PDF Release
NEC Player of the Week: Isaiah Blackmon, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Larry Green III, BRY
Previous NEC Releases: February 17 | 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 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Isaiah Blackmon, Saint Francis U
6’1”, 170 lbs.
R-Sr., G, Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte
Saint Francis U is the NEC’s hottest team and much of the credit can go to Blackmon, who collected his second NEC Player of the Week award after leading the Red Flash to a pair of victories last week that left them one-half game out of first place. He contributed 25.5 points. 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game as SFU stretched its win streak to seven. Blackmon shot 64.5 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from long range, where he made nine of his 17 attempts. He scored a career-high 30 points (12-18 FG, 6-11 3P) and added seven rebounds and four steals in Tuesday’s 86-71 win over fellow NEC contender RMU, then dropped 21 points on 8-13 shooting in a 74-71 triumph against LIU. The senior guard from Charlotte, NC leads all scorers in league play with 21.6 ppg, and his 19.0 ppg on the year ranks second overall. Blackmon also paces the circuit in three-point accuracy both in conference (.473) and overall (.438).

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michael Green III, Bryant
5’11”, 155 lbs.
Fr., G, Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy
Green made it back-to-back NEC Rookie honors following a strong all-around week that saw him average 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists as the Bulldogs won two-of-three outings. He scored 13 points in Bryant’s 61-52 win over first place Merrimack on Tuesday, then exploded for a career-high 23 points to go along with six assists in Friday’s 82-74 victory at St. Francis Brooklyn. Green wrapped his week with 13 points and a career-best eight dimes in a close loss to Sacred Heart. The Bronx, NY native leads all NEC freshman and ranks eighth overall with 3.3 apg. He’s also Bryant’s second-leading point producer at 9.7 ppg.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Michael Green III (BRY, Gr, G)
Green’s late season star turn is in full swing. Last week he registered 16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 5.3 apg as Bryant won two-of-three games. He scored a career-high 23 points to go along with six assists in Friday’s 82-74 victory at St. Francis Brooklyn. The Bronx, NY native leads all NEC freshman and ranks eighth overall with 3.3 apg. He’s also Bryant’s second-leading point producer at 9.7 ppg.

Juan Cardenas (BRY, Sr, F)
Cardenas comes off a stellar week that saw him average 16.3 ppg on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 8.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg. He posted his first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a win over Merrimack on Tuesday, then dropped 22 points in Saturday’s victory over SFBK. Cardenas has averaged 10.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg in league play.

Jahlil Jenkins (FDU, Jr, G)
Jenkins continued his recent surge, contributing 19.7 ppg, 5.0 apg and 1.7 spg. He hit 8-16 (.500) from distance and was 13-15 (867) from the line. The junior scored a team-high 20 points with five assists in Sunday’s comeback win over Robert Morris that clinched the Knights a spot in the NEC Tournament. He also added 25 points vs. LIU on Friday. Jenkins is the NEC’s fifth-leading scorer (16.1) and also ranks sixth in assists (3.8).

Raiquan Clark (LIU, R-Sr, G/F)
Clark’s consistency all year in terms of scoring is remarkable. Last week he posted his 17th and 18th games of 20+ points, averaging 21.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg. He finished with 20 points and seven boards in Friday’s win at FDU, and came back with a 26-point, nine-rebound effort in Saturday’s three-point setback at SFU. Clark remains the league leader with 20.3 ppg on the year and ranks seventh with 7.4 rpg.

Juvaris Hayes (MC, Sr, G)
Hayes did it in all facets of the game last week, averaging 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.3 apg and 5.0 spg to lead the Warriors in all four categories. He rang up 22 points, eight assists and six steals in a victory over Sacred Heart on Friday. Two days later, he broke the 17-year old NCAA career steals record with his 449th in Sunday’s game at the Mount. The senior guard is the national leader with 3.9 spg and also paces the NEC with 6.4 apg.

Nana Opoku (MSM, So, F)
Opoku nearly averaged a double-double with 13.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg and 1.3 spg last week. He scored a career-high 25 points (11-19 FG), snared 14 boards and added three assists and three blocks in Sunday’s win over first place Merrimack. It was his third double-double of the season. Opoku is fourth in the NEC with 1.6 bpg.

