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NEC Co-Players of the Week: E.J. Anosike, SHU & Jermaine Jackson Jr., LIU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Benson Lin. BRY 
Previous NEC Releases: December 2 | November 25 | November 18 | November 11 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
E.J. Anosike, Sacred Heart
6’6”, 245 lbs.
Jr., F, East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)
Anosike, now a two-time NEC Player of the Week, was in dominant form, averaging 21.5 points and 13.0 rebounds, while going 17-18 (.944) from the line in a pair of road wins that extended Sacred Heart’s win streak to four games. He tallied 21 points and eight rebounds in an 89-86 victory over UMass Lowell on Wednesday, then exploded for 22 points and a career-high 18 boards in Sunday’s 79-62 win at Hartford. With SHU trailing the Hawks by one with under eight minutes remaining, Anosike scored eight points - including two triples - in a 21-0 run to break the game open. It was his fourth double-double of the year and raised his season averages to 16.8 ppg (fourth in NEC) and 11.0 rpg (second).

Jermaine Jackson Jr., LIU
5’10”, 172 lbs.
So., G, Shelby Township, MI/Dakota (Detroit Mercy)
Jackson earned a spot in the LIU recordbook in just his eighth game with the program. The sophomore drained a school record nine three-pointers on his way to a season-high 29 points in the Sharks’ 85-72 win at Army on Saturday. He finished 9-14 from downtown, and added three rebounds and four steals as the NEC preseason favorites won their second straight. Jackson hit five straight triples in a four-minute stretch in the first half and broke a 21-year old LIU record held by two-time NEC Player of the Year Charles Jones on his ninth three-pointer with 7:47 to play. The Shelby Township, MI product has hit 15 of his last 26 (.577) from long range, and now ranks second in the NEC with a 48.6 percent success rate from beyond the arc.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Benson Lin, Bryant
6’4”, 180 lbs.
Fr., G, New Taipei City, Taiwan/St. Andrew’s (RI)
Lin joins two-time winner Charles Pride as Bryant players who have earned NEC Player of the Week honors thus far in 2019-20. Lin averaged 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.5 spg to help spark the Bulldogs to a 2-0 week. The New Taipei City, Taiwan native recorded a career-high 19 points on 7-14 shooting, including 4-9 from outside the arc, and chipped in with three steals and a pair of assists in a 60-45 victory over Navy last Monday. He added seven points and four boards in Friday’s 67-65 win over Columbia. Lin’s layup with 2:32 remaining knotted the score at 61. Lin has put up 8.2 ppg on the season and his 1.7 three-pointers per contest ranks 13th in the conference.  

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Hall Elisias (BRY, R-Jr, F)
Emerging as a true defensive stopper in the paint, Elisias averaged 5.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg and an astounding 7.0 bpg in a 2-0 week for the Bulldogs. He swatted eight shots vs. Navy and six more vs. Columbia. He hit two free throws with 37 seconds to play to tie Friday’s game vs. the Lions. Hall leads the NEC with 2.8 bpg.

Xzavier Malone-Key (FDU, R-Jr, G)
Malone-Key contributed 19.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.0 apg in a split for the Knights. He dropped a career-high 29 points, including the decisive free throw with 2.6 seconds left in a 78-77 win over Quinnipiac on Tuesday. He made 8-12 from the floor and 11-13 from the stripe. Malone-Key leads FDU with 17.5 ppg on the year.

Jermaine Jackson Jr. (LIU, So, G)
Jackson established a new LIU single-game record with nine three-pointers in Saturday’s 85-72 win at Army. It marked the most three-pointers by an NEC player vs. a DI opponent in nearly two years. Jackson netted a season-high 29 points to go along with three boards and four steals. He ranks second in the league in three-point accuracy at 48.6 percent.

