 1,013 1982-85
5. Alex Francis BRY 990 2010-14
And that wasn’t the only milestone for Cannon last week.
On Thursday, the NCAA’s active career leader in rebounds passed Jerome Williams (1,019) to establish the SFBK all-time mark and also became just the second player in NEC annals to eclipse 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. Cannon, now with 1,558 points, joins Rutty (1,521) as the only two NEC players to reach both plateaus. He is just 105 points shy of the Terriers’ all-time scoring record set by Ricky Cadell (2007-11).
While his rebounding made headlines, it was his shooting touch that helped lead the first place Terriers to a pair of road victories last week.
Cannon averaged 32.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in the wins, while shooting 67.6 percent from the field and 62.5 percent (5-8) from long distance in the best two-game scoring stretch of his career.
With those numbers, it comes as no surprise that Cannon earned his league-leading fourth NEC Player of the Week award of the 2014-15 campaign.
Cannon dropped a career-high 35 points on 13-19 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point territory, in Thursday’s 90-81 win over CCSU. He also added 13 caroms. Two days later, Cannon led all scorers with 29 points, making 12 of his 18 shots from the floor, and snared 11 rebounds in the victory over Wagner.
To say Braica is impressed with Cannon’s development on the offensive end of the floor would be an understatement.
“Jalen really worked at developing his game,” said Braica. “Now he can step on the floor and make perimeter shots, and he can handle the ball some. He’s become a very good player.”
Cannon paces the NEC with 9.9 rpg and 14 double-doubles, which ranks him 20th and ninth, respectively, nationally. He also ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (16.1) and sixth in field goal percentage (.528).
TERRIERS IN, SEVEN TO GO
With six games remaining in the regular, we have our first NEC Tournament qualifier.
St. Francis Brooklyn clinched a spot in the postseason party for the fifth straight year after improving to 10-2 in league play with a 66-51 win over Wagner on Saturday.
The Terriers, who hold a two-game edge over Bryant and Robert Morris in the standings, are looking to capture their first NEC regular season title since sharing the top spot with Monmouth after a 12-6 campaign in 2003-04. SFBK also claimed the regular season crown back in 2000-01 with a 16-4 mark.
At 8-4, Bryant and Robert Morris are just one win away from clinching tourney berths.
SFBK’S JONES JOINS NEC MILLENNIUM CLUB
The year-to-year improvement of St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) has been one of the NEC’s most compelling storylines this season.
And as he enters the stretch run of his final season in Brooklyn playing the best ball of his career, Jones can now boast of a number of career milestones.
Last Thursday, he became 203rd player in NEC history and 31st in SFBK annals to reach 1,000 career points in the Terriers’ 90-81 win at Central Connecticut. He finished the weekend with 1,011 points.
At the same time, Jones became the first player in SFBK history and the 14th NEC player to record 1,000 points and 500 assists. That list is a who’s who of NEC greats at the guard spot.
NEC Players with 1,000 Points & 500 Assists
Forest Grant RMU 1,211/555 1981-84
Napoleon Lightning SFPA 1,060/589 1981-85
Deon Hames RID 1,589/598 1992-96
Dave Masciale LIU 1,501/504 1994-98
Gregory Harris MSM 1,760/529 1996-00
Courtney Pritchard WC 1,147/563 2000-04
Rob Monroe QU 1,685/541 2001-05
Tristan Blackwood CCSU 1,605/506 2004-08
Mark Porter WC 1,577/523 2004-08
Jeremy Goode MSM 1,716/603 2006-10
Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 1,693/538 2006-10
Velton Jones RMU 1,588/551 2009-13
Jason Brickman LIU 1,180/1,009 2010-14
Next in line to reach 1,000 career points appear to be Sacred Heart senior guard Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) (971).
CCSU’S EDWARDS ENSHRINED IN NEC HALL OF FAME
He was knows as the “Big Dog” and for good reason.
