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NEC Co-Players of the Week: Nisre Zouzoua, BRY & Iverson Fleming, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Keith Braxton, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: November 21 | November 14 | Preseason Poll Release | Preseason All-NEC Release | NEC-TV Release

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nisre Zouzoua, Bryant
6’2”, 190 lbs.
So, G, Brockton, MA/Boston Trinity
Coming off an NEC All-Rookie freshman campaign, Zouzoua has been nearly unstoppable for the Bulldogs this season. Last week he accounted for nearly 37 percent of Bryant’s points over three contests, averaging 25.3 ppg on 49.1 percent shooting from the field. After posting a team-best 22 points in a narrow four-point setback at Eastern Washington on Monday, Zouzoua recorded a career-high 30 points - 19 coming in the second half - in Bryant’s 64-57 win over Louisiana-Monroe the following day. He hit 13-22 shots and corralled a career-high six boards. The Brockton, MA product finished off the week with five triples and 24 points at Northwestern. After trailing by as many as 21 in the first half and 13 at halftime, Zouzoua scored 14 points in less than five minutes, including eight straight at one point to cut the deficit to 42-39 with 15:29 to play. He leads the NEC with 21.7 ppg and 3.0 three-pointers per outing.

Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn
6’1”, 160 lbs.
Sr, G, North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick
Fleming provided the firepower for the Blackbirds in a 2-0 week that lifted LIU Brooklyn’s record to 5-1, the best start for the program since the 1982-83 season. For the week he averaged 21.0 points per outing, hitting 71.4 percent from distance and 93.8 percent from the stripe. Fleming also added 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and turned the ball over just twice in 71 minutes. He began his week by hitting all 12 of his free throws in a career-high 26-point effort to go along with five boards in Monday’s 71-66 victory over Maine. Fleming added 16 points, five assists and three steals on Saturday as the Blackbirds knocked off UMass-Lowell, 82-78, in overtime. His steal with five seconds left in regulation preserved the tie, and he scored five points in the extra session. Fleming, who hails from North Brunswick, NJ, ranks second on the Blackbirds with 12.7 ppg on the year.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Keith Braxton, Saint Francis U
6’4”, 208 lbs.
Fr., G, Glassboro, NJ/The Lawrenceville School
Braxton did it all in a 2-0 week for the Red Flash, averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 13.5 rebounds to go along with 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest. He shot 61.1 percent from the field and committed just two turnovers in 72 minutes. The Glassboro, NJ native established career-highs in points (17), rebounds (12) and assists (five) in SFU’s 87-72 win over Longwood on Wednesday. Braxton converted 8-11 shot opportunities and added a pair of steals. In Saturday’s 69-62 road conquest of American, he posted his second career double-double with 14 points and a personal-best 15 boards. Braxton is currently supplying the Red Flash with 12.6 ppg and at 6’4”, leads the NEC with 8.8 rpg. He is also shooting 56.4 percent from the floor to rank sixth in the league.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Elijah Long (MSM, So, G)
With three straight double-digit outings, Long averaged 17.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg and shot 62.5 percent from long range last week. He scored a career-high 27 points at UT Arlington and added 13 points and seven boards at #25 Michigan. He has scored in double figures in each of the Mount’s first seven games this year.

Isaiah Still (RMU, So, G)
Still was named to the Barclays Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 15.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 2.3 spg. He scored 13 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as RMU climbed out of an 11-point deficit to earn a one-point win at Towson on Saturday.

Glenn Sanabria (SFBK, So, G)
Sanabria averaged 17.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals over three games to earn All-Tournament team honors at the Emerald Coast Classic. He netted a career-high 28 points and drained five three-pointers in a 97-91 win over Savannah State on Friday.

Jamaal King (SFU, So, G)
King’s breakout sophomore season continued last week in a pair of wins for the Red Flash. He averaged 17.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.0 apg and 2.0 spg, highlighted by a near double-double with 15 points and a career-high nine assists against Longwood. King added 20 points and a personal-best eight boards in a seven-point win over American on Saturday.