Damian Chong Qui (MSM, So, G)
It was another strong week Chong Qui, who finished with 19.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.0 spg. He recorded a career-high 23 points on 8-12 from the field and 4-7 from distance in the Mount’s overtime loss at Grand Canyon on Tuesday. He followed with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists vs. Loyola (MD) on Saturday. Chong Qui averages 12.1 ppg and leads the Mount with 3.5 apg.

E.J. Anosike (SHU, Jr, F)
Anosike came up big in a pair of SHU road wins to the tune of 21.5 ppg and 13.0 rpg. The junior keyed a late 21-0 Pioneer run, and finished with 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in Sunday’s 79-62 win at Hartford. He also went for 21 points and eight boards in a 60-45 victory over UMass Lowell. Anosike currently ranks in the NEC top-five in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (11.0).

Cameron Parker (SHU, So, G)
Parker has just about done it all during SHU’s four-game win streak. Last week, he averaged 14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 12.0 apg in a pair of double-double performances, while also shooting 62.5 percent from the floor. Parker tallied 13 points and 12 assists at UMass Lowell on Wednsday, and had 16 points and 12 helpers at Hartford on Sunday. The sophomore floor general leads the nation with 9.6 apg.

Deniz Celen (SFBK, Sr, F)
Celen posted 14.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in a 1-1 week for the Terriers. The senior forward shot a red-hot 72.2 percent from the floor. He posted his first double-double of the season with 14 points on 7-9 shooting, 10 rebounds and four assists in Thursday’s 84-78 win at Hartford. Celen then scored a team-high 15 points on 6-9 shooting and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds at UMass Lowell on Saturday. Celen is averaging 10.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg and leads the circuit with a 61.2 percent success rate from the field.

Keith Braxton (SFU, Sr, G)
Braxton filled it up last week to the tune of 17.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 7.0 apg in wins over Lehigh and UMBC. Braxton fell one assist shy of a triple-double vs. the Mountain Hawks over Lehigh with 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and followed up with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists at UMBC. He shot 18-20 (.900) at the line for the week. Braxton ranks in the NEC top-10 in scoring (17.4), rebounding (7.0) and assists (4.1).
   
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 5

Here’s all you need to know from the fifth week of the 2019-20 season...

NEC UPTICK
 
NEC squads are off to a good start this December.
 
The league posted a 10-7 record last week, including a 6-5 mark on the road.
 
The NEC is now a combined 23-20 against regional mid-major conferences (America East, Ivy, MAAC, MEAC and Patriot).
 
SHU’S PARKER TOPS THE CHARTS
 
We’ve chronicled the assist exploits of Sacred Heart’s Cameron Parker (Beaverton, OR/Tilton School) extensively in recent weeks, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
 
Racking up assists at a dizzying pace, Parker has averaged 16.0 helpers over his last four outings to up his season average to a national best 9.6 per game.
 
Last week he tallied 12 assists apiece in a pair of Sacred Heart wins and now leads the nation by a wide margin with 9.6 apg.
 
Parker, who set the NEC freshman record with 213 assists last season, is on pace to eclipse the sophomore record as well. With 96 assists in ten games, he is well ahead of the pace set by LIU’s Jason Brickman - the NEC’s all-time assist leader - who had 249 as a sophomore in 2011-12.
 
PARKER’S RARE FEAT EARNS SPOT WITH NEC LEGEND
 
Just when you think you’ve exhausted all the superlatives for Sacred Heart sophomore floor general Cameron Parker (Beaverton, OR/Tilton School), he just adds to his growing list of accomplishments.
 
With 12 assists in the Pioneers’ win at Hartford on Sunday, Parker became the just the second player in the nation over the last decade to record 12 or more assists in four straight games.
 
The other?
 
That distinction belongs to none other than NEC dime dropping legend Jason Brickman of LIU, who dished for 13, 12, 13 and 12 assists over four games from January 23 to February 1, 2014. That year, he averaged a national best 10.0 apg.
 
Not coincidentally, Parker’s streak has helped spark SHU to four straight wins.
 