Since joining the Northeast Conference in 1997, the Central Connecticut men’s basketball program has had more than its share of success. And of all the outstanding players who have passed through Detrick Gymnasium, a case can be made that Corsley Edwards is the best to don a Blue Devil uniform.
This past Thursday, Edwards received the ultimate honor for his on-court exploits when he was announced as a member of the NEC’s fifth Hall of Fame class.
Edwards, a Baltimore native, was a three-time All-NEC selection and the 2001-02 NEC Player of the Year. He was chosen to the NEC All-Rookie team as a freshman in 1998-99 and All-NEC second team as a sophomore. Edwards would go on to earn to earn first-team All-NEC accolades in his junior and senior seasons. He was named to the NEC All-Tournament team in both the 1999 and 2000 postseasons.
Edwards is the third-leading scorer in CCSU history and ranks 21st on the NEC career list with 1,731 points. The 6’9” center also pulled down 966 rebounds, seventh in school annals and eighth in the NEC recordbook. Edwards is one of just three players in NEC history who have scored 1,700+ points and grabbed 900+ rebounds in their career. He never shot less than 50 percent from the field in any of his four seasons and ranks second all-time at CCSU with 198 career blocks.
Edwards won a pair of NEC titles at CCSU, the first coming in 1999-00, his sophomore season. That year, Edwards helped spark the Blue Devils to a 15-game win streak and close loss to Iowa State in the NCAA first round after beating Robert Morris in the NEC title game. He was also part of a dominant 2001-02 team that set a conference record with 27 victories, including a league record 19 straight at one point. CCSU would go on to beat Quinnipiac in the NEC title game to earn a second NCAA Tournament appearance. The Blue Devils fell to Pitt in the first round with Edwards scoring a game-high 16 points. CCSU won 85 games in his four seasons.
Edwards became the first NEC player selected in the NBA Draft in 11 years when chosen by the Sacramento Kings in the second round in 2002. He played for the New Orleans Hornets in 2003-04. Edwards was also named to the CBA All-Rookie team and competed in the CBA All-Star game in 2003. He won a CBA title and was named playoff MVP with the Sioux City Skyforce in 2005. Edwards continued to play professionally in 10 different countries through 2014 until taking a position as a player development assistant with the Denver Nuggets.
“Corsley was the main reason that the Blue Devils competed in two NCAA Tournaments during his sophomore and senior years,” said longtime CCSU head coach Howie Dickenman. “I want to congratulate the selection committee on their choice. Corsley Edwards is well deserving of this prestigious honor as he is a class act both on and off the basketball court.”
THIS WEEK IN NEC-TV: LET’S PLAY TWO
The NEC-TV crew heads to Emmitsburg on Thursday for the first of two games on the week. The Mount hosts Sacred Heart in a matchup to air from Knott Arena on MASN, FCS and ESPN3 at 7:00 pm. Dave Popkin (PxP), Terry O’Connor (color) and Paul Dottino (sideline) have the call. The two teams played earlier in the year on NEC-TV with the Mount claiming a 77-71 victory on January 31.
Two days later it’s a Valentine’s Day special from Moon Township as CCSU visits Robert Morris in a noon tip. Dottino (PxP), Tim Capstraw (color) and Pat O’Keefe are in the booth.
REED ROW TRIVIA
With six NEC Rookie of the Week awards this season, Robert Morris freshman guard Marcquise Reed (Landover, MD/Capitol Christian) has joined some elite company. The six honors ties him for fourth on the league’s all-time single-season list.
8 - Kyle Vinales (CCSU) - 2011-12
8 - Darshan Luckey (SFU) - 2002-03
8 - Charles Smith (RID) - 1993-94
8 - Alex Blackwell (MU) - 1989-90
6- Marcquise Reed (RMU) - 2014-15
6- Julian Boyd (LIU) - 2008-09
6 - Alex Francis (BRY) - 2010-11
6 - Latif Rivers (WC) - 2010-11
Reed has now claimed rookie plaudits in five of the last seven weeks, including four times in six weeks of league play.
