NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rob Taylor II, Wagner
6’7”, 220 lbs.
So., F, Brooklyn, NY/St. Marks
Taylor II claims his first NEC Player of the Week honor after enjoying the finest two-game stretch of his young career. He averaged 18.0 points on a blistering 73.7 percent mark from the field and 80.0 percent showing from the stripe over just 24.5 minutes per outing. Taylor added 5.5 rpg for the Seahawks who recorded a home sweep to extend their win streak to three and pull into a three-way tie for fourth place in the NEC standings. He netted a game-high 17 points on 7-11 shooting in Friday’s 72-50 win over CCSU, then sank 7-8 shots and tied for game-high honors with 19 points as the Seahawks posted a 68-58 victory over SHU two days later. Taylor has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, averaging 13.4 ppg over that stretch. The Brooklyn product has contributed 11.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg and shot 62.7 percent against league rivals, and is at 7.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 58.2 percent accuracy on the year.
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Javon Bennett, Merrimack
5’11”
Fr., G, Orlando, FL/Trinity Prep
Bennett was a two-way force for Merrimack in its 63-55 win at St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday. He finished with 13 points, a career-high matching five assists and added four steals. The Orlando, FL native shot 3-6 from outside the arc, including a triple to ignite a 6-0 run that gave the Warriors a nine-point cushion with four minutes remaining. Bennett is the NEC leader with 2.8 steals per game, a figure that ranks him fifth nationally. He is also third nationally in steal percentage (6.27) and has posted double-digit steals in seven-of-eight NEC contests. Scoring-wise, Bennett stands fourth among NEC freshman at 7.4 ppg on the season.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Andre Snoddy (CCSU, So, F)
Dominant on the boards, Snoddy posted his fourth and fifth double-doubles of the season in a road swing through NYC. He averaged 13.5 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg and shot 52.4 percent from the floor. He had 14 points and a career and NEC single-game season-high 18 boards at Wagner on Friday, then finished with 13 points and 13 caroms in a win at LIU two days later. Snoddy is averaging 8.9 ppg, and ranks fourth in the league with 7.7 rpg. In league play, he has pulled down 11.3 rpg.
Demetre Roberts (FDU, Gr, G)
Roberts registered 18.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg and 3.5 spg last week. He rang up a team-high 27 points on 10-18 shooting overall and 4-7 from long range in Saturday’s seven-point setback to SHU. Roberts, who leads the NEC with 4.0 apg, also ranks second in scoring (17.1), and seventh in free throw percentage (.788) and made 3P (1.9/game).
Javon Bennett (MC, Fr, G)
Bennett excelled on both ends of the floor on Sunday, finishing with 13 points, a season-high tying five assists and four steals in a win at SFBK. He drilled 3-6 shots from outside the arc and made 2-2 from the stripe. Bennett is the NEC leader and ranks fourth nationally with 2.8 spg and averages 7.4 ppg.
Nico Galette (SHU, Jr, F)
Galette paced the Pios with 16.0 ppg to go along with 4.5 rpg. 4.0 apg and 3.0 spg in a nice all-around week for the junior forward. In SHU’s 92-85 win at previously unbeaten FDU on Friday, he made 8-12 shots and finished with 16 points. He added seven rebounds and a career-best seven assists. Galette is fourth in the NEC with 15.6 ppg, and his 6.6 rpg places him sixth in the conference.
Joey Reilly (SHU, Sr, G)
Reilly exploded for a career-high 29 points to lead the Pioneers to a 92-85 win at FDU that handed the Knights their first conference loss. He hit 9-13 shots overall and 4-7 from deep. For the week, he averaged 15.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.0 spg, and shot 52.6 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from long distance. Reilly, who has scored in double-digits in seven-of-eight NEC contests, is contributing 11.1 ppg on the year. He ranks seventh in the NEC in three-point accuracy (.388) and eighth in made 3P (1.8/game).
Josh Cohen (SFU, R-Jr, F)
Cohen was in top form in SFU’s 87-61 win over SFBK on Friday, hitting 8-10 from the field and 6-8 from the line during a game-high 22-point effort. He also pitched in with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 29 minutes. Cohen is the NEC;s top point producer and ranks ninth nationally with 21.5 ppg. He also paces the circuit in field goal percentage (.615) and is third in rebounding (8.2).
