NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tyler Kohl, Central Connecticut
6’5”, 220 lbs.
Sr., G/F, Allentown, MD/Mineral Area College
Kohl claimed his league-leading fourth NEC Player of the Week nod following a spectacular two-game stretch that saw him record a triple-double in a road sweep for the Blue Devils. Kohl tallied 22.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 9.5 apg while shooting 85.0 percent from the line. He posted the NEC’s first triple-double of the year and tenth in the last 20 years with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in Thursday’s 103-96 double overtime win at FDU. Two days later he put up 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as CCSU rallied for a 77-68 victory at the Mount. He ranks third in the NEC in scoring (18.5) and assists (4.6), and is eighth in rebounding (6.6).

Romone Saunders, Wagner
6’3”, 210 lbs.
R-Sr., G, Temple Hills, MD/Potomac
Saunders continued his electric all-around play last week with 24.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 apg and 1.5 spg, while notching 52.6/51.6/87.5 shooting splits in a Wagner home sweep. He became one of four players nationally to finish with at least 25 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a game to spark Wagner’s 66-60 win over FDU on Saturday, two days after dropping 24 points in a three-point victory against SHU. Saunders ranks second in the NEC with 18.9 ppg and is fifth in rebounding at 7.3 per game.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Joe Kasperzyk, Bryant
6’1”, 185 lbs.
Fr., G, New Haven, CT/Hillhouse (Woodstock Academy)
Kasperzyk earned his third NEC Rookie honor in the last four weeks after averaging 21.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.0 apg as Bryant split two games on the road. He hit 3-5 from distance and established a career-high with 21 points in Bryant’s win 66-59 win at the Mount on Thursday, then matched that total at Sacred Heart on Saturday. Kasperzyk, who shot 54.2 percent from the floor, extended his double-digit scoring streak to six games and is averaging 16.3 ppg against league rivals.

Ian Krishnan, Central Connecticut
6’2”, 180 lbs.
Fr., G, Boyds, MD/Clarksburg (Proctor Academy (NH))
Krishnan’s second NEC Rookie of the Week honor came after putting up 20.0 ppg on 50.0 percent shooting, including 47.6 percent from three-point territory, to go along with 4.5 rpg. He sank a career-best seven three-pointers and scored 27 in Thursday’s 103-96 double overtime victory at FDU, then reeled off eight straight points during a key stretch as CCSU came from 12 down in the second half to beat the Mount by nine on Saturday. Krishnan ranks first among NEC freshman with 13.3 ppg.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Joe Kasperzyk (BRY, Fr, G)
Kasperzyk comes off the best week of his young career. He set a career-high with 21 points in Bryant’s 66-59 win at the Mount on Thursday, then matched that total at Sacred Heart on Saturday. The freshman shot 54.2 percent from the field. Kasperzyk, the NEC Co-Rookie of the Week, has scored in double digits in six straight games and is averaging 16.3 ppg in NEC play.

Deion Bute (CCSU, Sr, C)
Bute notched a pair of double-doubles and finished a 2-0 weekend with 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 2.0 apg. He drained 66.7 percent of his shot attempts. Bute dropped a season-high 17 points on 6-7 shooting and matched a season-best with 11 boards in CCSU’s triumph at the Mount on Saturday.

Tyler Kohl (CCSU, Sr, G/F)
Kohl posted the NEC’s first triple-double of the season and just missed out on averaging a triple-double for the week. He contributed 22.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 9.5 apg for the Blue Devils, who swept a road swing at FDU and the Mount. Kohl registered 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in CCSU’s thrilling 103-96 double overtime win at FDU on Thursday. The NEC Co-Player of the Week ranks third in the NEC in scoring (18.5) and assists (4.6), and is eighth in rebounding (6.6).

Ian Krishnan (CCSU, Fr, G)
Krishnan was instrumental in CCSU’s 2-0 week with 20.0 ppg on 50.0 percent shooting, including 47.6 percent from three-point territory. He drained a career-high seven trifectas in Thursday’s 103-96 double overtime victory at FDU, then scored eight straight points during a key run as the Blue Devils rallied to beat the Mount on Saturday. Krishnan, who earned NEC Co-Rookie of the Week honors, also averaged 4.5 rpg. He leads all NEC freshman with 13.3 ppg.