Mike Aaman (WC, Sr, F)
Nearly averaged a double-double with 11.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg in a split for the Seahawks. Aaman shot 50.0 percent from the floor and also averaged 2.5 bpg. He recorded his fifth career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards against Rider on Saturday. 

YEAR OF THE FRESHMAN?

Over the first three weeks of non-conference play, the most prominent storyline of the young NEC season has revolved around the play of the league’s freshman class. 

A host of first year players have not only cracked rotations on their respective teams, but have immediately stepped into both starting and starring roles.
Here are some of those freshmen that have made the biggest impact.

Adam Grant (BRY, Fr, G)
15.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 57.4 FG%, 51.5 3PFG%

Grant has been an offensive force for the Bulldogs in his first six career games. The Franklin, VA native leads all NEC freshmen in scoring and ranks seventh overall with 15.7 ppg. He also ranks     third in the league in made three-pointers (2.83/game) and fourth in three-point accuracy (51.5 percent). Last week he dropped 19 points on 6-10 shooting at Northwestern.

Sabastian Townes (BRY, Fr, F)
8.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 52.9 FG%

Townes was the first NEC Rookie of the Week selection after scoring 16 points against Notre Dame. Last week he finished with nine points in 17 minutes versus Northwestern.

Ikenna Ndugba (BRY, Fr, G)
5.8 ppg, 4.7 apg

Ndugba is yet another Bryant freshman who has become a fixture for Tim O’Shea. Ndugba has started all six games at the point for the Bulldogs and ranks third in the NEC with 4.7 apg. He posted a career-high seven dimes at Northwestern on Friday.

Tyson Batiste (CCSU, Fr, G)
6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.0 apg

Batiste has been in the starting lineup from day one for the Blue Devils. He has contributed 6.0 ppg and ranks fourth in the NEC with 4.0 apg. Batiste’s 2.29 assist-to-turnover ratio is the second-best mark on the circuit.

Kaleb Bishop (FDU, Fr, F)
4.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg

The 6’8” Bishop has added more depth to an already deep FDU rotation. The Paterson, NJ product pulled down seven boards in 12 minutes in his first collegiate game against Seton Hall.

Jashaun Agosto (LIU, Fr, G)
11.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 50.0 3PFG%, 79.3 FT%

Agosto, who was named the NEC Rookie of the Week on November 21, has been one of the keys to LIU Brooklyn’s 5-1 start. Agosto, who hails from Seattle, has started all six games and ranks third on the Blackbirds with 11.5 ppg. He also leads LIU with 2.5 apg and has hit 6-12 shots from outside the arc.

Julian Batts (LIU, Fr, G)
6.2 ppg, 1.7 apg, 60.0 3PFG%

Batts has assumed a sixth-man role for the Blackbirds, teaming with Agosto for a formidable one-two punch at the point. He has turned the ball over just four times in 129 minutes and has hit 6-10 shots from distance.

Miles Wilson (MSM, Fr, G)
9.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Wilson has reached double figures four times in seven games off the bench for the Mount, including a career-best 26 points on 9-14 shooting at UT-Arlington last Wednesday. The 26 points were the most by a Mount freshman since Shivaughn Wiggins scored 28 in a win at FDU on March 2, 2013. He ranks third on the Mountaineers in scoring at 9.7 ppg.

Braden Burke (RMU, Fr, F/C)
5.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg

The 6’11” Burke started his first six games and has given the Colonials a true post presence. His best game was a 10-point, seven-rebound outing against Richmond, and he added eight boards versus Kansas State last Tuesday.

Rasheem Dunn (SFBK, Fr, G)
9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg

In Dunn’s first collegiate game he tallied 12 points against NC State. Last Friday the local product out of Thomas Jefferson HS lit up Savannah State for 20 points, making 7-8 shots from the floor, as the Terriers earned their first victory of the season. It marked the first time a Terrier freshman scored 20 points in a contest since the 2008-09 season (Stefan Perunicic).