Ronell Giles, Jr. (SFU, Jr, G)
Giles, Jr. was a perfect 4-4 from three-point territory and netted a season-high 16 points in a home win over SFBK on Saturday. He added a pair of assists and finished 5-9 from the floor. Giles has averaged 15.0 ppg over his last two outings to bump his season average to 5.9 ppg. He is shooting 46.4 percent from three and has made 7 of his last 9 from deep.
Shamir Johnson (STO, Sr, G)
Johnson was electric in Stonehill’s comeback win at FDU on Sunday, scoring 20 of his career-best 23 points in the second half to complete the Skyhawks’ road sweep. He finished 5-7 from 3P range and 8-12 overall, and also tossed in six rebounds and three assists in a 28-minute stint off the bench. For the week, he averaged 12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 3.5 apg, and shot 50.0 percent from three-point territory and 56.3 percent from the field. Johnson is sixth in the league in both 3P makes (2.0/game) and 3P accuracy (.389), and averages 7.9 ppg.
Andrew Sims (STO, Sr, F)
Sims was unstoppable in Friday’s 73-66 win at LIU, unleashing his full arsenal of low post moves in a game-high 24-point performance. He sank 11-13 shots, and recorded seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a pair of steals. Sims converted at a 70.6 percent clip from the floor in the two wins, averaging 14.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.5 spg. The fifth-year senior is sixth in the NEC in scoring (14.8) and third in field goal shooting (.481).
Rahmir Moore (WC, Jr, G)
Moore helped lead the Seahawks to their third straight win with 19 points in 68-58 conquest of Sacred Heart on Sunday. He scored 13 in the second half, including a key 18-foot jumper with 1:41 to play that stretched the Seahawk advantage to five points. Moore finished 9-13 from the floor, and added three rebounds and a pair of steals. For the week, he chipped in 13.5 ppg on scorching 72.2 percent shooting, while averaging 2.5 rpg and 1.5 spg in just 23.5 mpg. Moore is giving Wagner 8.1 ppg on the year.
Rob Taylor II (WC, So, F)
Taylor II caught fire last week, hitting 14-19 (.737) from the field and 8-10 (.800) from the line on his way to an 18.0 ppg week. He also pulled down 5.5 rpg in Wagner’s home sweep. Taylor finished with a game-high 17 points on 7-11 shooting in Friday’s 72-50 win over CCSU and then sank 7-8 shots and tied for game-high honors with 19 points as the Seahawks posted a 68-58 victory over SHU. Taylor has reached double digits in four of his last five games, averaging 13.4 ppg over that stretch. He has contributed 11.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg and shot 62.7 percent against league rivals.
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 11
Here’s all you need to know from the 11th week of the 2022-23 season...
NEC DECK RESHUFFLES AFTER WILD WEEKEND
The top of the NEC standings has started to get a bit crowded.
Following a weekend that saw the last remaining NEC unbeaten go down and road teams win five-of-eight games, to say the race for a coveted top-four spot is wide open would be an understatement.
So how did it all go down?
FDU entered the week riding high in first place with a 5-0 mark. Set to embark on a three-game homestand, the Knights had hoped to build itself a cushion atop the NEC standings, but suffering defeats at the hands of Sacred Heart and Stonehill in a pair of entertaining contests.
In an absolute gem of a game that saw the Knights and Pioneers go shot-for-shot at various points down the stretch, Sacred Heart’s senior guard Joey Reilly (Cromwell, CT/East Catholic (Holy Cross)) scored 21 of his career-high 29 points in the second half, including the final eight points for Pios over the last 1:11 to secure the 92-85 win. SHU shot a blistering 74.2 percent and rang up 62 points in the second half to overcome a dogged FDU effort that saw Demetre Roberts (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon (St. Thomas Aquinas)) and Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)) combine for 53 points and a 9-14 mark from outside the arc.
