NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Jamaal King, Saint Francis U
5’10”, 170 lbs.
Jr., G, Salisbury, MD/Bishop O’Connell (VA)
King’s torrid scoring spree continued last week when he averaged 29.0 points to go along with 3.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in a split for the Red Flash. He also shot 85.7 percent from the line. King finished with 27 points and a season-high eight assists to spark the Red Flash to an 89-80 win at Robert Morris in a first place showdown on Thursday. He came back to score 22 of his career-high 31 points in the second half of an 81-80 overtime loss to Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday. King is averaging a league-best 25.2 ppg in NEC play and has scored at least 23 points in each of his last five contests. The junior guard from Salisbury, MD is third overall in the league in scoring (18.2) and eighth in assists (3.8).

Junior Robinson, Mount St. Mary’s
5’5”, 150 lbs.
Sr., G, Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance
This marks the second straight NEC Player of the Week honor for Robinson, who averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in leading the Mount to a pair of wins that stretched the team’s win streak to four games. Robinson scored a game-high 23 points - including 10 in the final 1:15 of play - in Thursday’s 81-75 triumph over Sacred Heart. He hit 14-17 from the stripe and added four rebounds and four assists. In Saturday’s showdown at fellow NEC contender Saint Francis U, the Mebane, NC native posted his second double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 assists in an 81-80 overtime win. He drained 8-13 from the floor and sank the go-ahead layup with 13.9 seconds left in the extra session. Robinson remains the NEC’s leading scorer by a wide margin with 21.9 ppg and also ranks second in assists with 5.4 per game.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Donald Carey, Mount St. Mary’s
6’5”, 185 lbs.
Fr., G, Upper Marlboro, MD/Frederick Douglass
Carey has been a consistent performer for the Mount in his freshman season, and was at the top of his game last week in two Mount victories. He contributed 12.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game while converting at a 60.0 percent clip from the field and 62.5 percent from three-point range. He opened the week by matching a career-high with 14 points and setting a new personal best with three steals in an 81-75 win at Sacred Heart. Carey went on to record 11 points and eight assists, and hit 3-4 from distance as the Mount edged Saint Francis U, 81-80, in overtime on Saturday. Carey has scored in double figures in four of the past five games to boost his season average to 9.0 ppg on the year. He ranks sixth in the NEC with 4.1 apg.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Adam Grant (BRY, So, G)
Grant did not let up last week, averaging 23.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.0 apg for the Bulldogs. The sophomore made seven more shots from downtown and now has 21 over his last four games. Grant scored 23 against Wagner, then added 24 more in a close loss to CCSU on Saturday. He has scored 20+ points in each of the last four contests and is averaging 19.2 ppg in NEC play.

Tyler Kohl (CCSU, Jr, G/F)
It was an outstanding all-around week for Kohl, who recorded 26.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 3.5 apg while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor for the Blue Devils. He netted a career-high 28 points at St. Francis Brooklyn, then recorded his third double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 boards in CCSU’s 80-76 victory over Bryant.

Mike Holloway (FDU, Jr, F)
Holloway posted a pair of double-doubles last week, averaging 21.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 1.5 bpg. He shot 58.1 percent from the field. Holloway scored 24 points and snared 13 boards against RMU on Saturday after an 18-point, 11-rebound game vs. LIU two days earlier.

Joel Hernandez (LIU, Sr, G)
Hernandez helped lead the Blackbirds to a pair of wins last week with 20.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He netted a game-high 22 points and added eight rebounds in Thursday’s victory at FDU, then tied for game-high honors with 18 as the Blackbirds edged Wagner by two at home on Saturday.

Dachon Burke (RMU, So, G)
Burke averaged 23.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.0 apg as RMU went 1-1 last week. He led the Colonials in scoring in both games, finishing with 21 against Saint Francis U and 25 in a road win at Fairleigh Dickinson. Burke has scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games and six times overall in 2017-18.

De’von Barnett (SHU, Sr, F)
Barnett comes off his best week of the season with 16.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg. He was red hot from the floor, converting 72.2 percent of his shot opportunities. Barnett came off the bench to score 19 against the Mount, then notched his first double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s win at St. Francis Brooklyn.

Andre Wolford (SFU, Jr, G)
Wolford had his shooting eye last week, making 54.2 percent of his shots en-route to 20.5 ppg. He shot 46.7 percent from distance and 88.9 percent from the stripe. Wolford, who also pulled down 6.5 rpg, scored 22 points in an 89-80 win at Robert Morris on Thursday. He is fourth nationally in three-point percentage (.495) and 20th in made three-pointers (3.24/gm).