Keith Braxton (SFU, Fr, G)
12.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 56.4 FG%, 

Braxton, the NEC Rookie of the Week, has excelled in all facets of the game for the Red Flash, who have won three straight following an 0-2 start. Braxton posted two double-doubles last week with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Longwood and 14 points and 15 boards versus American. Braxton, at 6’4”, leads the NEC with 8.8 rpg, and averages 12.6 ppg and 3.2 apg. He is also shooting 56.4 percent from the floor.

Randall Gaskins, Jr. (SFU, Fr, G)
8.0 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.8 spg

Gaskins has started four-of-five games for the Red Flash, contributing 8.0 ppg. He scored 12 points in each of his first two games against St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. Last Wednesday, he had four steals and hit all four of his shots in an 11-point outing versus Longwood.

Blake Francis (WC, Fr, G)
8.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 3PFG/gm

Francis earned his first two starts last week after a career-best 14-point outing against Fairfield on November 19. He ranks second on Wagner and 12th in the NEC with 2.0 three-pointers per outing.

EARLY SEASON BLACKBIRD BONANZA
When LIU Brooklyn rallied to post an 82-78 overtime win at UMass-Lowell on Saturday, it not only lifted the Blackbirds’ record to 5-1 on the year, but also gave the program its best start in 34 years.

The 5-1 start matches the 1982-83 squad that won five of its first six games en-route to a 20-9 season and run to the NEC (then ECAC-Metro) title game.

With LIU set to next tip off at Hartford on Wednesday, the Blackbirds will look to move to 6-1 for the first time since a 7-1 start to begin the 1971-72 campaign under head coach Roy Rubin.

In Saturday’s win, the Blackbirds overcame a nine-point second half deficit, and did so by dominating the interior. LIU owned a 48-30 edge in points in the paint and finished with a 33-24 rebounding edge.

First team All-NEC senior forward Jerome Frink (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony (FIU)) tallied a season-high 27 points and snared nine boards, while junior forward Nura Zanna (Kaduna, Nigeria/Cora Springs Christian (FL)) posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Frink’s conventional three-point play with 1:10 to play in overtime was the backbreaker, giving the Blackbirds a six-point advantage.

COLONIALS EARNS BARCLAYS CLASSIC CAMPUS SITE BRACKET CROWN
Robert Morris claimed its first two wins of the 2016-17 campaign last week, winning the campus site bracket of the 2016 Barclays Classic thanks to victories over Hampton and Towson. The Colonials knocked off Hampton (62-48) on Friday and edged Towson (67-66) on Saturday.

Over the last three games of the four-game tournament, RMU allowed just 58.3 ppg.

“That’s a happy locker room,” head coach Andrew Toole said. “The guys really responded, stuck with it and kept making plays. I told the guys afterward that’s how we’re going to have to win games. They might not always be the prettiest, but we battle. We grind and we battle.”

The Colonials were led by sophomore guard Isaiah Still (Rahway, NJ/Union Catholic), who averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 2.3 spg and was named to the Barclays Classic All-Tournament team. He scored 13 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as RMU climbed out of an 11-point deficit to earn the one-point win at Towson.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? FDU’S MANNY UBILLA & MOUNT’S JULIAN NORFLEET
Hungary may seem like a strange place for an NEC alumni get-together, but right now Zalakerámia ZTE KK is currently the home to two former high-scoring NEC products.

Manny Ubilla played for FDU from 2006-08 and in those two seasons racked up 939 points and 156 three-pointers, including 20.8 ppg as a senior in 2007-08 to rank second in the league. Ubilla, who hails from Freehold, was named second team All-NEC that season. He has played professionally ever since for 11 different clubs in Europe and Puerto Rico.