E.J. Anosike (SHU, Jr, F)
Anosike averaged a double-double with 13.0 ppg and 12.5 rpg while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor in a Pioneer split. He netted 18 on an efficient 7-9 shooting in Sunday’s win at Bryant. Anosike leads the NEC with 15 double-doubles and 11.3 ppg, and ranks seventh with 15.6 ppg.

Chauncey Hawkins (SFBK, Jr, G)
Hawkins was firing on all cylinders last week, producing 20.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.3 apg and 3.0 spg. He tallied a career-high 27 points - with 22 coming in the second half - against Bryant on Friday, then went for a game-high tying 22 points vs. Wagner on Sunday. Back on Tuesday, he stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 13 points, six boards, five assists and five steals in a Battle of Brooklyn win over LIU. Hawkins ranks 10th in the NEC with a team-best 14.0 ppg.

Isaiah Blackmon (SFU, R-Sr, G)
Blackmon keeps elevating his game as the postseason nears. Last week, he put up 25.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 2.5 spg as the Red Flash extended their win streak to seven with a pair of victories. He hit at a 64.5 percent clip from the field and was 9-17 (.529) from beyond the arc. Blackmon scored a career-high 30 points and added seven rebounds and four steals in Tuesday’s win over RMU. The senior guard ranks second in the NEC with 19.0 ppg and is the league leader in three-point accuracy at 43.8 percent.

Keith Braxton (SFU, Sr, G)
Braxton helped boost the Flash to a pair of victories last week, recording 16.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 2.5 spg. He posted his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 caroms in Saturday’s win over LIU. In that game, his long jumper 25 seconds to play gave SFU a four-point cushion. Braxton ranks among NEC leaders in scoring (16.9, fourth), rebounding (7.1, 11th), assists (3.7, seventh), free throw percentage (.811, seventh) and steals (1.2, 13th).

Alex Morales (WC, Jr, G)
Morales led Wagner to a 3-0 week, averaging 14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 1.3 spg. He poured in 21 points, including a team-high five points in overtime, and added a game and career-high 14 boards as the Seahawks won at SFBK. Morales also contributed 17 points in Wagner’s win over CCSU on Friday. Morales ranks second on the team with 13.3 ppg.

TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 16

AND DOWN THE STRETCH WE COME
 
With the final week of regular season play upon us, the NEC Tournament field is 75 percent set, but there’s plenty of drama left to unfold as teams make their final qualification and seeding push.
 
With a host of storylines and subplots, here’s the skinny on who is in, who is trending upward and who controls their own destiny.
 
Crashing The Party
The six teams below have qualified for the 2020 NEC Tournament. Here’s a look at the qualification streaks for each of the six, highlighted by RMU’s league-best 17 consecutive appearances.
 
Consecutive NEC Tournament Appearances (Current)
17 - Robert Morris
7 - Saint Francis U
6 - LIU
5 - Fairleigh Dickinson
2 - Sacred Heart
1 - Mount St. Mary’s
 
This leaves just two spots up for grabs after FDU (7-9) and Mount St. Mary’s (7-9) clinched NEC playoff berths on Sunday.
 
Bryant (6-10) and St. Francis Brooklyn (6-10) are in the driver’s seat for the final two spots with one of those teams assured of qualifying. Both programs are one game ahead of surging Wagner (5-11). The Seahawks have won three straight and need to win both their remaining games to have a shot at the postseason.
 
CCSU was eliminated from playoff contention last week.
 
Regular Season Title Still Up For Grabs
Merrimack had a chance on Sunday to become the first team in NCAA history to win a conference regular season championship in its first season of Division I reclassification, but was tripped up at the Mount. The Warriors have another shot to earn at least a share of the title with a win over visiting CCSU on Thursday.
 
With Merrimack (13-4) ineligible for the NEC Tournament, it’s come down to one game for all the marbles.
 
When Robert Morris and Saint Francis U meet in their rematch at the UPMC Events Center on Saturday, the top seed will be at stake with home court advantage throughout the tourney going to the winner as the reward.
 
Talk about drama.
 
One win away from their first 20-win season since 1990-91, the Red Flash (12-4) have won seven straight and are currently a half game behind Merrimack and a half game ahead of the Colonials (13-5) in the standings. While SFU’s game against the Mount on Thursday will have no impact on seeding, the Flash can still win the NEC outright with two wins this week and a Merrimack loss, and share the league crown for the second straight year with two victories and a Warrior win.
 