He first rang up 16 assists in a 97-80 win over Quinnipiac on November 24, then set a new NCAA single-game assist record with 24 as the Pioneers downed Pine Manor on December 1. He continued with 12 assists in wins over UMass Lowell and Hartford last week.
 
NEC TEAM OF THE DECADE
 
With 2020 just around the corner, we’ve started to reflect on the past ten years of NEC hoops.
 
Then we thought about how much everyone seems to enjoy “best-of” lists.
 
So we put two and two together and the NEC Men’s Basketball Team of the Decade was born.
 
A crack voting panel consisting of current NEC coaches, media members, announcers and conference staff is in the process of whittling down a 25-player list down to 10 with the highest vote-getter being named the NEC Player of the Decade.
 
The conference will also invite fans to send in their picks with a prize pack going to fan who comes closest to selecting the correct team.
 
The NEC Team of the Decade will be announced later this month.
 
GRANT JOINS 1,500-POINT CLUB, MOVES UP 3P CHART
 
An elite scorer throughout his four years in Smithfield, Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School) added another bullet to his resume last Monday.
 
Grant became the third player in Bryant’s DI era and 75th in NEC history to reach the 1,500-point mark for his career. The senior guard scored 12 points in the Bulldogs’ 60-45 win over Navy, and reached the milestone on a three-pointer with 3:58 to play.
 
Grant added 20 points against Columbia on Friday and enters play this week with 1,521 points.
 
He joined Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) (1,661) and LIU senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) (1,570) as current NEC players in the 1,500-point club.
 
Grant also moved up to 21st on the NEC career three-pointers list.
 
The Franklin, VA product has compiled 239 triples over his four years in Smithfield and needs just one more to reach the top-20.

NEC Career Three-Pointers Leaders
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
19. Julian Norfleet           MSM            242            2010-14
20. Kyle Johnson              LIU            240            2007-11
21. Adam Grant                BRY            239            2016-20
    Danny Basile              MAR            239            1992-96
 
MARYLAND RIVALRY LIKE NO OTHER
 
When Mount St. Mary’s faced Loyola (MD) this past Saturday, it marked the 175th meeting between the longtime rivals in the most-played rivalry in the state of Maryland. Despite a 64-48 loss to the Greyhounds on Saturday, the Mountaineers have won four of the last seven meetings between the two programs and hold a 100-75 lead - including a 60-17 mark at home - in the “Catholic Clash” series that began in 1910. The Mount is 11-8 against Loyola since 2001.
 
One of the classic games between the two programs was a 99-93 overtime win for the Mountaineers in the championship game of the Mason-Dixon Conference Tournament on March 5, 1955. That was former head coach Jim Phelan’s first of 49 seasons spent as head coach at the Mount.
 
BRAXTON STAT STUFFER
 
If you’re looking for a player who checks all the boxes, look no further than the reigning NEC Player of the Year.
 
Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) was out there doing Keith Braxton things again last Wednesday, sparking the Red Flash’s comeback win over Lehigh with 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a near triple-double effort.
 
In compiling his stat line, the senior guard became just the second player in the nation this season with at least 18/10/9 in a game, joining Iowa State star Tyrese Haliburton, who registered 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists against Alabama on November 28. Loyola Marymount’s Eli Scott joined the group on Saturday with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists vs. Grambling.
 
Braxton, who helped seal the win with eight straight free throws down the stretch, recorded a triple-double back in his sophomore season with 12 points, 16 boards and 12 helpers in a victory over FDU on February 1, 2018.
 
BRAXTON TIDBIT
 
There’s never a shortage of interesting NEC-toids to highlight Saint Francis U senior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)).
 
Right now he is one of only six players nationally averaging at least 17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 4.0 apg, joining Seattle’s Terrell Brown, Saint Joseph’s Ryan Daly, Oregon State’s Tres Tinkle, James Madison’s Matt Lewis and Penn’s AJ Brodeur.
 
BRYANT MAKES DEFENSIVE STATEMENT AS ELISIAS THROWS BLOCK PARTY
 
These aren’t your same old ‘Dawgs.
 