Need a reason why?
Reed’s conference shooting splits are an incredible 56.2 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from the line and 87.5 percent from the stripe., while averaging 16.7 ppg.
SHOT OF THE WEEK
He’s known for his passing exploits, but Sacred Heart senior point guard Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) made some noise last week with one of the biggest shots of his career in an 85-74 win over Bryant at the Pitt Center on Saturday.
With the Pioneers trailing by three and 12 seconds on the clock, Gaetano brought the ball up the court, calmly pulled up from around 28 feet and stuck a three-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining to send the game to OT. An underrated shooter, Gaetano has made 121 shots from distance in his Sacred Heart career.
Watch the shot here: http://necfrontrow.com/webcast.php?SHU-2163 (1:53:20 mark)
LUCKY & STARKS MILESTONES
On Saturday, Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East) cracked the 1,500-point milestone for his Bryant career. He is one of 68 players in NEC history to reach the plateau that also includes St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen).
Starks is about to be joined in the 1,500-point club by Robert Morris senior forward Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony), who enters play this week with 1,493 to his credit.
Jones also eclipsed the 800-rebound mark last week, and with 803 boards ranks 21st on the NEC career list.
ALLEN’S EFFICIENT WEEK FOR SHU
Sacred Heart forward Jordan Allen (Bayshore, NY/Long Island Lutheran (Hofstra)) came into last week having scored in single digits in five straight games, but then had his best two-game stretch as a Pioneer, averaging 18.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 1.5 spg in just 24.5 mpg off the bench in a pair of SHU wins. He also shot a scorching 80.0 percent from the floor, making 16 of his 20 shots on the week.
Allen delivered a career performance in a thrilling come-from-behind 85-74 overtime victory over Bryant on Saturday. Allen poured in 14 of his career-high 24 points after halftime and added six rebounds in just 27 minutes. He made a personal-best 11-14 from the field, including 7-9 in the second stanza as the Pioneers rallied from 17 points down to win it. Allen also added five of his six rebounds after intermission. Down 11 with 6:26 remaining, the Bayshore, NY native scored eight of SHU’s 13 points in a 13-1 run that gave the Pioneers its first lead since the 18:29 mark of the first half with just 1:30 left to play.
He began the week in near-perfect shooting fashion, making 5-6 shots en-route to 13 points in 22 minutes as the Pioneers registered an 86-75 triumph over Wagner on Thursday. Twice when the Seahawks moved within eleven late in the game, Allen answered with layups to push the lead back to thirteen. The second sparked a 9-2 flurry that would ultimately seal the victory.
Allen’s 61.9 percent field goal percentage leads the conference. He paces Sacred Heart’s bench brigade, averaging 8.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
BOSKO BALLIN’ FOR BRYANT
If it seems like Bryant redshirt freshman forward Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia/ Hallam Senior College) has come out of nowhere to become a key cog in the Bulldog lineup, you wouldn’t be that far off.
After playing just 68 minutes combined over the 19 games of the season, Kostur recently earned a starting spot and has averaged 14.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg in his last five outings. The springy 6’7” wing has also shot an efficient 54.3 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from three-point range over that span.
Last week, he tied for game scoring honors with 17 points in a 55-53 win over Mount St. Mary’s, then added 15 in an overtime setback at Sacred Heart.
BURTON CHATTER
Wagner senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) has now led the Seahawks in scoring in each of the last 11 games, averaging 23.1 ppg over that span.
Last week, he put up 17.5 ppg, including 22 against Sacred Heart on Thursday.
Burton leads the NEC in overall (18.5) and conference (21.8) scoring.
The Charlotte, NC native also needs just five more steals for 100 in his career. Currently, he has amassed 1,035 points, 206 rebounds, 164 assists and 95 steals.