Xzavier Malone-Key (FDU, So, G)
Malone-Key contributed 18.5 ppg on 50.0 percent shooting for the Knights last week. He scored a career-high 24 points at Wagner on Saturday, hitting 4-8 from long range and 10-16 overall from the field. Malone-Key ranks second on FDU with 13.8 ppg.

Raiquan Clark (LIU, Sr, G/F)
Clark posted his eighth and ninth games of 20+ points in a split for the Blackbirds. He averaged 26.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.5 spg while shooting a scorching 71.4 percent from the floor. Clark, who leads the NEC with 21.4 ppg, dropped a game-high 24 points in LIU’s 80-73 win over RMU on Saturday.

Omar Habwe (MSM, So, F)
Habwe averaged a double-double with 14.0 ppg and 11.5 rpg. He posted his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 17 rebounds against Bryant on Thursday. Habwe ranks second on the Mount with 5.6 rpg.

Glenn Sanabria (SFBK, Gr, G)
Sanabria added to his strong start in NEC play with 19.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg while hitting at a 51.7 percent mark from the field in a 1-1 week for the Terriers. He scored a career-high 23 points and hit the game-winning layup with three seconds to play as the Terriers edged Saint Francis U on Saturday. Sanabria is averaging 18.5 ppg against conference opposition.

Keith Braxton (SFU, Jr, G)
Braxton recorded a pair of double-doubles to raise his league-leading total to seven on the year. He tallied 16.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 3.0 apg in a split for the Red Flash. Braxton posted 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in SFU’s win at LIU Brooklyn on Thursday. He continues to lead the NEC in rebounding at 10.5 per game, a figure that ranks him 12th nationally.

Romone Saunders (WC, R-Sr, G)
Saunders delivered in a big way in Wagner’s 2-0 week, averaging 24.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 apg and 1.5 spg en route to NEC Co-Player of the Week honors. He converted 51.6 percent from the floor, 52.6 percent from distance and 87.5 percent from the line. Saunders posted one of the nation’s top all-around games of the season with 25 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in Wagner’s 66-60 win over FDU on Saturday. He ranks second in the NEC with 18.9 ppg and is fifth in rebounding at 7.3 per game.

TOP STORYLINES FROM AROUND #NECMBB

Here’s all you need to know from the tenth week of the 2018-19 season...

LAST UNBEATEN GOES DOWN
 
With Robert Morris falling to LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, the dream of an unbeaten season for an NEC squad lasted all of four games.
 
Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Wagner are all tied for first with 3-1 records, and there are eight teams who have at least two wins.
 
Looking ahead, Wagner visits Sacred Heart in a big game next Monday. The Seahawks edged the Pioneers, 76-73, this past Thursday.
 
TOOLE MAKES RMU HISTORY
 
In grinding out a 52-49 win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday in a game that aired nationally on CBS Sports Network, Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole may have set a new school record for career victories, but he was beaming with pride for other reasons.
 
“It was awesome,” Toole said. “I told them in the locker room how proud of them I was because of their ability to continue to play even though things weren’t going well for us offensively. So many teams, so many times when things aren’t going well offensively, they tend to shut it down. We seemed to dig in harder. As a coach, those are the types of efforts you want to see from your team, regardless of score.”
 
That mentality is indicative of the majority of Toole-coached teams over the last nine years at RMU, and one that has proven to be quite the successful formula for the Red Bank, NJ native.
 
The record-breaking win was the 158th of Toole’s career. He surpassed Jarrett Durham, who coached at RMU from 1984-96.
 
Toole’s teams have posted 20+ wins four times and reached the postseason on four occasions. The Colonials won the NEC title in 2015 and followed with a win over North Florida in the NCAA Tournament. Toole’s 94 NEC wins are ninth in NEC annals.
 