Norfleet’s steady career rise at Mount St. Mary’s mirrored the Mountaineers’ elevation into an elite NEC program. The Virginia Beach, VA native finished with 1,605 points and 423 assists over the course of his career and was part of the Mount’s NEC title team in 2014. He averaged 17.2 ppg that year to collect second team All-NEC accolades. Now in his third professional season, Norfleet spent his first two years competing in Bulgaria and Switzerland.

This season Ubilla leads ZTE KK with 18.2 ppg, including a season-high 30 points against KTE-Duna on November 13. Norfleet is third on the club with 11.5 ppg. He netted a season-high 16 points last Sunday in a game against Kaposvári KK, which features former LIU Brooklyn star Jaytornah Wisseh, who finished with a game-high 19 points.

Here’s a link to a stream from the aforementioned game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM3m1Y2LIec

WC’S COOPER BRINGS BACK TONY LEE MEMORIES
Longtime #NECMBB fans remember Robert Morris guard Tony Lee with reverence.

The 2007-08 NEC Player of the Year measured just 6’0” tall, but was a tough as they come and certainly didn’t play like a six-footer. Inch-for-inch, Lee was one of the best rebounders in league history, finishing with 750 career caroms, including 7.1 rpg as a sophomore in 2005-06. 

In today’s NEC, the closest comparison has to be Wagner junior guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord), a fellow 6-footer. Like Lee he is a top on-the-ball defender and distributor, and this season has displayed the same rebounding prowess as the RMU great.

In a 73-65 win over American last Tuesday, Cooper posted his second straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with six assists. 

Cooper currently ranks eighth in the NEC with 7.2 rpg and leads the conference with 4.8 apg. Throw in 11.0 ppg and 1.4 spg and the Wilmington, DE native has excelled in all facets of the game for the defending NEC regular season champs.

QUICK HITTERS
CCSU senior forward Tidell Pierre (Hempstead, NY/Garden City CC) earned his first start and finished with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds at Penn on Tuesday. 

With wins over Hampton and Towson last week, Robert Morris improved to 95-31 (.754) in seven seasons under head coach Andrew Toole when holding its opponent to under 70 points.

Sacred Heart sophomore guard Quincy McKnight (Bridgeport, CT/St. Joseph’s (Phelps)) posted his first career double-double with 20 points and 11 boards, and added six assists in a 10-point loss to Santa Clara in Las Vegas. He added 18 points in a 61-59 win over Norfolk State.

Sacred Heart sophomore guard Sean Hoehn (Morristown, NJ/Morristown (St. Thomas More)) made the game’s key play, coming up with a steal with two seconds remaining to preserve a 61-59 win over Norfolk State on Friday at the Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational.

Saint Francis U sophomore forward Josh Nebo (Houston, TX/Cypress Lakes) has been scintillating from the field over his first five games, converting an NEC-best 75.7 percent of his shot opportunities. He also leads the conference with 2.0 bpg, ranks second with 8.6 rpg and sits 11th with 14.0 ppg.

TWEET DECK

Ryan Peters @pioneer_pride
Let’s be fair, I was not on the SFU bangwagon this season, but they’ve exceeded my expectations thus far. Underclassmen are playing great!

Red Flash Basketball @RedFlashMBB
Hey @SportsCenter, this dunk by Keith Braxton has to be #SCTop10 worthy! @ESPNAssignDesk https://twitter.com/SFUathletics/status/801600394363142145

Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
That’s right. RMU upsets Towson. We’re back #RMCMB

Maurice Oldham @OLDHAM2016
Really enjoy watching Chris Wray play basketball. #MountMayhem

Angela Lento @collegeinsider
He made #My5 last week. Today he had 27 and 9. LIU Brooklyn is 5-1 and Jerome Fink is a big reason why. #HeCanPlay https://twitter.com/collegeinsider/status/800825133195816960 …

Donyell Marshall @dmarsh42
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone especially my @CCSUMBB team. Continue to work hard and getting better each day and good things will come.