MOUNTING DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Mount St. Mary’s last week continued its recent trend of lockdown defensive efforts. The Mount held both CCSU and Bryant under 55 points, and has limited six of the past ten opponents to 55 or under.
The Mount continues to lead the NEC in scoring defense (60.0), field goal percentage defense (.389) and three-point defense (.279) in league games. In the advanced metrics, Mount St. Mary’s is first in defensive efficiency by a wide margin (allowing 90.7 points per 100 possessions) and effective field goal percentage (42.8).
TALE OF TWO HALVES FOR LIU
LIU Brooklyn used a pair of impressive second halves to defeat Robert Morris and Saint Francis U last week and improve to 6-6 in NEC play.
The Blackbirds outscored the Colonials, 48-38, to overcome a three-point halftime deficit, then came all the way back from down 15 in the first half to defeat Saint Francis U.
LIU shot 51.9 percent over the two second periods as compared to just 28.6 percent in the first halves.
CCSU’S MOBLEY DOING IT INSIDE & OUT
CCSU’s Matt Mobley (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) has been one of the bright spots this season for CCSU, as the sophomore guard ranks third in the NEC in scoring at 16.6 ppg.
He has posted a league-leading three 30+ point scoring efforts on the year, including 31 against St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday, just one off his career-high. Mobley made a scorching 7-10 from outside the arc and 8-10 from the line. On the week, Mobley averaged 22.0 ppg and made 9-14 (.643) from three-point territory.
Mobley hasn’t just been doing it from long distance, where he has hit 55 shots on the year. The Worcester, MA native also leads the NEC with 105 made free throws, 14 more than the next closest player, who just happens to be his teammate Faronte Drakeford (Aberdeen, NC/Pinecrest (Cape Fear CC)).
BRYANT IRONMEN
Bryant saw just eight players take the court over the course of a three-game week, with five averaging more than 35 minutes per game. Junior point guard Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, NJ/Old Tappan (Choate Rosemary Hall (CT))) led the team, averaging 41.3 minutes per outing in three starts. Senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East) also averaged more than 40 minutes per outing (40.7). Only six Bulldogs appeared in all three contests.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Mount St. Mary’s turned the ball over just eight times in two games last week. The Mount coughed the ball up five times in a two-point loss at Bryant and only three times in Saturday’s 63-46 win over CCSU.
SFBK’s CANNON, SHU’s GAETANO MAKING NATIONAL IMPACT
With St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) becoming the NEC’s career rebounder leader and Sacred Heart senior guard Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) firmly entrenched in third place on the NEC career assist list, it is important to note they rank near the top of active NCAA performers in their respective categories.
With 1,039 boards, Cannon is the NCAA’s active career leader, one ahead of Quinnipiac’s Ousmane Drame (1,014) and UC Santa Barbara’s Alan Williams (1.014). Interestingly, Drame (997) played two years in the NEC for the Bobcats. Cannon is also third among active NCAA players with 41 double-doubles, six behind Louisiana Lafayette’s Shawn Long.
Gaetano’s 682 career assists lands him fourth in the country, behind Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Smith (777), FGCU’s Brett Comer (773) and San Diego’s Christopher Anderson (711).
BRYANT’S STARKS CRACKS TOP-15 ON NEC 3P CHART
How prolific a shooter has Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)) been in his Bulldog career? Despite playing in just his third season in the black and gold, Starks has reached the NEC top-15 in career three-pointers made.
Starks, who sank 12 from distance last week to boost his career total to 254, moved up four spots to rank 14th all-time in the conference.
