NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grant Singleton, FDU
5’9”, 163 lbs.
Gr., G, Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)
One of the NEC’s top newcomers, Singleton comes off a superb week that saw him average 21.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals in an FDU split. He converted at a 48.3 percent rate from the field and shot 50.0 percent from three-point distance, making 9-of-18 shots. After leading the Knights with 19 points and seven assists at Hartford on Wednesday, Singleton matched his season-high with 24 points in a convincing 97-80 victory at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. He shot 7-12 in the contest, made 4-7 from outside the arc and was a perfect 6-6 from the line. The graduate student from Sumter, SC put the game out of reach in the final three minutes, hitting a pair of back-breaking three-pointers. Singleton ranks fifth on the circuit in scoring (16.2), third in made three-pointers (2.4), fourth in free throw percentage (.870) and steals (2.0), sixth in assists (3.0) and tenth in field goal accuracy (.457).
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Cam Gregory, Saint Francis U
6’5”, 165 lbs.
Fr., G, Accokeek, MD/The Steward School (VA)
Gregory joined two-time honoree Landon Moore as NEC Rookie of the Week winners for the Red Flash this season. The Accokeek, MD native averaged 10.5 ppg, 4.0 ppg and committed just two turnovers in 65 minutes over two games. He shot 53.3 percent from the floor and was a red-hot 5-7 (.714) from long range. Gregory scored a career-high 15 points on 6-11 shooting overall and a 3-4 mark from deep in Saturday’s game at #25 Ohio State. He added three assists and a steal. Gregory, who has started eight-of-nine games, boosted his scoring production to 5.8 ppg and ranks seventh in the NEC in three-point percentage at 41.7 percent.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Andre Snoddy (CCSU, So, F)
Snoddy nearly averaged a double-double with 11.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg in games against Brown and Holy Cross. His 13 boards against Brown were a season-high and one off his career-best.
Ansley Almonor (FDU, So, F)
Almonor supplied the Knights with 15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg in a split. The soph rang up 19 points on 7-13 from the field and 3-6 from long range, as well as five boards and four dimes in Saturday’s 97-80 win at Saint Joseph’s. Almonor has scored in double digits in seven straight contests to lift his scoring average from 3.5 ppg as a freshman to 14.1 ppg this season.
Demetre Roberts (FDU, Gr, G)
Roberts recorded 17.5 ppg on 54.5 percent shooting that included a 5-9 mark (.556) from three-point territory over two games last week. He added 3.5 rpg, 5.0 apg and 1.5 spg. Roberts poured in an FDU career-best 24 points on an efficient 8-10 from the floor, 4-5 from 3P range and 4-4 from the stripe in Saturday’s victory over Saint Joseph’s. The grad student is fourth in the NEC in scoring (16.9) and leads the league with 4.4 apg.
Grant Singleton (FDU, Gr, G)
Singleton comes off a superb week that saw him average 21.5 ppg, 4.5 apg and 2.5 spg, while converting at a 48.3 percent clip from the field and 50.0 percent from deep, where he drilled 9-18 shots. The NEC Player of the Week led the Knights with 19 points and seven assists at Hartford on Wednesday, then matched his season-high with 24 points and hit 4-7 three-point opportunities in a convincing 97-80 victory at Saint Joseph’s three days later. Singleton ranks fifth on the circuit with 16.2 ppg.
Quion Burns (LIU, So, G)
Burns led the Sharks with 15.0 ppg on 44.4 percent shooting in games against St. John’s and Towson. He also chipped in with 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.0 spg. Burns tied for game-scoring honors with 18 points vs. the Tigers on Friday.
Jordan Minor (MC, Sr, F)
The two-time All-NEC honoree and Preseason All-NEC pick didn’t miss a beat after missing six games, averaging 23.0 ppg on 59.4 percent shooting, combined with 8.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 3.5 bpg upon his return last week. He finished with 21 points and six boards vs. BU on Friday, then dropped a season-high 25 points and 10 boards in Saturday’s outing against Vermont.
Nico Galette (SHU, Jr, F)
Galette finished with 17.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg and 2.7 spg in a 2-1 week for the Pioneers. He recorded back-to-back double-doubles, including a 17-point, 13-rebound effort Wednesday’s 66-61 win at New Hampshire. The 13 boards were a season-high. Galette ranks in the NEC top-five in scoring (17.1, third), rebounding (7.7, fourth), steals (2.2, third), blocks (1.1, fourth) and double-doubles (two, first).
Rob Higgins (SFBK, Sr, G)
Higgins was one of six double-digit scorers for the Terriers in an 81-73 win over Delaware State on Wednesday. He scored six of his team-best 15 points over the final 3:18. Higgins hit 6-14 from the field, and added two assists and two steals.
