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NEC Co-Players of the Week: E.J. Anosile, SHU & Jahlil Jenkins, FDU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Larry Green III, BRY
Previous NEC Releases: February 10 | February 3 | January 27 | January 22 | January 13 | January 6 | December 30 | December 23 | December 16 | December 9  | 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., G, East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)
Anosike had himself a game on Saturday. The junior forward racked up 26 points, a DI school record 22 rebounds and three assists as SHU won at LIU, 80-72, to cap a 2-0 week and clinch an NEC Tournament spot. He became the 12th player in the nation this season and just the 11th NEC player since the 1996-97 to post a 20/20 game. The 22 rebounds also tied for sixth on the NEC’s single-game list this season. To add to the list of accolades, Anosike scored his 1,000th career point in the victory. Two days earlier, he finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 74-65 win over Bryant. For the week, Anosike averaged 20.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals, and shot 80.0 percent from the stripe. The East Orange, NJ native posted a pair of double-doubles to raise his NEC-leading total to 15, and he also ranks first on the circuit with 11.3 rpg.  

Jahlil Jenkins, Fairleigh Dickinson
6’0”, 160 lbs.
Jr., G, Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy
Jenkins was unstoppable in a sweep for the Knights, who have won four-of-five to move to within one game of .500 and tie for sixth in the conference. He put up 26.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game, while hitting at a 63.3 percent clip from the field and 57.1 percent (8-14) from distance. Jenkins was in can’t miss mode on Thursday, hitting 12-15 overall and 5-7 from three-point territory in a career-high 31 points effort as FDU rolled to a 106-73 win over Wagner. He added seven assists and five steals. Jenkins, who hails from Ranson, WV, led FDU with 21 on Saturday as the Knights used a last-second Kaleb Bishop putback to post a 72-71 win at second place Robert Morris. Jenkins ranks seventh in the NEC in both scoring (15.6) and assists (3.6).

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michael Green III, Bryant
5’11”, 155 lbs.
Fr., G, Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy
The third Bryant player to capture NEC Rookie of the Week honors this season, Green elevated his game to the tune of 19.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 apg in two road outings for the Bulldogs. The Bronx, NY product hit 3-5 shots from three-point range and shot 48.3 percent overall. He scored a game and career-high 22 points in Thursday’s nationally televised game at Sacred Heart, making 8-15 from the floor. Green paced the Bulldogs again on Saturday with 17 points and four assists at CCSU. He boosted his season average to 8.9 ppg and tops all NEC freshman with 3.1 apg.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Michael Green III (BRY, Fr, G)
Green was spectacular last week for the Bulldogs with 19.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 apg. He shot 48.3 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from distance, where he made 3-5 over two games. Green scored a game and career-high 22 points in Thursday’s setback at Sacred Heart, converting 8-15 shot opportunities. He is contributing 8.9 ppg and paces all NEC freshman with 3.1 apg.

Myles Baker (CCSU, Fr, G)
Baker exploded for a career-high 24 points in just 22 minutes to help the Blue Devils snap a four-game skid with a win over Bryant on Saturday. He made 9-13 shots and hit 5-7 from three-point territory. Baker is fourth on CCSU in scoring at 8.8 ppg.

Jahlil Jenkins (FDU, Jr, G)
Jenkins comes off the his best week of the season with 26.0 ppg, 5.0 apg and 3.5 spg. He converted 63.3 percent of his shots from the floor and 57.1 percent from downtown, where he hit 8-14 in FDU’s sweep. Jenkins scored a career-high 31 points, and added seven assists and five steals in Thursday’s win over Wagner and then put up 21 more in the Knights’ victory at RMU on Saturday. He is the NEC’s seventh-leading scorer (15.6) and also ranks seventh in assists (3.6).

Ty Flowers (LIU, R-Jr, F)
Flowers followed his monumental 27-rebound game with a strong week that saw him average 17.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 3.0 bpg in an LIU split. He converted 52.0 percent of his shots and made 6-8 (.750) from outside the arc. Flowers recorded his 13th double-double of the year with 21 points and 13 boards in a win at CCSU on Thursday. The junior is eighth in the NEC in scoring (14.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (10.3).