NEC Career Three-Point Leaders
9. Ryan Litke SHU 270 2006-10
Dedrick Dye WC 270 1999-03
11. Landy Thompson MSM 267 2002-06
12. Kevin Booth MSM 265 1989-93
13. Dave Calloway MU 260 1987-91
14. Dyami Starks BRY 254 2012-15
15. Rob Monroe QU 253 2001-05
16. Ben Mockford SFBK 252 2011-14
17. John Hilvert SFU 247 1987-91
18. Jeremy Chappell RMU 243 2005-09
Julian Norfleet MSM 242 2010-14
20. Kyle Johnson LIU 240 2007-11
He currently leads the NEC and ranks xxth in the nation with 3.1 made three-pointers per game.
SFBK’S JONES ENTERS NEC-TOP 10 IN CAREER ASSISTS
With 12 dimes in two games last week, St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) jumped up three spots to eighth on the NEC career assists chart with 561 helpers. He finished with seven assists in a 90-81 win over CCSU on Thursday and five more in SFBK’s 66-51 triumph over Wagner on Saturday.
Jones, only the second Terrier in history to score 1,000 points and hand out 500 assists, is now just 37 helpers shy of reaching the NEC career top-five.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
5. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
6. Napoleon Lightning SFU 589 1981-85
7. Courtney Pritchard WC 563 2000-04
8. Brent Jones SFBK 561 2011-15
9. Andre Van Drost WC 560 1982-87
10. Forest Grant RMU 555 1981-84
11. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
12. Rob Monroe QU 541 2001-05
13. Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 538 2006-10
14. Greg Nunn SFBK 534 1997-01
15. Gregory Harris MSM 529 1996-00
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 682 dimes.
Gaetano leads the NEC and ranks 34th nationally with 5.5 apg this season.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
1. Jason Brickman LIU 1,009 2010-14
2. Drafton Davis MAR 804 1984-88
3. Phil Gaetano SHU 682 2011-15
4. Jeremy Goode MSM 603 2006-10
5. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
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
Blocks Amdy Fall SFBK 2.95 12th
3PFG/Game Dyami Starks BRY 3.09 18th
FT% Dyami Starks BRY .884 18th
Double-Doubles Jalen Cannon SFBK 14 7th
HERE & THERE
Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East) averaged 20.0 points over three games last week, including a season-high 26 in an overtime loss at Sacred Heart. He hit 12 shots from three-point range. Starks ranks second in the NEC in scoring (17.5) and is the league’s top-three point shot maker, averaging 3.1 per game.
Bryant sophomore forward Dan Garvin (Bethel, CT/Bethel) averaged a double-double on the week with 15.0 ppg and 10.3 rpg, and also rejected five shots. Garvin scored a career-high 24 points on 10-16 shooting in a close loss at Pitt on Monday, and then picked up his fourth double-double of the season Saturday at SHU with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Bryant junior point guard Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, NJ/Old Tappan (Choate Rosemary Hall (CT))) set new career-highs with 10 assists and eight rebounds on Monday at Pitt. He averaged 8.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 6.0 apg on the week.
CCSU senior forward Faronte Drakeford (Aberdeen, NC/Pinecrest (Cape Fear CC)) averaged 16.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg last week for the Blue Devils. He posted his fourth double-double of the year with 18 points and 12 boards against first place St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday. On the year, Drakeford has contributed 13.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg for CCSU. In league play, he has boosted those numbers to 14.8 ppg and 8.6 rpg.
With his fourth three-point attempt of the game on Saturday against Robert Morris, FDU senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) surpassed Brad McClain (Class of ‘92) for FDU’s all-time career record for three-point field goal attempts. Jones finished the day with a school record 475 three-point attempts. He is also just 10 made three-pointers away from breaking McClains career record (187). He ranks tenth in the NEC with 13.9 ppg and second with 2.65 three-pointers per outing.
FDU freshman swingman Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, MD/Archbishop Spalding) posted a career-high 22 points against Robert Morris on Saturday. The Maryland native was 9-12 shooting from the floor in the game.