CCSU-FDU COMBINE FOR EARLY GAME OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE
 
It took just three games for the NEC to produce the first instant classic of the 2018-19 conference season.
 
With the Rothman Center as the setting, and it sure didn’t look like a classic after the first 35 or so minutes.
 
CCSU jumped out to a 20-point first half edge and were still up by 15 with under seven minutes to play when the Knights began to methodically chip away at the lead. An 18-2 run culminated with a Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy) jumper with 58 seconds to play gave the Knights their first lead since early in the first half. CCSU responded with a Deion Bute (Philipsburg, St. Maarten/Tallahassee CC) dunk and two Tyler Kohl (Allentown, PA/Mineral Area College/Tallahassee CC) free throws with three seconds to play, giving the Knights one last chance down by three.
 
FDU called timeout and set up a play right out of the Homer and Bryce Drew playbook back when Valpo downed Mississippi with a three at the buzzer in the memorable 1998 NCAA Tournament game.
 
Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) threw a baseball pass to midcourt to Mike Holloway Jr. (Pittsgrove, NJ/Arthur P. Schalick), who caught the ball in mid-air and spun to deliver a pass to a streaking Darnell Edge (Saugerties, NJ/Saugerties). Edge took a couple of dribbles and banked in a shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
CCSU took a four point lead in OT on an Ian Krishnan (Boyds, MD/Proctor Academy (NH)) three-pointer, but a layup by Jenkins and an Elyjah Williams (Evanston, IL/Evanston) dunk tied things up with 27 seconds to play. Kohl’s triple at the buzzer was off the mark and the game went to a second extra session.
 
The Blue Devils jumped out strong in the second OT, with Joe Hugley (Gaithersburg, MD/Magruder (Baltimore City CC)) extending their lead to seven on a trifecta and layup, both courtesy of Kohl assists. The Knights never could cut it to a one possession game and CCSU was able to walk away with a 103-96 win.
 
“Give Donyell and his team all of the credit,” head coach Greg Herenda said after the game. “They played better and made more tough plays than we did all night long. Our guys never gave up but that doesn’t win you college basketball games. What does is playing with energy, urgency and extreme passion, and we did not do that to the best of our ability tonight.”
 
Kohl, Krishnan and Hugley combined for 78 of CCSU’s 103 points on the evening.
 
Kohl secured his first career triple-double (see below) with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, while Krishnan hit a career-best seven three-pointers and finished with 27 points. Hugley came off the bench to produce 24 points and seven boards. He hit 4-7 from distance.
 
Jenkins netted a career-high 25 points and added four steals in a ironman-like 49-minute stint.
 
The 199 combined points were the most in an NEC game since Sacred Heart beat Bryant, 112-110 in triple overtime on January 14, 2017. 
 
CCSU’S KOHL PUTS UP TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN WIN
 
Triple-doubles in the NEC come about as often as James Harden passes up on a three-point attempt.
 
On Thursday, CCSU senior swingman Tyler Kohl (Allentown, PA/Mineral Area College) pulled off the rare feat for the first time in his career.
 
Kohl, who had flirted with triple-doubles a number of times in his CCSU career, broke through with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in CCSU’s thrilling 103-96 double overtime win at Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday. He had 11 points and four assists in the last two minutes of regulation and the two extra sessions.
 
Kohl’s previous near misses includes 20 points, nine assists and nine rebounds against East Carolina (11/17/17), 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists vs. LIU Brooklyn (1/27/18), and 28 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists vs. Saint Francis U (2/15/18).
 
He became the 18th player in the nation this season to register a triple-double and just the second to register at least 27/12/11 in a game this season, joining Murray State’s Ja Morant, who had 29/13/12 against Missouri State on November 24. In fact, only six players in the last decade have registered 27/12/11, two of whom are currently in the NBA (Denzel Valentine and Kris Dunn).
 
To put Kohl’s performance in perspective, there have been just ten triple-doubles recorded by NEC players over the last 21 years.
 