Josh Cohen (SFU, R-Jr, F)
Cohen continued to shine last week with 18.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg and 57.7 percent shooting from the field. The redshirt junior posted his first double-double of the year on Saturday, compiling 18 points and a season-high 10 boards at #25 Ohio State. Cohen is the NEC leader in scoring (20.1) and ranks second in field goal percentage (.648).
Andrew Sims (STO, Gr, F)
Sims recorded his fourth 20+ point scoring outing of the season with a game-high 22 in Saturday’s 69-66 win at Binghamton. He recorded 18.0 ppg on 52.6 shooting from the floor and made 15-19 (.789) from the line in the 2-0 week for the Skyhawks. Sims is the NEC’s second-leading scorer (17.6), and is fifth in FG percentage (.505) and FT percentage (.849).
Max Zegarowski (STO, Gr, F)
Zegarowski furnished the Skyhawks with 20.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.0 bpg in a 2-0 week. He shot 52.0 percent, and went 8-18 (.444) from downtown and 6-6 from the line. Zegarowski made 6-11 three-point shots on his way to a career-high 28-point night against Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday. He has scored in double figures in four straight to boost his season average to 13.8 ppg.
Delonnie Hunt (WC, Jr, G)
Hunt tallied a game-high 17 points that included a 3-6 mark from beyond the arc in a setback at Army on Saturday. He added six rebounds and three assists. Hunt leads the Seahawks with 12.0 ppg on the year.
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 4
Here’s all you need to know from the fourth week of the 2022-23 season...
KNIGHTS SLAY HAWKS IN PHILLY
Entering Saturday’s contest with something to prove at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, FDU looked anything but an underdog, taking down the Hawks in impressive fashion with a 97-80 victory at Hagan Arena.
It was a signature win for first-year head coach Tobin Anderson, who in ten games has already matched last season’s win total for the Knights.
Leading 69-67 with just over seven minutes to play, the Knights went on a 12-1 run to break the game open and NEC Player of the Week Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)) helped seal the deal with a pair of three-pointers in the final minutes.
Singleton and fellow grad student Demetre Roberts (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon (St. Thomas Aquinas)) each scored a season-high 24 points in the win, combining to shoot 15-22 from the field, 8-12 from three-point range and 10-10 from the line.
Sophomore forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)) added 19 points.
The Knights finished 12-24 from distance, shot a scorching 57.6 percent from the field and recorded a season-best 1.35 PPP.
The 97 points were the most for FDU against a DI opponent since posting a 106-73 win over Wagner on December 13, 2020 and its highest total in a road game since a 98-92 triumph at Lafayette on November 17, 2007.
Ironically, it was FDU’s first win over an A10 opponent since the Knights secured a 58-57 win over Saint Joe’s in the program’s 2014-15 season opener. That game ended on a Mustafa Jones game-winning triple with four seconds to play.
After falling at Hartford earlier in the week, Anderson expressed a sense of relief and pride after the game.
“I’m proud of us to come down here...our back was against the wall a little bit. We needed a win for our overall temperament, for our mojo, to get our mojo back. We needed this win and I thought our guys played great together. We were missing Heru (Bligen) and every guy that played was terrific.”
NEC BIG SHOT OF THE WEEK: STONEHILL’S MACK DOES IT AGAIN
Exactly two weeks after sinking Holy Cross on a drive and bucket with two seconds to play, it was déjà vu for Stonehill’s Josh Mack (Winchester, VA/Saint Maria Goretti).
This time the scene took place at Binghamton on Saturday.
After the Bearcats made up a four-point deficit in the final 18 seconds to tie things up at 66 on a bucket with five seconds on the clock, the Skyhawks didn’t flinch.
Without a timeout, Stonehill moved the ball quickly up the court and Cole Bergen (Aberdeen, SC/Aberdeen Central (Northern State)) spotted Mack on the left wing. The grad student guard immediately let it fly from NBA range, and the ball splashed at the buzzer to give Skyhawks the 69-66 win.
The victory was the third away from home for Stonehill on the year. The Skyhawks recorded an 82-77 win at Army on November 12 and the Holy Cross win came at Fordham in a neutral site affair.
Graduate student Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape Regional) led the way with 22 points.
“What can you say about our guys, that game?” said Stonehill head coach Chris Kraus after the win. “Josh Mack, our senior, our leader, the second buzzer beater for him. He did it against Holy Cross two weeks ago and then that one there, which is pretty amazing. Just proud of our group. They’re fighting, we’re competing. We shot the ball so well today. Binghamton did a good job defensively, but we’ve got the ability to score. When we move the ball and we play like that, we’re a pretty good team.”