Juvaris Hayes (MC, Sr, G)
Hayes once again made a seismic impact in ways other than scoring. He contributed 11.5 apg, to go along with 6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 spg in a pair of wins for the first place Warriors, who improved to 12-2 in league play. Hayes dished for a season-high 15 assists in Saturday’s win over Wagner, the highest single-game total in the NEC in nearly eight years. The senior guard is the national leader with 3.7 spg and also paces the NEC with 6.4 apg.

AJ Bramah (RMU, Jr, F)
It was yet another strong week for Bramah, who came off the bench with 21.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.5 apg while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and hitting all 10 of his free throws. He tallied a career-high 25 points on 11-18 shooting, and added seven boards and four assists in Thursday’s win at the Mount. Bramah ranks second in the NEC in field goal accuracy (.561) and fourth in rebounding (8.4).

E.J. Anosike (SHU, Jr, F)
Anosike set a SHU DI record with 22 rebounds at LIU in the same game he scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday. He finished with 26 points, 22 rebounds and three assists as the Pioneers improved to 9-5 in NEC play with the win. For the week, he averaged 20.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg and 2.5 apg, while collecting his league-leading 14th and 15th double-doubles of the season. Anosike also ranks first in the conference with 11.3 rpg and is sixth with 15.8 ppg.

Unique McLean (SFBK, Gr, G)
McLean registered his fifth double-double of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds vs. Merrimack on Thursday. He hit 6-8 from the field, 3-3 from the line and dished for two assists. McLean averages 11.8 ppg and ranks sixth in NEC with 7.6 rpg.

Isaiah Blackmon (SFU, Sr, G)
Blackmon dropped 13 of his team-high 21 points in the final 7:19 to lead the Red Flash back from a 15-point deficit in a 70-55 win over the Mount on Saturday. He hit 5-10 from three-point range. Blackmon, who has reached 20 points in eight of his 13 league games, is second in the NEC in scoring (18.5) and three-point accuracy (.428).

Keith Braxton (SFU, Sr, G)
Braxton flirted with a triple-double in Saturday’s win at the Mount, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. It was his 41st career double-double. He ranks among league leaders in scoring (16.9, third), rebounding (7.1, 10th) and assists (3.8, sixth).

Curtis Cobb (WC, Gr, G)
Cobb shot 54.5 percent from three-point range on his way to averaging 18.0 ppg for the Seahawks. He shot 10-17 overall and 4-7 from outside the arc, and tallied a game-high 26 points at first place Merrimack on Saturday. Cobb is the NEC’s fourth-leading scorer at 16.6 ppg and his 2.95 3P/game is third on the circuit.

TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 15

MC TAKES CONTROL, BATTLE LINES DRAWN IN NEC STANDINGS
 
With two weeks to go, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the NEC regular season hoops race.

What we do know is that Robert Morris, Saint Francis U and Sacred Heart have clinched a spot in the league’s eight-team postseason party.
 
The battle for the regular season title is another story.
 
Things tipped back in favor of newcomer Merrimack last week, fresh off its sweep of St. Francis Brooklyn and Wagner. Before a sellout crowd in the first-ever nationally televised game out of Hammel Court, the Warriors won their sixth straight at home with a 68-59 victory over the Seahawks.
 
At 12-2, the Warriors now control their own destiny after red-hot Robert Morris had its six-game win streak snapped by visiting FDU on Saturday. The Knights used a Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) putback with 1.2 seconds to play to secure the 72-71 win and leave the Colonials a game back with an 11-3 mark. RMU is one win away from clinching a home game in the NEC quarterfinal round.
 
With Merrimack ineligible for the NEC Tournament during its DI transition, RMU still has a leg up on the competition in its quest for the top seed, holding a one-game lead over Keystone State rival Saint Francis U.
 