With a strong emphasis on bolstering their defensive tenacity, the numbers speak for themselves in Bryant’s 6-4 start.
 
                       2018-19 (NEC rank)          2019-20 (NEC rank)
Points Allowed         77.1 (9th)                  68.3 (3rd)
FG% Defense            .475 (10th)                 .393 (1st)
3P% Defense            .388 (10th)                 .315 (3rd)
Defensive PPP          1.15 (10th)                 1.03 (3rd)
Steals                 5.27 (9th)                  8.70 (2nd)
Blocks                 2.63 (9th)                  4.50 (1st)
 
Bryant’s attention to detail on the defensive end was on full display in last Monday’s 60-45 win over Navy.
 
The 45 points allowed were the third-fewest for the Bulldogs in the DI era. Coupled with a 69-44 victory over Saint Peter’s last month, it also marked the first time the Bulldogs have held multiple opponents to 45 points or less in the same season.

Likewise, Bryant received its latest star turn in the Navy victory, this time from redshirt junior forward Hall Elisias (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South (New Mexico JC)).
 
Elisias was a disruptive force and them some for the Midshipmen, patrolling the paint to the tune of eight blocks, all coming in the second half. And he did it with great timing, committing just one foul in his 20 minutes on the court.
 
The eight rejections matched the NEC single-game season-high and were one shy of Bryant’s DI record set by Papa Lo against LIU on December 3, 2009.
 
He swatted six more shots in Friday’s win over Columbia.
 
Elisias is the NEC leader and ranks 17th nationally with 2.80 blocks per game despite averaging just 16.6 minutes per contest. 
 
LIU’S JACKSON GETS SERIOUS FROM 3P LAND
 
Based on past history, it seemed like just a matter of time before LIU redshirt sophomore guard Jermaine Jackson Jr. (Shelby Township, MI/Dakota) had himself a dynamite day from downtown.
 
That day came on Saturday.
 
Jackson, the NEC Co-Player of the Week, drilled nine shots from distance to help boost the Sharks to an 85-72 win at Army. The nine triples set a school record, tied for third most in the nation in a single-game this season and was the highest total by an NEC player against a DI opponent since Bryant’s Adam Grant hit nine against the Mount on January 4, 2018.
 
STAT OF THE WEEK
 
Robert Morris has won 19 consecutive games dating back to the 2016-17 season when holding opponents to under 60 points after a 64-59 win at Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. The Colonials are 66-7 (.904) in 10 seasons under Andy Toole when turning the trick.
 
SFBK’S CELEN: MODEL OF EFFICIENCY
 
If you're looking for a player on the rise this season, look no further than St. Francis Brooklyn senior Deniz Celen (Ankara, Turkey/özel gürçag okullari), who has lifted his game to another level over his last three outings.
 
The 6’8” forward with the feathery touch has converted 20 of his last 28 from the floor, a scorching 71.4 percent success rate that includes a 4-5 mark from downtown.

Celen has averaged 16.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg over the three games.
 
On the year, Celen leads the NEC in field goal accuracy (.612) and effective field goal percentage (.659), and ranks second on the circuit in true shooting percentage (.665).

SFU’S BRAXTON CONTINUES CHART CLIMB
 
Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) jumped up three spots on the NEC’s career rebounding list last week, moving into seventh place with 975 boards. He needs just 15 more to crack the top-five and is 25 shy of becoming the fifth player in league history with 1,000 rebounds to his credit.

NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Jalen Cannon                SFBK            1,159           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
6. Obie Nwadike                CCSU            980             2003-07
7. Keith Braxton               SFU             975             2016-20
8. Eric Taylor                 SFU             967             1994-98
9. Corsley Edwards             CCSU            966             1998-02
10. Jamal Olasewere            LIU             963             2009-13
 
FDU’S MALONE-KEY BACK & BETTER THAN EVER
 
Back healthy, Fairleigh Dickinson redshirt junior guard Xzavier Malone-Key (Philadelphia, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh (Rider)) has been just what the doctor ordered for the Knights and head coach Greg Herenda.
 