Most Recent NEC Triple-Doubles
Tyler Kohl, CCSU (1/10/19): 27 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists vs. FDU
Keith Braxton, SFU (2/1/18): 12 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists vs. FDU
Stephan Jiggetts, FDU (11/19/16): 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists vs. Lipscomb
James Feldeine, QU (2/25/10): 19 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists vs. Monmouth
Tony Lee, RMU (2/14/08): 12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists vs. CCSU
Tony Lee, RMU (2/9/08): 13 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists vs. LIU
John Bunch, MU (2/3/07): 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks vs. SFNY
Kason Mims, QU (3/1/04): 18 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists vs. LIU
Nate Pondexter, QU (1/16/99): 14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists vs. RMU
Rahshon Turner, FDU (11/22/97): 13 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks vs. Hartford
 
The most notable part of that list is Tony Lee’s triple-doubles for Robert Morris in 2008, which came in back-to-back games. He remains one of just six players in NCAA history to record back-to-back triple doubles, joining LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal (Feb. 19-22, 1992), Memphis’ Penny Hardaway (Jan. 4-6, 1993), Vermont’s Kevin Roberson (Jan. 7-9, 1992), SMU’s Gerald Lewis (March 3-6, 1993) and Texas A&M’s David Edwards (Mar. 5-10, 1994).
 
Kohl’s triple-double was also the third in CCSU history. Keith Closs turned the trick twice in the 1995-96 season prior to the Blue Devils joining the NEC.
 
Saint Francis U junior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) posted a triple-double with 12 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists last season against FDU.
 
BRAXTON TABBED TO LOU HENSON MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
 
He was named to the 50-player Lou Henson Award Watch List in the preseason and nothing has changed two months later.
 
Saint Francis U junior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) remained in the mix for the most prestigious mid-major honor when he was tabbed to the Lou Henson Midseason Watch List last Wednesday.
 
The Lou Henson award is presented annually to the nation’s top mid-major player.
 
Braxton was named a Lou Henson All-American last season following a year that saw him earn first team All-NEC honors. He currently leads the NEC with 10.5 rpg and ranks sixth with 15.4 ppg.
 
After hitting the 1,000-point mark in November, Braxton (1,207 points, 745 rebounds) is right on pace to become the first player in NEC history to finish with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.
 
SAUNDERS’ SPECIAL SATURDAY
 
Just when you thought Wagner redshirt senior guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac) couldn’t play any better, he upped the ante this past Saturday.
 
Saunders finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in one of the great all-around game across the nation this year.
 
In fact, Saunders is one of only three players who have compiled a 25/11/5/3 game this season against a DI opponent and fourth overall. Ironically, one of the other players resides right here in the NEC. Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea) rang up 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals against Niagara on November 30.
 
NEC BIG SHOT OF THE WEEK
 
With the clock ticking down and the game tied, St. Francis Brooklyn put the ball in the hands of its most experienced player on Saturday.
 
Glenn Sanabria (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peter’s) was up to the task.
 
With his teammates cleared out, the graduate student guard made a beeline to the hoop and hit a contested layup with three seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winner as the Terriers evened their NEC record at 2-2 with a 72-68 win over visiting Saint Francis U.
 
Sanabria netted a season-high 23 points in the win, hitting 10-19 from the field.
 
In doing so, he raised his career point total to 1,155 to move into 16th on the SFBK’s career scoring list, surpassing former teammate Brent Jones, along with Stefan Perunicic and current assistant coach Jamaal Womack. 

MLK DAY SCHEDULE SWITCH
 
To facilitate a leaguewide celebration of Martin Luther King Day, games this week have been switched from Thursday/Saturday to Saturday/Monday.
 
The MLK Day celebration is one of three “theme” days/weekends in the NEC this year. Players will be outfitted with special “Unity” shooting shirts on Monday, and the conference will be posting MLK themed content throughout the week.
 
The conference began league play with its #NECNewYear celebration and also has a “Love and Basketball” weekend on tap around Valentine’s Day.
 