JoJo Cooper (WC, Sr, G)
Cooper put up 19.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.5 apg last week in a split for the Seahawks. He shot a scorching 70.0 percent from the field. Cooper tied for game-high honors with 23 points in Thursday’s win at Bryant. The senior guard hit 8-9 shots, including 3-3 from outside the arc, against the Bulldogs.

PERFORMANCES OF NOTE

Ikenna Ndugba (BRY, So, G)
Ndugba scored 26 points on just 12 shots of Saturday in a four-point setback to CCSU. He shot 75.0 percent on the day, including 4-6 from three-point range. Ndugba added three assists and two steals in a 40-minute effort.

Chris Wray (MSM, Sr, F)
Wray logged a career-high 22 points on 10-12 shooting in the Mount’s 81-80 overtime win at Saint Francis U on Saturday. He also snared eight boards and had a pair of steals.

TOP STORYLINES FROM WEEK TEN OF #NECMBB

Here’s all you need to know from the tenth week of the 2017-18 hoops season...

MOUNT’S ROBINSON, SFU’S BRAXTON & WC’S FRANCIS NAMED TO LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST

Of the 40 players named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List, three reside right here in the NEC.

Mount St. Mary’s senior guard Junior Robinson (Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance), Saint Francis U sophomore guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Lawrenceville Prep) and Wagner sophomore guard Blake Francis (Herndon, VA/Westfield) are all in the running for the prestigious award, presented annually to the nation’s top Division I mid-major player.

Braxton and Francis are two of just nine underclassmen to make the watch list.

Robinson leads the NEC in scoring (21.9) and ranks second in assists (5.4), while Braxton tops the conference in rebounding (9.7) and double-doubles (nine). Francis is fourth on the circuit in point production (18.1) and third in made three-pointers (3.1).

Past recipients of the award include Justin Robinson (Monmouth), Thomas Walkup (Stephen F. Austin), Ty Greene (USC Upstate), Langston Hall (Mercer), Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary’s), Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk State), Matt Howard (Butler) and Keith Benson (Oakland).

The 2017-18 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award will be announced on March 31, 2018 at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, TX, the site of the 2018 NCAA Basketball Final Four.

POTENT OFFENSE POWERS COLONIALS TO TOP OF STANDINGS

During Andy Toole’s tenure, his Robert Morris teams have always been recognized for the relentless defensive pressure they place on opponents.

And while the defense has been a strong suit on this year’s Colonial squad - Robert Morris leads the NEC in turnover margin, ranks second in steals and third in scoring defense - it has been the team’s ability to put points on the board that has helped separate RMU from the pack with a 5-1 NEC record and sole possession of first place entering play this week.

The Colonials have now scored at least 80 points in each of their last four games, marking the first four-game stretch of 80+ points since the 1990-91 campaign. That season, Robert Morris eclipsed the 80-point plateau in five consecutive contests on two separate occasions.

Under eighth-year head coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 32-5 (.865) when scoring at least 80 points in a game.

RMU is currently averaging 78.2 ppg against conference rivals to rank second in the league.

ROBINSON, WRAY & DEFENDING CHAMPS HEATING UP

After an 0-2 start to the conference season, Mount St. Mary’s is right back in its familiar spot near the top of the NEC standings.

The Mount’s offense has been in high gear during a four-game win streak that vaulted them into a three-way tie for second place, averaging 84.0 points while shooting 51.6 percent overall and 44.1 percent from three-point range.

And in true “Mayhem” style, the Mountaineers have made 13.0 three-pointers per game during the streak, while posting a +5.4 turnover margin.

Not surprisingly, senior guard Junior Robinson (Mebane, NC/Eastern Alamance) has been the central figure over the four-game span, averaging 23.8 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor, including 50.0 percent from three-point range. He has committed just seven turnovers in 141 minutes during this stretch.

On Saturday, Robinson finished with 20 points and 10 assists, and classmate Chris Wray (Shelby, NC/Fishburne Military School (VA)) added a career-high 22 points on 10-12 shooting, and eight boards in a come-from-behind, 80-79 overtime win at Saint Francis U. In the rematch of the 2017 NEC title game it was Robinson’s layup with 14 seconds on the clock in overtime that proved to be the difference as the Mount survived two potential game-winning shots by the Red Flash in the waning seconds to take the thriller.

Mount St. Mary’s posted a season-high 22 assists in the win over SFU, and has recorded 20 or more assists in three of the past four games. The Mountaineers lead the NEC in both assists per game (14.26) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26-to-1) on the year.

KING’S STOCK RISING FOR SFU

One of the most improved players in the NEC a year ago, Saint Francis U junior guard Jamaal King (Salisbury, MD/Bishop O’Connell (VA)) has taken his game to a whole new level again this season.

A 2.1 ppg scorer as a freshman in 2015-16, King was a revelation for the Red Flash last season when he upped his production to 12.0 ppg and led SFU with 3.9 apg.