RMU can earn a share of the regular season title with a win over SFU and a Merrimack loss to the Blue Devils. With a win over SFU the Colonials will claim the #1 seed for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
 
In any event, RMU and SFU can be no lower than the #2 seed in the NEC Tournament and both will host semifinal games if they hold serve in the quarters.
 
Home Game Hysteria
With just one week remaining in the regular season, the tightly knit NEC standings make it difficult to project the eventual matchups that will comprise the league’s postseason tournament that begins with quarterfinal round play on Wednesday, March 4.
 
Sacred Heart is one win or a LIU loss from locking up the #3 seed. The Pioneers can finish no lower than fourth and have clinched a quarterfinal home game.
 
In play for the fourth and final QF home game are LIU, FDU and Mount St. Mary’s. The Sharks can snag the #4 seed with two wins and two SHU losses. While LIU controls its own destiny, should it falter, a myriad of tiebreakers could decide who locks down a home game. In H2H matchups, Mount owns the tiebreaker over LIU, FDU over the Mount and LIU over FDU.
 
Final Thoughts (aka “Break Out The Tiebreakers”)
To illustrate how crazy this final week can be, both FDU and the Mount can finish as high as four or as low as the eighth seed.

Bryant and St. Francis Brooklyn can go as high as fifth, but could also miss out entirely. Wagner can reach the sixth seed, but can’t afford a loss and needs help just to reach the postseason.
 
This Week’s Schedule
Here is the slate of games that will ultimately determine NEC Tournament bracketing. All games will air live on NEC Front Row and the NEC on the Run series of mobile and streaming apps.
 
Thursday, Feb. 27    
LIU at Wagner, 7 pm
St. Francis Brooklyn at Sacred Heart, 7 pm
Bryant at FDU, 7 pm
CCSU at Merrimack, 7 pm
Mount St. Mary’s at Saint Francis U, 7 pm
 
Saturday, Feb. 29    
Saint Francis U at Robert Morris, 1 pm
St. Francis Brooklyn at CCSU, 1 pm
Bryant at Wagner, 2 pm
LIU at Sacred Heart, 3:30 pm
FDU at Mount St. Mary’s, 4 pm
 
HE’S #1, HAYES MAKES HISTORY
 
Merrimack senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) will end his storied career with his name etched all over the NCAA recordbook.
 
But when it comes to steals, everyone will bow to a new king.
 
On Sunday, Hayes became the NCAA’s all-time steals leader, shattering a 17-year old record in the process with his 449th steal in Merrimack’s game at the Mount. He surpassed Ramapo’s Tennyson Whitted, who amassed 448 from 2000-03.
 
The ringleader of a Warrior defense that ranks among the nation’s best in terms of forcing turnovers, Hayes enters play this week 452 career steals.
 
NCAA Players With 400 Career Steals
Juvaris Hayes       Merrimack             452           2016-20
Tennyson Whitted    Ramapo                448           2000-03
Jonte Flowers       Winona State          414           2005-08
John Gallogly       Salve Regina          413           1995-98
 
Hayes ranks first in the country with 3.9 spg and a 6.4 steal percentage this season.
 
LIU’S BATTS HITS MILLENNIUM MARK
 
Julian Batts (Pittsburgh, PA/Jeanette) has now made it the NEC9.
 
The LIU senior guard became the ninth active member of the NEC’s 1,000-point club on Sunday and heads into the final week of the regular season with 1,008 points to his credit. He’s the 38th player in LIU history and 236th in conference annals to reach the milestone.
 
Other active NEC players who have crossed the plateau include LIU Brooklyn redshirt senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) (1,973), Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) (1,959),  Bryant senior guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate) (1,779), Saint Francis U redshirt senior guard Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) (1,518), LIU senior guard Jashaun Agosto (Seattle, WA/Garfield) (1,304), FDU junior guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy) (1,249), FDU senior forward Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) (1,095) and Sacred Heart junior forward E.J. Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More) (1,035).

JUVARIS BEING JUVARIS
 
With an SRO crowd jamming Hammel Court and the game beaming nationwide on CBSSN, Merrimack senior Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) may have been a bit awestruck pregame, but once the whistle blew, he delivered yet another star turn in the Warriors’ 64-57 win over Sacred Heart.
 
“We knew it was going to be a TV game, but we didn’t expect all those cameras,” Hayes said. “During warmups, we saw all the cameras and the lights. It changed the gym. I guess you could say it kind of caught us by surprise, but it was a fun atmosphere. With it being a TV game and a big crowd, we definitely had to get the win.”
 