NEXT UP ON NEC-TV
 
The NEC’s 27-game television package will resume with a special MLK Day doubleheader at LIU Brooklyn on January 21. The Blackbirds will host neighborhood rival St. Francis Brooklyn with Craig D’Amico (PxP) and Pam Roecker (color) calling the women’s game at noon and Dave Popkin (PxP) and Joe DeSantis (color) on the men’s game at 3:00 pm.
 
As prelude to a busy February, the NEC-TV crew will close out the month with two men’s games on January 31. FDU hosts LIU Brooklyn in an ESPNU game at 5:00 pm, followed by Bryant at Wagner at 7:00 pm on ESPN+. Paul Dottino (PxP) and Terry O’Connor (color) have the call in Staten Island.
 
PARKER’S PASSING EXPLOITS
 
Sacred Heart freshman guard Cameron Parker (Beaverton, OR/Tilton School) registered his fourth double-digit assist game of the year with 12 dimes in Saturday’s 98-70 triumph over Bryant. The four games with 10+ helpers marked the most by an NEC rookie since Wagner’s Mick Wheeler did it on five occasions during the 1997-98 season.
 
Parker, who turned the ball over just one time against the Bulldogs, ranks first in the NEC and fourth nationally with 7.4 apg.
 
Looking ahead, the NEC freshman record for assists is 180 set by LIU Brooklyn’s Jason Brickman in 2010-11. Parker is already up to 118 with at least 14 games to play.
 
STAT TRACKER
 
Home teams are just 11-9 over the first two weeks of league competition.
 
CCSU’s 103 points in its double overtime win over FDU on Thursday marked the first 100-point game for the program since scoring 101 at Army on November 15, 2010.
 
CCSU had three players score 20+ points (Kohl, Krishnan and Hugley) at Fairleigh Dickinson, the first such occurence since November 26, 2011.
 
CCSU junior forward Joe Hugley (Gaithersburg, MD/Baltimore CC) averaged 18.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg. He scored nine points in the second OT and finished with 24 points and seven rebounds at FDU on Thursday.
 
FDU sophomore guard Xzavier Malone-Key (Philadelphia, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh (Rider)) chipped in 18.5 ppg last week on 50.0 percent shooting. He scored a season-high 24 points at Wagner on Saturday, hitting 10-16 from the floor and 4-8 from beyond the arc.
 
LIU Brooklyn shot 65.2 percent from the field in the second half of Saturday’s 80-73 win over Robert Morris. It was the most accurate half shooting-wise for the Blackbirds this season. LIU hit 13-14 shots from two-point range over the final 20 minutes.
 
LIU Brooklyn senior guard/forward Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) is averaging 24.6 ppg over his last five contests. He leads the NEC by a wide margin with 21.4 ppg this season.
 
Jashaun Agosto (Seattle, WA/Garfield), a LIU Brooklyn junior guard, comes off his best game of the season with 21 points on 8-10 shooting and nine assists in Saturday’s defeat of Robert Morris.
 
In picking up his first career double-double on Thursday, Mount St. Mary’s sophomore forward Omar Habwe (Lexington, VA/St. James School (MD)) pulled down 17 rebounds against Bryant. The 17 boards were the third-highest total in Mount’s DI era.
 
Mount St. Mary’s freshman guard Damian Chong Qui (Baltimore, MD/McDonough) has now scored in double digits in four straight games, and comes off a week in which he averaged 14.0 ppg and 6.0 apg. He scored a career-high 17 points against the Mount on Thursday, then dished for a personal-best seven assists vs. CCSU on Saturday.
 
Robert Morris senior forward Malik Petteway (Waterbury, CT/Sacred Heart (Northwest Florida State)) has posted six straight double digit scoring efforts off the bench for the Colonials. He’s averaged 12.5 ppg over that span.
 
NEC teams are shooting just 18.2 percent from three-point range against St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
After Wagner took a 40-31 lead at halftime over FDU on Saturday, it was the Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac) and Elijah Davis (Bronx, NY/Lincoln (Odessa College)) show thereafter as the two veteran guards combined to score all 26 of Wagner’s second-half points, with Davis hitting 14 and Saunders scoring 12.