In his first four games back, Malone-Key has averaged 17.5 ppg, including a career-high 29 in the Knights’ 78-77 win over Quinnipiac on Tuesday.
 
What has set him apart since his return is his ability to make a living at the line. Malone-Key has gone to the stripe 31 times in his four outings, making 23. His free throw with 2.6 seconds left accounted for the final margin in the victory over the Bobcats.
 
Malone-Key, who has scored 70 points on just 43 shots, leads the NEC in offensive rating among players with a 20 percent or higher usage rate. He also ranks second with 7.2 fouls drawn per 40 minutes.
 
CCSU YOUTH BRIGADE
 
It’s nearly a complete reboot in New Britain.
 
According to KenPom, CCSU sports the fourth youngest roster in the country and is one of 20 programs with ten or more players in their first season of eligibility. The Blue Devils are also one of eight teams with at least seven freshmen.
 
On Saturday, CCSU trailed Maine by nine with 4:45 to play. While fielding a lineup consisting of four freshman and one sophomore – all five in their first season with the program – the Blue Devils outscored the Black Bears, 12-5, the rest of the way out to come up just short in a 66-64 setback. CCSU newcomers scored 51 of the team’s 64 points in the game with senior swingman Jamir Coleman (San Antonio, TX/South Plains College) accounting for the other 13 points.
 
On the year, CCSU’s newcomers have recorded 77.9 percent of the team’s scoring.
 
MERRIMACK TAKEAWAYS
 
Bolstered by a defense that epitomizes the team’s #MakeChaos hashtag, Merrimack has found a great deal of success in their initial DI campaign.
 
The ability to turn opponents over has become their staple in non-conference play with numbers that have the Warriors ranked among the nation’s best.
 
Merrimack sits sixth in the country in steal percentage (14.0), seventh in steals per game (10.8) and 10th in turnover margin (6.6).
 
Merrimack senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony), who racked up 336 steals at the DII level, is fourth nationally in steals per game (3.2) and 19th in steal percentage (4.99).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
Merrimack freshman guard/forward Ziggy Reid (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul’s School) scored a career-high 13 points off the bench and had three steals at Brown on Wednesday. He hit 3-6 from long range.
 
Mount St. Mary’s sophomore guard Damien Chong Qui (Baltimore, MD/McDonogh) is averaging 16.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 4.0 apg over his last five outings.
 
Robert Morris sophomore guard Jalen Hawkins (Utica, NY/Proctor) averaged 14.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg last week while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. He established career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (seven) at Youngstown State on Wednesday.
 
NEC in NCAA STATS (Top-25)
 
Name                         School         Category       Rank         Value
Hall Elisias                 BRY            Blocks         17th         2.80
Adam Grant                   BRY            3PFG           11th         3.50
Patrick Harding              BRY            Reb.           8th          11.2
Patrick Harding              BRY            Def. Reb.      18th         7.60
Ty Flowers                   LIU            Reb.           18th         10.6
Ty Flowers                   LIU            Def. Reb.      6th          8.67
Ty Flowers                   LIU            Dub-Dub.       11th         5
E.J. Anosike                 SHU            Reb.           11th         11.0
E.J. Anosike                 SHU            Def. Reb.      25th         7.30
Cameron Parker               SHU            Assists        1st          9.6
 
Team                         Category       Rank           Value
Bryant                       Rebounding     7th            43.40
Bryant                       Off. Reb.      25th           13.30
Bryant                       Def. Reb.      17th           30.10
LIU                          3PFG           11th           10.6
Merrimack                    TO Margin      10th           6.60
Merrimack                    Steals         7th            10.80
Sacred Heart                 FT%            4th            .810
Sacred Heart                 Rebounding     11th           42.50
Sacred Heart                 Def. Reb.      21st           29.70
Saint Francis U              FT%            14th          .788