LIU Brooklyn freshman forward Nura Zanna (Kaduna, Nigeria/Coral Spring Christian (FL)) helped the Blackbirds to a pair of NEC wins with 12.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor. He scored 10 points (5-7 FG) and grabbed six boards on Thursday in LIU’s first win over Robert Morris since the 2012 NEC title game, 72-65, at the Steinberg Center. Two nights later, Zanna tallied 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds in a come-from-behind win over Saint Francis U. The Kaduna, Nigeria native gave LIU its first lead since the opening moments of the game on a left-handed finish at the basket with 5:13 left, then hit a tough fadeaway bank shot to extend the margin to four with 1:26 on the clock. Zanna has scored in double figures in each of his last three games and is leading all NEC rookies in rebounding at 6.3 per game.
LIU Brooklyn freshman guard Martin Hermannsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/Reykjavik) scored a team-high 17 points against Robert Morris on Thursday and is averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.0 apg through 12 NEC games this year.
Mount St. Mary’s freshman guard Junior Robinson (Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance) averaged 12.5 ppg for the Mountaineers in their 1-1 week. The 5-5 junior hit four three-pointers to finish with 12 points in the Mount’s 55-53 loss to Bryant. He followed with 13 points in a 63-46 win over CCSU. Robinson was 7-14 from three-point range for the week. He has scored a team-high 13.0 points over the past five games while shooting 52.2 percent (12-23) from outside the arc over the stretch. Robinson is now averaging 10.2 ppg in NEC play.
Robert Morris senior forward Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) returned to the lineup in a 76-62 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday after missing RMU’s setback at LIU Brooklyn due to injury and scored a season-high 24 points while also grabbing six rebounds. Jones ranks in the NEC top-15 in scoring (13.8), rebounding (6.4), free throw percentage (.776), three-pointers (1.95/game) and steals (1.4).
Sacred Heart freshman guard Cane Broome (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford) poured in 16.5 ppg in a 2-0 week for Sacred Heart. He also added 3.5 rpg and 1.5 apg, while hitting 11-12 from the line. On Thursday against Wagner, he helped SHU avenge a loss to the Seahawks just one week prior with 16 points, including 2-4 from beyond the arc and 4-4 from the charity stripe. In Saturday’s comeback victory over second place Bryant, Broome contributed 17 points and made seven of his eight free throws. He also tallied four assists, three rebounds, and a steal. B roome netted 15 of his 17 points in the first half, as he was instrumental in keeping the Pioneers in the game. In addition to leading the Pioneers in scoring at 13.8 ppg, Broome ranks in the top-14 of the NEC in six categories.
Saint Francis U senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) posted back-to-back double-doubles last week. He started with a mammoth 20-point, 14-rebound performance in a 64-60 win at Fairleigh Dickinson. His 14 rebounds represented a season-high for the Philly native. He followed that with 12 points and 10 rebounds at LIU Brooklyn on Saturday. For the week, Brown averaged 16.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg whole shooting 60.9 percent from the floor. He ranks fifth in the NEC in scoring (15.3), fourth in rebounding (7.5), third in field goal percentage (.542) and second in double-doubles (eight).
Saint Francis U junior forward Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, OH/Greenview) came back on Saturday after missing three games with an injury to score eight points on 4-5 shooting in a 17-minute stint off the bench. Drinnon ranks fifth in the NEC with 7.5 rpg.
Saint Francis U sophomore guard Malik Harmon (Queens, NY/Christ the King) dished for a career-best seven assists on Thursday in a 64-60 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. He also added 13 points and three rebounds.
Wagner junior forward Mike Aaman (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan (URI)) is averaging 10.3 points in four games since missing nine games with an injury. He has pulled down 10.3 rpg in just 20.0 mpg since his return.
NEC NUGGETS
In a five-point setback at Pitt, Bryant shot 50.9 percent from the floor, 42.9 percent from 3P range and was outrebounded by just one (30-29).