Since the start of conference play, the Salisbury, MD native has been one of the NEC’s most dominant performers. With a silky smooth jumper and nearly unguardable off-the-dribble game, King averaged 29.0 ppg and 6.0 apg in Saint Francis U’s two outings against fellow conference contenders Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary’s to earn NEC Co-Player of the Week honors.

King has scored at least 23 points in each of his last five games and leads the circuit with 25.2 ppg in NEC play on 48.5 percent shooting from the field and 88.1 percent from the charity stripe. The recent surge elevated his season average to 18.2 ppg, third in the league.

For players with at least a 28.0 usage rate, King also leads the NEC in offensive rating at 110.1 on the year.

COOPER’S LONG RANGE EXPLOITS

Known more for his all-around skill set than his long distance shooting prowess, Wagner senior guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord) suddenly caught fire from downtown for the Green & White.

A career 24.2 percent shooter from three-point range entering the year, Cooper comes off a recent stretch that saw him drain eight consecutive triples over three games, culminating with a 3-3 performance in Thursday’s 71-62 win over Bryant.

Cooper leads the league in three-point shooting in NEC play at 60.0 percent. For the season, he is shooting 38.0 percent from outside the arc to rank 11th in the league.

NEC SCORING SURGE

If you’re a fan of scoring and up-and-down hoops, be sure to tune in over the next six weeks

Over the first six games of league play, scoring is up 6.9 percent from last season. NEC teams are averaging 74.5 ppg in conference contests, up from 69.6 ppg a year ago. Overall scoring is up from 69.3 ppg to 72.8 ppg, a 5.0 percent bump.

Saint Francis U is averaging a league-best 83.2 ppg on the year, which if it holds up, would be the highest single-season average since the run-and-gun LIU Brooklyn teams of the late 90s, capped by a 96.9 ppg average in 1997-98 which ranked second nationally.

CCSU’S STAT STUFFER

There are players in the NEC with gaudier numbers in each category, but CCSU junior swingman Tyler Kohl (Allentown, PA/Mineral Area College) can make a case for being the all-around king of the conference.

Kohl has led CCSU in points, rebounds and assists in seven games this season, including both last week when he averaged a robust 26.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 3.5 apg. He finished with 25 points and 11 caroms on Saturday in CCSU’s 80-76 win over Bryant that snapped a four-game losing streak for the Blue Devils. It was his third double-double of the 2017-18 campaign.

Kohl leads CCSU in all three categories on the season with 14.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 3.8 apg. He is also the team leader in steals (1.1).

The last NEC player to lead the conference in all four of those categories was RMU’s Jeremy Chappell, who averaged 16.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.5 spg back in 2008-09 en-route to NEC Player of the Year honors.

BATTS COMES THROUGH FOR BLACKBIRDS

While LIU Brooklyn has a pair of high level talents in senior guard Joel Hernandez (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and junior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse), the Blackbirds also have a low key star on the rise in sophomore guard Julian Batts (Pittsburgh, PA/Jeannette (St. Thomas More (CT)).

Batts has upped his level of play recently, averaging 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting 59.5 percent from the field and 54.2 percent (13-24) from three-point territory, over his last five games.

Batts, who has scored in double digits in each of those contests, shot 66.7 percent last week in a pair of wins, including his two biggest points of the season when it counted most.

With LIU and Wagner tied at 67 and the clock winding down on Saturday, Batts took control. He drove left and converted a twisting layup with 1.8 seconds remaining to give the Blackbirds the 69-67 win.

The victory evened LIU’s record at 3-3, and gave the Blackbirds wins this season over both Mount St. Mary’s and Wagner, who are tied for second place in the standings with 4-2 records.

Batts is averaging 9.0 ppg on the season and is sixth in the league in three-point proficiency at 42.1 percent.

BOMBS AWAY FOR TERRIERS

One of the primary factors in St. Francis Brooklyn’s improvement this season has been its accuracy from three-point territory.

This was no more evident than in Thursday’s 77-60 win over CCSU that saw the Terriers match the NEC single-game season-high with 16 trifectas in 35 attempts, a 45.7 percent success rate. It marked the most three-pointers by an SFBK team since draining 16 against NJIT on December 10, 2015.

On the year, the Terriers are shooting 39.1 from beyond the arc in conference outings to rank second in the league. A year ago, SFBK shot a league-low 26.5 percent in NEC games.

Leading the way for the Terriers are a pair of sharpshooting freshman guards. Jalen Jordan (Conyers, GA/Rockdale County) is hitting 42.6 percent from distance while making 2.22 per game to rank fourth and sixth, respectively, in the conference. Classmate Josh Nicholas (Melville, NY/St. Anthony’s) is seventh on the circuit in three-point accuracy at 41.3 percent.