One thing we know for sure is that the Red Flash have ascended like a lightning bolt in recent weeks.
 
Following a middling 5-4 start to NEC play, the defending regular season champs have won five straight to clinch an NEC playoff spot and look like every bit the championship contender.
 
The Red Flash registered an impressive 70-55 comeback win at the Mount on Saturday, engineering a 30-point second-half swing after rallying from 15 down with under 18 minutes to play.
 
This sets up a titanic battle in Loretto on Tuesday in the first of two meetings between RMU and SFU. They will meet again in Moon Township on the final day of the regular season. The Red Flash have won the last eight meetings between the two programs.
 
Sacred Heart made its own push last week, clinching a tourney berth with a home win over Bryant on CBSSN followed by an impressive road victory at LIU on Saturday. The Pioneers, who have won three straight on the road, will face a tough test on Saturday when they visit Merrimack. At 9-5, SHU is still very much alive for the #1 seed.
 
LIU is holding on to a coveted top-four spot with a 7-6 record, but is just a game up on Mount St. Mary’s and a streaking FDU squad that has won four of its last five.
 
“This is the time to be playing good basketball and that is what we are doing right now,” said FDU head coach Greg Herenda after Saturday’s win at RMU. We just need to continue to improve and stay hungry -- that is all we are concerned with right now and it is surely paying off.”
 
The Knights made a similar late-season push a year ago, winning their last five games and 11 of their last 13 after a 1-4 start.
 
St. Francis Brooklyn (5-8) and Bryant (4-9) are hanging on to the final two playoff spots, but both Wagner (2-11) and CCSU (2-12) remain in contention.
 
MERRIMACK SETS FIRST-YEAR MARK
 
It just keeps getting better for the NEC newbies.
 
With Thursday’s 60-50 triumph at St. Francis Brooklyn, Merrimack won its 17th game of the year to established a new NCAA record for victories by a first-year reclassifying program.
 
The Warriors surpassed Cal Baptist, which won 16 games in 2018-19 though four of those wins came against non-DI opponents. Merrimack, which won its 18th on Saturday against Wagner, has only one non-DI win on its resume.
 
Sitting in first place at 12-2, MC now looks to become the first program to win a regular season title in its first year at the DI level.
 
JENKINS & FDU ENJOY SPECIAL NIGHT
 
One of the NEC’s finest players enjoyed a career-night on a record-breaking evening for his team.
 
FDU hit a program-record and NEC single-game season-high 16 three-pointers as the Knights rolled to a 106-73 win over visiting Wagner on Thursday.
It marked the Knights’ highest scoring output against a DI opponent since posting a 106-81 win over CCSU on December 22, 1990, and was the most points by FDU in an NEC game since a 112-100 victory over Saint Francis U on February 16, 1984.
 
The 106 points was also the most in an NEC contest since Sacred Heart beat Bryant, 112-110, in a triple overtime game on January 4, 2017. Taking into account games that ended in regulation, it was the highest total since Monmouth beat LIU, 106-78, on February 25, 2012.
 
FDU’s 1.34 PPP was its highest of the year, and the second-highest in the NEC this season behind RMU’s 1.37 PPP in its 94-62 win over Wagner on January 11.
 
FDU also recorded 26 assists - the most since the Knights dished 26 on its way to a 93-78 win over Robert Morris on February 6, 2006 - and added a season-high 13 steals. They were the most assists in an NEC game since LIU had 26 in a 99-89 win over Quinnipiac on February 18, 2012.
 
The catalyst for it all was junior guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy).
 
The NEC Co-Player of the Week produced a career-high 31 points, to go along with seven assists and five steals. He shot a scorching 12-15 from the field and made a career-high five shots from downtown on just seven attempts.
 
How rare is that stat line?
 
Jenkins became the first DI player in the last decade with to finish with at least 31p/7a/5s while shooting at least 80 percent from the field.
 