LIU Brooklyn’s win over RMU on Thursday was the program’s first since defeating the Colonials, 90-73, in the 2012 NEC Tournament final.
LIU Brooklyn has won four of its last five games and is now 10-7 following an 0-6 start.
Mount St. Mary’s has hit at least 10 3PFG in three straight games.
Mount St. Mary’s will play five of its final six games at home this season where they are 25-7 under head coach Jamion Christian.
Robert Morris has won 15 straight games over FDU, a school record for consecutive wins against an NEC opponent.
Robert Morris is 23-0 under head coach Andrew Toole when shooting 50 percent or better from the field against NEC opponents.
With 10 overall wins and four NEC victories, Sacred Heart has doubled both win totals from last season.
After 12 straight overtime losses to NEC foes, Sacred Heart has now won its past two, including Saturday’s OT win over Bryant.
Saint Francis U’s setback to LIU Brooklyn on Saturday is just the team’s second when leading at the half. The Red Flash are 12-2 in such games.
Wagner leads the NEC in rebounding margin in league play at +6.3 per game.
QUOTABLE
“Coach (Perri) told us to come out with a chip. We knew what was at stake. We knew that they were a very good team. They were above us in the standings. We came out hungry. We were hungry to get this win (tonight). We just had that aggression towards the end of the first half and into the second, that was probably our best second half of the year. I just think a lot of guys contributed. They just brought it. I’m proud of the team.” - LIU senior guard Gerrell Martin after beating RMU on Thursday
“We shared the ball and made great decisions in the second half. Lucky made winning plays for us. It bothered Lucky that he didn’t play Thursday, and he wanted to come out and play well. I told him in the locker room after the game I was proud of his effort.” - Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole following the Colonials’ win over FDU on Saturday
“These are young guys. Mason said of his roster, which includes five freshmen who pay significant minutes. They don’t know how hard the basketball gets in February. They’ve never felt it before.” - Wagner head coach Bashir Mason after the Seahawks fell at SHU on Thursday
“Tonight we shared the ball very well, made a bunch of shots, but we just couldn’t stop Robert Morris in any one-on-one situations. It truly seemed like they didn’t miss a shot all game. Earl Potts played extremely well and ignited our offense. It was also great to see Matt (MacDonald) break out and play well. We just need to put everything together and then the outcomes will be differene.” - FDU head coach Greg Herenda after Saturday’s game against Robert Morris
TWEET DECK
Jason Harris @LIUHarris
LIU RMU is always a fight
Chris Cappella ?@C_Cappella
Bryant falls to Pitt by five, but still a good showing for the NEC. Nice fight
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
Bosko Kostur is the Hassan Whiteside of #NECMBB. The @BryantAthletics frosh has just come out of nowhere. 17 in 55-53 win over MSM.
Nelson Castillo @NelCastBHJ
Sacred Heart & LIU both w/ big comeback Ws against tms in the #NECMBB upper tier. Like I said a while back, anybody can beat anybody this yr
NW Brooklyn Sports @NW_BKNSports
Great player, fabulous career, fun to watch. Jalen Cannon #NEC milestone #SFBKMBB win.
Sangri ?@sangri410
@sfctoday @sfbkad Jalen Cannon is having an amazing year...Congrats Jalen...keep breaking records...SuperFanSandie
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
Just saw Jalen Cannon drop 35/13 for @SFBKTerriers. Has to be the stat line of the year in #NECMBB. Milestone after milestone. #NECMBB
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
Welcome back Lucky Jones! He’s in the #RMCMB starting 5, along with Pryor, Stewart, Reed, and Tate. Order is restored
Ryan Peters @pioneer_pride
I don’t mean to overrated this, but that was a great win for Sacred Heart. It’s been a long time since they last won a game like that.
Northeast Conference @NECsports
The @BryantDawgPound out in full force. Watch @BryantAthletics vs @MountAthletics on @ESPNU. Now! #NECMBB