FDU’S HIGH-SCORING QUARTET
There are no shortage of go-to players when FDU’s Tobin Anderson needs a bucket.
After ten games, the Knights currently sport four of the NEC’s top-eight scorers who have impressively combined for 61.4 points per game.
FDU Players In NEC Top-10 Scoring
4. Demetre Roberts 16.9 ppg
5. Grant Singleton 16.2 ppg
7. Heru Bligen 14.2 ppg
8. Ansley Almonor 14.1 ppg
The quartet currently account for 72.7 percent of FDU’s scoring on the year.
In the 41-year history of the NEC heading into this season, no team had ever ended the year with four players ranked in the conference top-10 in scoring.
HANDLE WITH CARE
Merrimack senior guard Mykel Derring (Boston, MA/Proctor Academy) has a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding marksman from deep, but he also been elite in his ability not to turn over the ball this season.
Derring committed his first turnover of the campaign on Friday after playing 200 minutes of error-free hoops.
On the year, he has coughed the ball up just once in 227 minutes. Derring is one of just ten players nationwide who have played at least 20 minutes per game and have one or fewer turnovers on the season.
Over the course of Derring’s career, he has turned the ball over just 44 times in 88 career games covering 1,905 minutes.
STONEHILL SHOOTING STARS
Stonehill currently leads the NEC in field goal percentage (.465), three-point percentage (.382), free throw percentage (.830) and effective field goal percentage (.523).
The Skyahwks continue to rank first in the nation in free throw percentage.
SFBK SOARS IN ARC DEBUT
After ending its long run on Remsen St. and Daniel Lynch ‘38 Gymnasium with a rousing win over Saint Peter’s on November 19, St. Francis Brooklyn christened its new home in much the same way last Wednesday.
Making their debut at the ARC on the campus of Pratt Institute, the Terriers jumped out to 20-point first half lead against Delaware State and then held off a Hornet second half rally to come out on top, 81-73, to improve to 3-0 at home this season.
Nursing a five-point lead, Tedrick Wilcox Jr. (Pawtucket, RI/William E. Tolman (Dominican)) split the DSU defense and spotted Josiah Harris (New Castle, DE/William Penn (Hutchinson CC/Cowley College)) for the dagger dunk with 40 seconds remaining to help ensure the win.
Six players scored in double digits for SFBK, led by a Rob Higgins (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) 15-point effort.
FAMILY REUNION IN COLUMBUS
It was more than just a game for Saint Francis U sophomore guard Brendan Scanlon (State College, PA/Saint Joseph’s) and his family on Saturday.
With the Red Flash making the trip to #25 Ohio State, Scanlon had the opportunity to share the court with his grandfather, Gary Milliken, who played at OSU and was a member of the Buckeyes’ 1960 NCAA championship team.
Milliken and Scanlon were recognized at halfcourt together in a pregame ceremony. Scanlon played two minutes and notched his first career steal in the game.
CAUSING CHAOS
Per KenPom, Merrimack’s defense is currently sixth in the nation in steal percentage (.155), 14th in turnover percentage (.257). The Warriors are also 14th in steals per game (10.6) and 34th in turnover forced (17.4).
MINOR’S BACK FOR THE MACK
After missing six games, Merrimack senior forward Jordan Minor (Kingston, MA/Brimmer and May) made an immediate impact upon his return last week.
The preseason All-NEC pick and two-time conference all-star stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 23.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.5 bpg and 1.0 spg, while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor.
Minor accounted for 47.4 percent of Merrimack’s points against Boston U and Vermont.
Having played four games this season, the Kingston, MA native will need to take the court in the next 14 contests to reach the 75 percent participation threshold and appear among NEC stat leaders.
BLIGEN BLISTERING FROM FIELD
FDU senior guard Heru Bligen (Glenn Dale, MD/St. Andrew’s Episcopal (Longwood/Garden City CC)) has been an efficient offensive force in his first year with the Knights and shows no sign of slowing down.
Over his last five games, Bligen has converted at a remarkable 75.0 percent from the floor, where he has made 30-of-40 attempts.
Last week, he made 6-7 shots in a 12-point outing at Hartford.
For the season, Bligen - who stands at just 6’2” - ranks first in the NEC and 20th nationally in shooting accuracy at 65.4 percent.
CCSU’S HIGH FLYER
CCSU newcomer Kellen Amos (Houston, TX/Binghamton) has been busy showing off his hops.
According to BartTorvik.com, the junior guard leads the NEC with 11 dunks this season, which is currently five more than any other player in the conference.