Even removing the field goal percentage qualifier, Jenkins is still one of only two players with a 31/7/5 this season (Northern Kentucky’s Jalen Tate) and just one of 12 over the last ten years. Players on that short list include Ben Simmons (76ers), Ja Morant (Grizzlies) and Elfrid Payton (Knicks).
 
“Tonight was one of those rare nights when almost everything we did went well for us and our guys really deserved it all,” said FDU head coach Greg Herenda. “Jahlil was insane and everyone else followed suit. To have 26 assists and make 16 threes are both monumental milestones but the greatest thing about tonight was just how hard we played against a team that always plays so hard.”
 
ANOSIKE’S BIG GAME
 
It’s safe to say Sacred Heart junior forward E.J. Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)) was in beast mode in Saturday’s win at LIU.
 
Anosike finished with 26 points along with a school DI record 22 rebounds. Looking at it from a historical perspective, the performance landed the East Orange, NJ native in elite company.
 
The 22 rebounds tied for the sixth most in NEC annals and made him one of just 18 players in the 39-year history of the conference to snare more than 20 caroms in a game.
 
All-Time NEC Single-Game Rebounds Leaders
1. Ty Flowers (LIU)                    27       vs. Merrimack            2/8/19
2. Carey Scurry (LIU)                  26       vs. Marist               2/8/83
3. Earl Brown (SFU)                    25       vs. CCSU                 1/13/13
4. Carey Scurry (LIU)                  23       vs. Saint Francis U      1/21/84
    Mike Aaman (WC)                    23       vs. FDU                  2/14/15
6. Frantz Pierre-Louis (WC)            22       vs. LIU Brooklyn         1/17/96
    Alan Tomidy (MAR)                  22       vs. LIU Brooklyn         2/8/96
    Emmanuel Adenkunle (SFU)           22       vs. LIU Brooklyn         2/16/98
    Ronnie Drinnon (SFU)               22       vs. FDU                  3/2/16
    Michael Carey (WC)                 22       vs. FDU                  1/5/17
    E.J. Anosike (SHU)                 22       vs. LIU                  2/15/20

Anosike’s 22 rebounds tied him for the sixth-most in the nation this season.
 
The NEC Co-Player of the Week also entered rare territory with his 20-20 game, becoming just the 11th NEC player since the 1996-97 season to accomplish the feat.
 
NEC 20/20 Games Since 1996-97 Season
E.J. Anosike (SHU)                     26p, 22r      vs. LIU       2/15/20
Ty Flowers (LIU)                       25p, 27r      vs. MC        2/8/20  
Michael Carey (WC)                     21p, 22r      vs. FDU       1/5/17
Ronnie Drinnon (SFU)                   21p, 22r      vs. FDU       3/2/16
Ronnie Drinnon (SFU)                   23p, 20r      vs. CCSU      2/6/16
Mike Aaman (WC)                        20p, 23r      vs. FDU       2/14/15
Julian Boyd (LIU)                      21p, 20r      vs. FDU       2/23/12
Victor Akinyanju (QU)                  20p, 21r      vs. MSM       2/3/07
Emmanuel Adenkunle (SFU)               33p, 22r      vs. LIU       2/16/98
Corey Albano (MU)                      33p, 21r      vs. LIU       3/6/97
Corey Albano (MU)                      30p, 20r      vs. LIU       2/20/97
 
Interestingly, Anosike’s career night came in the same gym and exactly one week after LIU redshirt junior forward Ty Flowers (Waterbury, CT/Sacred Heart HS (UMass)) set a new NEC record with 27 rebounds and finished with 25 points in the Sharks’ win over Merrimack.
 
For the week, Anosike averaged 20.0 ppg and 16.5 rpg.
 
Nationally speaking, he ranks sixth in double-doubles (15) and seventh in rebounding (11.3), both of which are league-leading figures.
 
ANOSIKE IS NEWEST ADDITION TO NEC 1K GROUP
 
The NEC’s 1,000-point club added a new member on Saturday when Sacred Heart junior forward E.J. Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)) reached the milestone on the night of a 26-point, 22-rebound performance at LIU.
 