SFU’S DYNAMIC DUO/TERRIFIC TRIO

Saint Francis U guards Jamaal King (Salisbury, MD/Bishop O’Connell (VA)) and Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Lawrenceville Prep) are averaging a combined 44.2 ppg in league play this season. Throw in junior guard Andre Wolford (Willowick, OH/Saint Ignatius) and the trio has produced 61.0 ppg between them.

The last time a pair of NEC teammates averaged at least 44.2 ppg over the course of the conference schedule was way back in 1997-98 when LIU Brooklyn’s Charles Jones (27.0) and Mike Campbell (19.9) teamed up to produce 46.9 ppg.

The last trio to combine for 61.0 ppg came from the same Blackbirds squad when Jones (27.0), Campbell (19.9) and Richie Parker (14.6) totaled 61.5 ppg.

PIONEERS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Sacred Heart broke out in a big way on Saturday, posting a 92-52 win over St. Francis Brooklyn at the Pope Center.

The Pioneers posted a number of season superlatives, including points, points per possession (1.28), victory margin (+40), field goal percentage (.564), three-point percentage (.533), free throw percentage (.846), rebound margin (+31) and defensive field goal percentage (.291).

SHU placed six players in double digits for the first time since November 21, 2015 against Fairfield.

NEXT UP ON NEC-TV

After taking this week off, the NEC resumes its 27-game package with three national matchups in two days at the end of January, including season debuts on both CBS Sports Network and ESPNU.

LIU Brooklyn and Mount St. Mary’s open the CBSSN schedule on January 25 in a 9:00 pm start at Knott Arena. Dave Popkin (PxP), Joe DeSantis (color) and John Cabral (sideline) are on the call. Earlier that evening, Bryant will play host to CCSU on ESPN3 for a 7:00 pm tipoff. Paul Dottino (PxP) and Terry O’Connor (color) are in the booth.

The following evening in Loretto will find Saint Francis U hosting Wagner in a battle of NEC heavyweights on ESPNU. The game will tip at 5:00 pm.

HERE AND THERE

Bryant sophomore guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate) has made 21 three-pointers over his last four games, converting at a 52.5 percent clip.

CCSU has shot 78.7 percent from the free throw line in its last 12 games after hitting just 66.0 percent over its first seven outings. The Blue Devils went 24-28 (.857) as a team last week.

Four CCSU players scored double-figures in its win over Bryant on Saturday, boosting the team’s record to 8-1 on the season when four or more score 10+ points.

It was another strong week for Fairleigh Dickinson freshman guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy), who averaged 14.0 ppg, 7.0 apg and shot 66.7 percent from the field. On Thursday against LIU Brooklyn, Jenkins matched his career-high with 16 points on 6-8 shooting and doled out five assists. Jenkins followed that performance by playing all 40 minutes in the Knights’ six-point loss to first-place Robert Morris on Saturday. He scored 12 points with nine assists and a pair of steals. Jenkins leads all NEC freshman with 4.1 apg.

St. Francis Brooklyn guard Glenn Sanabria (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) has committed just 19 turnovers in 468 minutes spanning 16 games this season. He maintains an impressive 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Saint Francis U is shooting 77.4 percent from the line this season, The NEC single-season record is 77.2 percent set by Wagner in 2010-11. The Red Flash have been even better in conference play, making 84.3 percent of their shots at the stripe.

NEC in NCAA STATS (Top-25)

Name                    School    Category    Rank    Value
Junior Robinson         MSM       PPG         16th    21.9/gm
Keith Braxton           SFU       RPG         23rd    9.7/gm
Andre Wolford           SFU       3PFG        20th    3.24/gm
Andre Wolford           SFU       3PFG%       4th    .495
Junior Robinson         MSM       FT%         9th    .917
Joseph Lopez            SHU       Off. Reb.   15th    3.56/gm
Keith Braxton           SFU       Def. Reb.   10th    8.00/gm
Keith Braxton           SHU       Doub-Doub   17th    9

Team                    Category       Rank     Value
Mount St. Mary’s        3PFG           25th     10.1/gm
Saint Francis U         FT%            17th     .774
Fairleigh Dickinson     Steals         14th     8.82/gm
Sacred Heart            Rebounds       12th     41.20/gm
Sacred Heart            Def. Reb.      25th     28.79/gm
Sacred Heart            Reb. Margin    16th     +7.9
Wagner                  Off. Reb.      17th     13.65/gm
Wagner                  Rebounds       23rd     40.35/gm
Robert Morris           TOs Forced     10th     17.68/gm
Fairleigh Dickinson     TOs Forced     21st     16.76/gm