Hayes dominated in every which way, and even added a new wrinkle to his game, hitting 4-8 from three-point range after entering the game 6-23 for the year from beyond the arc.
 
He finished with 22 points, six rebounds, eight assists and six steals, and in doing so, became just the ninth DI player over the last decade to hit those totals in a game. It’s a list that includes NBA players Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) and Kris Dunn (Providence).
 
Hayes is averaging 8.6 assists over his last eight games.
 
SFU’S DYNAMIC DUO ENTERS NEC RECORDBOOK
 
With Saint Francis U senior guard Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) cracking the 1,500-point mark for his career last week and classmate Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) approaching 2,000 points, it brought to mind how rare an accomplishment it is to have two teammates with that many points.
 
They are one of just eight teammate duos in the 39-year history of the NEC to amass at least 1,500 points at the same time and the first since the 2011-12 season when CCSU’s Ken Horton (1,966) and Robby Ptacek (1,531) reached the milestone. With Braxton at 1,959 points and Blackmon at 1,518, they are within 21 points of surpassing Horton and Ptacek as the highest scoring teammates in league history.
 
Other to do it: FDU’s Jamie Latney (1,666) and Damari Riddick (1,701) in 1987-88, Monmouth’s Alex Blackwell (1,749) and William Lewis (1,517) in 1991-92, Marist’s Danny Basile (1,555) and Alan Tomidy (1,508) in 1995-96, Rider’s Charles Smith (1,693) and Deon Hames (1,589) in 1995-96, LIU’s Charles Jones (1,772) and Dave Masciale (1,501) in 1997-98, and RMU’s Chaz McCrommon (1,623) and Maurice Carter (1,506) in 2004-05.
 
BLACKMON TO JOIN ELITE GROUP
 
With three more rebounds, Saint Francis U senior guard Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) will become just the third player in NEC history with 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 200 three-pointers in his career.
 
Entering the week with 1,518 points, 497 boards and 207 triples, Blackmon is set to join the Mount’s Gregory Harris (1,760 points, 615 rebounds and 218 3P from 1996-00) and RMU’s Jeremy Chappell (1,875 points, 681 rebounds and 243 3P from 2005-09) who have reached the rare statistical feat. Blackmon will also become the 36th NEC player with 1,500 points and 500 rebounds in his career.
 
BRAXTON NEARING UNIQUE NEC MARK
 
With 3,064 combined points and rebounds, Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) needs just 12 more to break the all-time NEC record held by Bryant’s Alex Francis.
 
Braxton has racked up 1,959 points and 1,105 rebounds to rank third all-time.
 
Francis ended his star-studded career with 2,085 points and 990 rebounds for a combined total of 3,075 from 2010-14.
 
Wagner’s Terrance Bailey (2,591 points, 475 rebounds, 3066 total from 1983-87) and Jermaine Hall (2,278 points, 777 rebounds from 1999-03) are the only other players in NEC history with more than 3,000 combined points and boards.
 
BRYANT’S HARDING MOST ACCURATE AROUND RIM
 
Field goal percentage at the rim takes into accounts layups, dunks or tip-ins, and is a good measure to see those who are most adept at finishing around the hoop.
 
Which NEC players do it best?
 
Looking at players who have at least 50 attempts around the rim, Bryant sophomore forward Patrick Harding (Fairfield, CT/Suffield Academy) is the most proficient, converting 73.9 percent of his attempts. Harding has taken 71.9 percent of his shots around the rim this season, making 51-of-69.
 
LIU Brooklyn senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) has attempted 239 shots around the rim, 53 more than any other player in the league. He’s drained 61.1 percent of those opportunities to rank 17th in the conference and eighth among NEC players with 100+ attempts.
 
Among players with 100 attempts at the rim, the league leader is Robert Morris junior forward AJ Bramah (San Leandro, CA/San Leandro (Sheridan College)), who has made 125-180 for a 69.4 percent success rate.
 
Although he fell just one attempt shy of making this list, Saint Francis U sophomore Ramiir Dixon-Conover (Newark, NJ/South Kent (Southeastern CC)) has made 69.4 percent of his shots at the rim, an impressive conversion rate for a guard.
 