Anosike became the eigith active member and the 235th in conference annals to reach the milestone. With 1,009 points, he is the 44th player in SHU history to reach 1,000.
 
Other active NEC players who have crossed the plateau include Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) (1,926), LIU Brooklyn redshirt senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) (1,910), Bryant senior guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate) (1,736), Saint Francis U redshirt senior guard Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) (1,467), LIU senior guard Jashaun Agosto (Seattle, WA/Garfield) (1,295), FDU junior guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy) (1,190) and FDU senior forward Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) (1,064).
 
Next up is likely LIU senior guard Julian Batts (Pittsburgh, PA/Jeanette), who needs just 18 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
 
THE WARRIOR WAY
 
In one of the most fascinating stats of the year, Merrimack has not allowed 70 points in regulation in an NEC game this season, and has held its last six NEC opponents under 60 points in regulation.
 
The Warriors remain first nationally in steal percentage (.144) and rank fourth in turnover percentage (.256).
 
In conference play, MC is the league leader in scoring defense (58.1), defensive efficiency (89.2), field goal percentage defense (.410), effective field goal percentage (.455), three-point percentage (.300), turnover percentage (.271), steal percentage (.151), steals (9.86) and turnovers forced (17.6).
 
BIG WEEK FOR NEC-TV
 
On a rare Tuesday with NEC hoops, the conference’s TV package takes center stage, highlighted by ESPNU airing the annual Battle of Brooklyn game between LIU and St. Francis Brooklyn at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Tipoff is at 5:00 pm with Robert Lee on play-by-play and former Kansas and Louisville star David Padgett on color.
 
That same night the scene will shift to New Britain, where CCSU will play host to FDU at 7 pm. Dave Popkin (PxP) and Terry O’Connor (color) have the call.
 
The annual NEC Wild Card game wraps up the men’s hoops regular season TV package this Friday on CBSSN. The conference selected Merrimack-Sacred Heart as the featured matchup in the first-ever national linear telecast out of Hammel Court. Popkin (PxP), Joe DeSantis (color) and Paul Dottino (sideline) are in the booth.
 
Come the playoffs, all quarterfinal games will air on NEC Front Row. The semis will be carried on ESPN3 and Front Row. ESPN2 will broadcast the title game.
 
CCSU YOUNG GUNS
 
Central Connecticut may be fighting for a shot at the postseason, but the future certainly looks bright for the Blue Devils.
 
Two potential foundational pieces for CCSU offered a glimpse into the future with a pair of otherworldly performances last week.
 
On Thursday, freshman guard Jamir Reed (Philadelphia, PA/Mastery Charter North) drained 7-8 shots from downtown as part of a career-high 21-point effort against LIU. He added eight rebounds and two steals.
 
Two days later, it was classmate Myles Baker’s (Chicago, IL/Whitney Young) turn to put on a show. He dropped a career-high 24 points in just 22 minutes to help the Blue Devils knock off Bryant, 75-70, in New Britain. He converted 9-13 from the floor that included a 5-7 mark from distance. Baker hit back-to-back three-pointers midway through the second half that gave the Blue Devils the lead for good.
 
Reed and Baker are both averaging 8.8 ppg on the year.
 
CCSU & LIU SHARPSHOOTING
 
Both CCSU and LIU had it going from downtown last Thursday.
 
The Blue Devils and Sharks shot 52.0 percent from three-point range, hitting 13 of their 25 attempts.
 
It marked the first time this season and just the fifth time in the last five years that both teams hit at least 50 percent of their three-point opportunities in a conference game.
 
Both Team Shooting 50 Percent From 3P Range In NEC Game
Feb. 13, 2020        LIU (13-25, .520)         CCSU (13-25, .520)
Feb. 14, 2019        BRY (13-25, .565)         SHU (17-32, .531)
Mar. 12, 2019        FDU (7-13, .538)          SFU (12-23, .522)
Jan. 18, 2018        MSM (11-22, .500)         SFBK (12-24, .500)
Jan. 16, 2016        MSM (10-16, .625)         SFU (10-19, .526)
 
BRAXTON & CLARK MILESTONE UPDATES
 
A pair of NEC superstars are making history.
 
Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) and LIU senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) both rank among the top point producers in league annals and they’re not done yet.
 
Braxton ranks 10th on the NEC career scoring list with 1,926 points and Clark moved up two spots last week to 11th place with 1,910 points.
 
NEC Career Scoring Leaders
5. Alex Francis           BRY          2,085         2010-14
6. Shane Gibson           SHU          2,079         2008-13
7. Ken Horton             CCSU         1,966         2007-12
8. Myron Walker           RMU          1,965         1990-94
9. Rik Smits              MAR          1,945         1984-88
10. Keith Braxton         SFU          1,926         2016-20
11. Raiquan Clark         LIU          1,910         2016-20
12. Desi Wilson           FDU          1,902         1988-91
13. Jeremy Chappell       RMU          1,875         2005-09
14. Junior Robinson       MSM          1,872         2014-18
15. Jamal Olasewere       LIU          1,871         2009-13
 
With 1,089 boards, Braxton moved within 70 of Jalen Cannon of St. Francis Brooklyn, the NEC career leader who snared 1,159 boards from 2011-15.
 
NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Jalen Cannon           SFBK         1,159         2011-15
2. Keith Braxton          SFU          1,089         2016-20
3. Justin Rutty           QU           1,032         2007-11
4. Ron Robinson           CCSU         1,022         2000-04
5. Carey Scurry           LIU          1,013         1982-85
6. Alex Francis           BRY          990           2010-14
7. Obie Nwadike           CCSU         980           2003-07
8. Eric Taylor            SFU          967           1994-98
9. Corsley Edwards        CCSU         966           1998-02
10. Jamal Olasewere       LIU          963           2009-13
 
On the Braxton 2K/1K watch, the Glassboro, NJ native needs 74 points to hit 2,000 for his career. No player in NEC history has ever recorded 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
 
He is one of two players in the league’s history to be ranked in the career top-10 in both scoring and rebounding, joining Bryant’s Alex Francis (2085, 5th in scoring; 990, 6th in rebounding).
 
MC’S HAYES HITS CENTURY MARK
 
Merrimack senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) hit yet another milestone on Saturday.
 
With two steals in the Warriors’ win over Wagner, the Paterson, NJ native cracked 100 for the season and enters the week with 101 swipes.
 
Hayes now ranks sixth on the NEC single-season list and is one of just seven players in its history to amass 100 steals in a season.
 
The NEC single-season record of 133 steals was set by RMU’s Chipper Harris in 1982-83.
 
BATTLE OF BROOKLYN HISTORY
 
The Battle of Brooklyn not only spotlights the NEC’s fiercest rivalry, but has also delivered some of the most compelling games when it is airs annually as part of the conference package or on NEC Front Row.
 
When the LIU Brooklyn-St. Francis Brooklyn rivalry is renewed on Tuesday at the Steinberg Wellness Center, there will be plenty of hype for the ESPNU broadcast, and deservedly so. But can the game top these LIU-SFBK thrillers?
 
2018 - The largest lead in this game as six and there were nine ties. It wasn’t decided until LIU’s Joel Hernandez broke the SFBK press and dunked with five seconds to go to give the Blackbirds an 81-76 win.
 
2015 - This one wasn’t the technically the Battle of Brooklyn, but it was a wild TV game nonetheless. LIU led by eight points with under four minutes to play, but SFBK utilized a tenacious full court press to go on a 14-3 run and take a three-point lead. With time winding down, LIU’s Martin Hermannsson launched a three-pointer and was fouled. The freshman calmly sank all three free throws with four seconds to play to send the game to OT. The Terriers would go on to win, 74-69.
 
2014 - Contested for the first time at the Barclays Center, Jason Brickman finished with 14 assists in a 69-68 win for the Blackbirds. It marked the sixth time in the last seven years that a televised game between the two teams was decided by four points or less.
 