LIU’S MALETIC DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
LIU newcomer Marko Maletic (London, Ontario/Saunders Secondary School (Laramie County CC)) has already made his mark as a three-point marksman.
After hitting seven more last week, the sophomore transfer leads the NEC and ranks 17th nationally with 3.43 made triples per game.
If Maletic was to maintain this pace for the remainder of the season, he would finish with the most three-pointers per contest in the conference since CCSU all-time great Tristan Blackwood made 3.50 per game back in the 2007-08 campaign.
NEC ANALYTICS ZONE WITH RYAN PETERS
Each week throughout the 2022-23 season, NEC Overtime! blogger and NEC on the Run podcast collaborator Ryan Peters (@pioneer_pride) will contribute a series of analytically based tidbits covering NEC hoops.
After its standout victory at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, FDU is now posting the NEC’s best adjusted offensive efficiency with a mark of 100.3 points per 100 possessions. The figure was bolstered by the Knights scoring a season high 1.35 points per possession (PPP) against the Hawks in the 97-80 victory. Tobin Anderson’s club has now scored at least 1.20 PPP in four games this season, with Stonehill as the next closest, having accomplished the feat twice.
Speaking of FDU, sophomore forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)) has done well to serve as Anderson’s “small ball” five man for the Knights. Almonor has now reached double figures in scoring in seven straight games after reaching the threshold three times as a freshman. His KenPom offensive rating of 120.7 is 248th among DI players, thanks to a miniscule turnover rate of 10.1 percent (205th in DI) and a remarkable conversion rate on shots next to the basket. According to Hoop Math, Almonor has made 24-of-26 shots near the rim for a league leading 92.3 percent.
LIU’s Quion Burns (White Plains, NY/White Plains) had the best game of his young career last Saturday in a hard fought home loss versus Towson, registering 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The athletic sophomore wing did his damage all over the floor, going 1-for-1 near the rim, 3-for-6 on his mid-range jumpers and 3-for-7 from deep. According to Bart Torvik, Burns posted a Box Plus Minus of +5.3, which was second for LIU in the game behind sharpshooter Marko Maletic (London, Ontario/Saunders Secondary School (Laramie County CC)) (+6.3), who also scored 18 points.
Through roughly one month, the NEC projects as a league that’s comfortable getting out in transition. Of the nine teams in the league, six are in the top half of tempo per game according to KenPom. Sacred Heart leads the way with 71.6 possessions per game (37th nationally), while LIU (71.2, 47th) and FDU (70.1, 82nd) round out the conference’s top-three. The Sharks have best taken advantage of their fast break opportunities among the trio, posting an effective field goal percentage of 58.8 percent in those situations. Tre’ Wood (Largo, MD/St. John’s College HS (UMass)) and the aforementioned Burns are shooting a combined 61.9 percent in transition in the young season.
STAT ATTACK
CCSU junior swingman Kellen Amos (Houston, TX/Binghamton) scored a team-high 20 points, and added five caroms, two assists and a steal at Holy Cross on Saturday.
FDU’s league-leading +4.9 turnover margin ranks 26th nationally.
LIU freshman guard R.J. Greene (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) extended his double-digit scoring streak to four games with 13 points at St. John’s and 12 more against Towson last week. He ranks second among NEC freshmen with 10.1 ppg.
Merrimack senior swingman Ziggy Reid (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul’s School) drained a career-high six three-pointers in a game-high 22-point effort against UMass Lowell last Wednesday.
Sacred Heart graduate student guard Raheem Solomon (Hartford, CT/Sacred Heart HS (Niagara)) dropped a career-high 26 points last Monday against Western New England. He also set a career-best with six steals and matched a career-high with five three-pointers (in eight attempts).
St. Francis Brooklyn junior forward Josiah Harris (New Castle, DE/William Penn (Hutchinson CC/Cowley College)) is 21st nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (.164) and is the NEC leader with 9.1 rpg.
Saint Francs U redshirt junior forward Josh Cohen (Lincroft, NJ/CBA) is one of 27 players in NCAA DI averaging 20.0 ppg and is the NEC leader in point production. Cohen also ranks 22nd nationally in field goal accuracy at 64.8 percent.
Stonehill graduate student guard Shamir Johnson (Waterbury, CT/The Taft School) continues to pace the NEC in three-point proficiency, having hit 21-39 for a 53.8 percent success rate. On Saturday, he hit 3-4 from deep in the Skyhawks’ last-second win at Binghamton.
Wagner senior guard Brandon Brown (Memphis, TN/White Station (Arkansas Pine Bluff)) set a new career-high with five steals at Army on Saturday. He also contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
Wagner ranks 28th nationally with 13.4 offensive rebounds per game.