NEC Top-5, FG% at Rim (min. 50 att.)
Patrick Harding, BRY           73.9 (51-69)
Deniz Celen, SFBK              69.6 (64-92)
AJ Bramah, RMU                 69.4 (125-180)
Hall Elisias, BRY              67.4 (60-89)
Nana Opoku, MSM                65.9 (60-91)
Yannis Mendy, RMU              65.6 (82-125)
Idris Joyner, MC               65.4 (83-127)
Xzavier Malone-Key, FDU        63.6 (44-62)
Jare’l Spellman, SHU           63.2 (60-95)
Elyjah Williams, FDU           63.1 (101-160)
 
CELEN IS NEC MID-RANGE KING
 
The mid-range game may be a dying art form in today’s analytics driven hoops world, but there are still some practitioners who make it an intricate part of their skill set.
 
DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge may be masters of the mid-range in the NBA, but which performers in the NEC have made part of their repertoire?
 
St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Deniz Celen (Anjara, Turkey/özel gürçag okullari) is the clear leader of the pack when it comes to mid-range efficiency. Celen is the only NEC player who is shooting better than 50 percent from mid-range on the year, hitting at a 51.2 percent clip (43-of-84) to lead all conference players who have made at least 20 this season.
 
Wagner grad student Curtis Cobb III (Fall River, MA/Wilbraham & Monsoon Academy (Fairfield, UMass)) is shooting 45.5 percent on two-point shots away from the rim, and has taken a league-high 121 from mid-range. Others shooting over 40 percent include CCSU senior forward Jamir Coleman (San Antonio, TX/South Plains College) (43.0, 34-79), Bryant senior guard Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, MA/Brooks School) (42.1, 24-57), Bryant freshman guard Michael Green III (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) (41.1, 37-90), Merrimack senior guard Jaleel Lord (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) (41.0, 25-61), FDU junior guard Xzavier Malone-Key (Philadelphia, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh (Rider)) (40.7, 24-59), LIU sophomore guard Jermaine Jackson Jr., (Shelby Township, MI/Dakota (Detroit Mercy)) (40.7, 22-54), Mount sophomore guard Damian Chong Qui (Baltimore, MD/McDonogh) (40.3, 27-67) and Sacred Heart junior forward E.J. Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More) (40.0, 24-60).
 
SFU DID YOU KNOW
 
Saint Francis U is 24-7 in the month of February over the past four seasons.
 
BRAXTON & CLARK MILESTONE UPDATES
 
A pair of NEC superstars are making history.
 
LIU senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) and Saint Francis U senior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville School)) both rank among the top point producers in league annals and they’re not done yet.
 
Clark vaulted four spots last week and now ranks seventh all-time with 1,973 points. Braxton ranks 10th on the NEC career scoring list with 1,959 points.
 
NEC Career Scoring Leaders
5. Alex Francis           BRY          2,085         2010-14
6. Shane Gibson           SHU          2,079         2008-13
7. Raiquan Clark          LIU          1,973         2016-20
8. Ken Horton             CCSU         1,966         2007-12
9. Myron Walker           RMU          1,965         1990-94
10. Keith Braxton         SFU          1,959         2016-20
11. Rik Smits             MAR          1,945         1984-88
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 1,105 boards, Braxton moved within 54 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           1,105         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 41 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 MOVES UP NEC STEALS LIST
 
With 15 steals last week, Merrimack senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) moved into fifth place on the NEC’s single-season list with 116 on the year.
 
He can reach the top-three with five steals this week 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.
 
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 ten last week, Grant is up to 294 trifectas, which ties him for fourth all-time in the conference with former St. Francis Brooklyn sharpshooter Angel Santana.
 
He needs just six 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. Adam Grant               BRY         294         2016-20
   Angel Santana            SFBK        294         1996-00
5. Shane Gibson             SHU         286         2008-13
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
 
TERRIERS CLAIM BATTLE OF BROOKLYN CROWN
 
There was an unlikely hero in the NEC’s top rivalry.
 
Senior forward Milija Cosic (Belgrade, Serbia/Cannon School), who entered the game averaging 3.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg, broke out with 18 points and six rebounds to lead St. Francis Brooklyn to a come-from-behind 87-77 win at LIU in the 45th annual Battle of Brooklyn last Tuesday.
 
Cosic, who earned the Lai-Lynch Trophy as the game’s MVP, scored 11 of his 18 in the second half, including six straight points to give the Terriers a 75-70 lead with 7:12 to play.
 
The win was the second straight and 20th for SFBK in the series that dates back to 1976.
 