2013 - LIU rallied from 14 down in the second half, scoring 57 points after intermission to win 78-68 at a packed Pope Center.
 
2012 - Julian Boyd hit the go-ahead jumper with 18 seconds left as the Blackbirds come back from five down with under three minutes to play and secure an 81-78 home win.
 
2011 - CJ Garner went coast-to-coast and hit a runner at the buzzer to give LIU the 82-80 victory as pandemonium broke out at the Pope Center.
 
2010 - In perhaps the most exciting game of the series in recent years, the Terriers took down the Blackbirds in triple overtime, 88-84. SFBK twice had to hit late three-pointers to force the second and third OTs.
 
2009 - SFBK rallied back from 15 down in the second half to tie it up, but the Blackbirds were able to salt the game away at the line, winning 74-70.
 
2008 - The Terriers won at the Steinberg Wellness Center, 67-64, when a Kyle Johnson three-point attempt is just off the mark with four seconds to play.
 
2006 - LIU erased a 14-point second half deficit and survived a last possession by SFBK to win at home, 67-64.
 
2003 - This one wasn’t televised, but went down as perhaps the most memorable contest in NEC history. LIU guard Antawn Dobie turned in the most brilliant single-game performance in league annals exploding for an NEC single-game record 53 points.  But that wasn’t all. He also dished out 15 assists and was directly involved in 87 of LIU’s points that day. One would assume those numbers would guarantee a victory for the Blackbirds. Not on this night. Not in this rivalry.
 
While Dobie was putting on a one-man show, the Terriers received stellar performances from a pair of Brooklyn products.  Freshman sharpshooter John Quintana came off the bench to register a career-high 31 points and senior forward Clifford Strong added 29 points. Likewise, future All-NEC point guard Tory Cavalieri dished for 13 assists.
 
Carrying the Blackbirds on his back, Dobie played the role of hero on more than one occasion. His 40-foot runner as time expired forced overtime and sent the evenly split crowd into a frenzy.
 
His two free throws at the end of the first extra session sent the game into double overtime. Dobie then scored five of his team’s 11 points in the second overtime.  One would think destiny would be on Dobie’s side as the game reached its final climax, but his potential game-winning 17-foot jumper went in and out with five seconds to play and the Blackbirds trailing by one.
 
It was one of the very few shots Dobie missed on the day.
 
In the end, St. Francis (NY) won the Battle of Brooklyn that year. The score: 142-140. To this day, it remains the highest scoring game in NEC history. No single team has ever scored that many points in an NEC game before or since.
 
GRANT’S CHART PROGRESS
 
We continue to track Bryant senior guard Adam Grant’s (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School) movement up the NEC career list for made three-pointers.
 
With two last week, Grant is up to 284 trifectas.
 
He needs just two to park himself in the NEC top-five and 16 more to become the third player in conference history to hit 300 for his career. Former CCSU star Tristan Blackwood holds the league’s all-time record with 328 trifectas from 2004-08.
 
NEC Career Three-Pointers Leaders
1. Tristan Blackwood            CCSU        328        2004-08
2. Joey Mundweiler              WC          312        2004-09
3. Chris McGuthrie              MSM         300        1993-96
4. Angel Santana                SFBK        294        1996-00
5. Shane Gibson                 SHU         286        2008-13
6. Adam Grant                   BRY         284        2016-20
7. Dyami Starks                 BRY         281        2012-15
8. Stefan Perunicic             SFBK        280        2008-12
9. James Williams               LIU         277        2003-07
10. Justin Chiera               CCSU        274        2002-06
 
HAYES THIEVERY UPDATE
   
Merrimack senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) has just one player in his headlights in his attempt to become the NCAA’s all-time steals leader.
 
The ringleader of a Warrior defense that ranks among the nation’s best in terms of forcing turnovers, Hayes is now second all-time with 437 career steals.
 
The Paterson, NJ native is just 11 dimes behind Ramapo’s Tennyson Whitted, the NCAA’s career leader.
 
NCAA Players With 400 Career Steals
Tennyson Whitted        Ramapo                 448           2000-03
Juvaris Hayes           Merrimack              437           2016-20
Jonte Flowers           Winona State           414           2005-08
John Gallogly           Salve Regina           413           1995-98
 
Hayes, who ranks first in the country with 3.7 spg and a 6.2 steal percentage this season.
 
SFU DID YOU KNOW?
 
When it comes to late game situations, Saint Francis U isn’t the team you want to put on the line.
 
The Red Flash spot three of the top-five free throw shooters in the conference in Tyler Stewart (Silver Spring, MD/St. Andrew’s Episcopal (Binghamton)) (.848, 1st), Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) (.821, fourth) and Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) (.811, fifth).
 
SFU leads the NEC in free throw accuracy at 75.3 percent.
 
NEC DUNK LEADERS
 
Fresh off perhaps the greatest NBA Slam Dunk contest of all time this past weekend, it got us thinking about the NEC’s top dunkers this season.
 
Not surprisingly, Robert Morris junior high flyer AJ Bramah (San Leandro, CA/San Leandro (Sheridan College)) is the NEC leader with 21 dunks on the year in league play.
 
NEC Dunk Leaders (conference only, 2019-20)
1. AJ Bramah (RMU)              21
2. Unique McLean (SFBK)         14
3. Nana Opoku (MSM)             13
4. Kaleb Bishop (FDU)           12
5. Jare’l Spellman (SHU)        11

STAT TRACKER
 
FDU freshman guard Devon Dunn (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) remained hot from three-point range, hitting 6-12 on the week while averaging 10.0 ppg. He is 13-24 (.542) from outside the arc over his last four games.
 
Merrimack junior forward Devin Jensen (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) sank 8-14 (.571) from three-point land last week, scoring 14 points apiece in wins over St. Francis Brooklyn and Wagner. He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds against the Terriers. Jensen leads the NEC in three-point accuracy, hitting 43.4 percent of his attempts.
 
Mount St. Mary’s junior guard Jalen Gibbs (Indian Head, MD/North Point (Drake)) posted his third 20+ outing of league play with a game-high 24 points in Saturday’s setback to SFU. He scored the 24 on just 10 shots and added seven boards.
 
Sacred Heart sophomore guard Aaron Clarke (Parsippany, NJ/Pope John) had another strong week, averaging 15.5 ppg that included 8-16 shooting from three-point range. He also averaged 5.5 apg.
 
Saint Francis U forward Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, PA/Pennsbury) comes off a big game at Mount St. Mary’s that saw the junior register 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a comeback win.
  
NEC in NCAA STATS (Top-25)
 
Name                  School       Category        Rank       Value
Hall Elisias          BRY          Blocks          12th       2.75
Adam Grant            BRY          3PFG            19th       3.08
Raiquan Clark         LIU          PPG             25th       20.2
Ty Flowers            LIU          Reb.            19th       10.27
Ty Flowers            LIU          Def. Reb.       5th        8.15
Ty Flowers            LIU          Dub-Dub         13th       13
Juvaris Hayes         MC           Steals          1st        3.74
Josh Williams         RMU          3PFG            18th       3.11
Josh Williams         RMU          3PFG%           24th       .418
E.J. Anosike          SHU          Reb.            7th        11.26
E.J. Anosike          SHU          Off. Reb.       8th        3.93
E.J. Anosike          SHU          Def. Reb.       17th       7.33
E.J. Anosike          SHU          Dub-Dub         6th        15
Jare’l Spellman       SHU          Blocks          22nd       2.56
Isaiah Blackmon       SFU          3PFG%           16th       .428
 
Team                  Category     Rank       Value
LIU                   3PFG         14th       9.77
Merrimack             TO Margin    7th        5.19
Merrimack             Steals       5th        9.96
Merrimack             TO Forced    13th       17.37
Robert Morris         Assists      11th       16.48
Sacred Heart          Rebounding   11th       40.59