FDU MARKSMANSHIP
 
FDU has been letting it fly from three-point range in February with uncanny accuracy.
 
The Knights are shooting 45.4 percent from beyond the arc this month, hitting 69-of-152 shots over seven games.
 
FDU junior guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy) has provided the spark, sinking 16-of-30 three-point opportunities over the last five games. In that span, the Knights have averaged 81.8 ppg and 1.13 PPP.
 
FDU leads the NEC in league play with a 39.3 percent mark from distance.
 
SEAHAWKS CLAMPING DOWN
 
Entering the final week of play with a three-game win streak, it’s been Wagner’s defensive effort that has helped turned its season around.
 
The Seahawks have held their last three opponents to just 0.55 PPP, 39.9 percent shooting from the field and 29.8 percent accuracy from three-point territory. Wagner opponents have hit just 17 in total from long range during the streak.
 
STAT TRACKER
 
CCSU owned a 60-25 bench scoring advantage last week and have outscored opposing reserves in eight straight games.
 
In the past three games, CCSU sophomore Ian Krishnan (Boyds, MD/Proctor Academy (NH)) is 5-8 (.625) on three-pointers. He ranks third in the NEC in three-point shooting in league play at 45.9 percent and his 110 career three-pointers have him ranked just outside the all-time top-10 at Central.
 
FDU junior forward Elyjah Williams (Evanston, IL/Evanston) scored 17 points on an efficient 7-10 shooting, and added seven boards, three assists and three steals in the Knights’ 75-70 victory over RMU on Sunday.

Merrimack senior Jaleel Lord (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) scored his 1,000th career point last week at Bryant.
 
Mount St. Mary’s owned a 40-24 edge on the boards in its 65-57 win over Merrimack on Sunday. The Mount also turned the ball over just 11 times, the lowest total by a Warrior league rival this season.
 
RMU sophomore guard Dante Treacy (Orlando, FL/Central Florida Christian Academy) dropped a career-high 23 points at FDU on Sunday. He hit 5-7 shots from three-point range.
 
Sacred Heart sophomore guard Aaron Clarke (Parsippany, NJ/Pope John) continued his run of strong play, contributing 13.5 ppg and 4.0 apg in a Pioneer split last week.
 
St. Francis Brooklyn graduate student Unique McLean (Brooklyn, NY/The MacDuffie School (UMass)) posted his sixth double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Terriers’ Battle of Brooklyn win over LIU.
 
St. Francis Brooklyn freshman guard Rob Higgins (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) averaged 15.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg last week. He scored all 19 of his points in the second half of the Terriers’ win over LIU on Tuesday.
 
Wagner junior guard Elijah Ford (Newark, NJ/Weequahic (Barton CC)) scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down eight boards in the Green & White’s overtime win over SFBK on Sunday. After scoring 1.2 ppg in Wagner’s first five NEC contests, Ford has become one of the team’s most reliable scorers. Over the past 11 games, he’s averaging 13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg and shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
 
NEC in NCAA STATS (Top-25)
 
Name                   School      Category        Rank       Value
Hall Elisias           BRY         Blocks          16th       2.63
Adam Grant             BRY         3PFG            14th       3.10
Raiquan Clark          LIU         PPG             24th       20.3
Ty Flowers             LIU         Def. Reb.       5th        8.14
Ty Flowers             LIU         Dub-Dub         15th       14
Juvaris Hayes          MC          Steals          1st        3.87
Josh Williams          RMU         3PFG            16th       3.10
Josh Williams          RMU         3PFG%           16th       .417
E.J. Anosike           SHU         Reb.            9th        11.34
E.J. Anosike           SHU         Off. Reb.       8th        3.93
E.J. Anosike           SHU         Def. Reb.       18th       7.41
E.J. Anosike           SHU         Dub-Dub         9th        15
Jare’l Spellman        SHU         Blocks          18th       2.55
Isaiah Blackmon        SFU         3PFG%           11th       .438
 
Team                   Category          Rank       Value
Bryant                 Def. Reb.         17th       28.31
LIU                    3PFG              17th       9.72
Merrimack              TO Margin         4th        5.33
Merrimack              Steals            5th        9.97
Merrimack              TO Forced         14th       17.37
Robert Morris          Assists           14th       16.23
Sacred Heart           Off. Ref.         24th       12.48
Sacred Heart           Rebounding        11th       40.56
Saint Francis U        3PFG%             23rd       .373