Two days later, the Knights seemed to be cruising against Stonehill, building a 31-19 lead at the break. The Skyhawks, who two days earlier won at LIU - never wavered, and sparked by a truly magical performance from senior guard Shamir Johnson (Waterbury, CT/The Taft School), improbably turned a 16-point deficit into a 70-59 win at Stratis Arena. Stonehill shot 68.2 percent from the floor and 7-10 from outside the arc in a 52-point explosion over the final 20 minutes. Johnson scored 20 of his career-best 23 points in the second stanza and drilled 5-7 from deep, including a host of big shots down the stretch.
With the two losses, FDU (5-2 NEC) fell a half game behind first place Saint Francis U (5-1 NEC), which rolled to an 87-61 win over SFBK in its lone game last week. The Red Flash sank 12-17 (.706) from three-point land against the Terriers to improve their conversion rate to a white hot 45.6 from distance in NEC play and 38.6 percent overall, which ranks 18th in the country.
This now sets up a showdown between FDU and SFU in Hackensack on Thursday (7 pm/NEC Front Row) with sole possession of first place on the line.
After being swept at home last week, Stonehill reversed course with its road sweep, and now finds itself at 5-3 and just one game out of first place halfway through the Skyhawks’ inaugural NEC campaign. As a reminder, while Stonehill is ineligible for the NEC and NCAA postseason, the Skyhawks can still win the conference regular season crown - a la Merrimack in 2019-20 - and their games will count toward all tiebreaker scenarios when seeding the NEC Tournament.
Behind Stonehill, we have a three-way pileup in fourth place with Merrimack, Sacred Heart and Wagner all with 4-3 marks.
After opening 1-3 over the first two weeks of the season, Wagner has turned things around in a big way, reeling off three straight wins, including double-digit home victories over CCSU and Sacred Heart last week behind the much improved play of sophomore forward Rob Taylor II (Brooklyn, NY/St. Marks). The NEC Player of the Week averaged 18.0 ppg on 73.7 percent shooting in two wins. On the other end of the floor, the Seahawks limited their opponents to 54.0 ppg and a 5-31 (.161) ledger from long range.
Merrimack won its third straight road game on Sunday, pulling away down the stretch for a 63-55 triumph at SFBK in its only game last week. The Warriors are allowing a paltry 56.4 ppg and have posted a 89.1 defensive efficiency rating vs. NEC teams, both of which are league-leading figures.
Sacred Heart remained in the thick of the race with its split last week. After winning at FDU, the Pioneers cut a 15-point deficit down to three in the final minutes before falling at Wagner.
And to illustrate how compact things are, seventh place CCSU is just one game out of fourth after a 1-1 week that saw the Blue Devils register a convincing 62-48 win at LIU.
As always, there are more questions than answers as we hit the halfway point of what promises to be a wild finish to the conference season over the next five weeks.
COHEN CLAIMS SPOT ON OSCAR ROBERTSON WATCH LIST
Awarded annually to the outstanding men’s college basketball player by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), the Oscar Robertson Award is considered to be the oldest of its kind and has been given out since 1959.
And this year, one of the NEC’s brightest talents is under consideration for the prestigious honor.
Saint Francis U redshirt junior forward Josh Cohen (Lincroft, NJ/CBA) earned a spot on the coveted 50-player Oscar Robertson Award Midseason Watch List, which was announced last Thursday.
He is believed to be the first player in NEC history to be named to the Watch List.
“This is a tremendous honor for Josh and he has worked hard to position himself as one of the best players in the country,” said Saint Francis head coach Rob Krimmel. “His passion for winning and his desire to be great are unmatched. Josh’s growth as a player parallels his growth as a leader of our program. He is very deserving to be included in this elite group of finalists for the Oscar Robertson Award.”
Cohen leads the NEC and ranks ninth nationally with 21.5 ppg. He also paces the NEC and is 20th nationally in field goal accuracy (.615) and is the league’s second-leading rebounder (8.2).
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the award. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2023 Men’s Final Four in Houston with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
POINT PRODUCTION PICK UP
After one month of NEC regular season play, it seems like an opportune time to examine the players who have made the most significant strides in scoring compared to last season.
Top-10 Most Improved Scorers 2021-22 2022-23 Improvement
Ansley Almonor (FDU) 3.5 14.7 +11.2
Andre Washington (LIU) 1.8 12.8 +11.0
Josh Cohen (SFU) 12.9 21.5 +8.6
Joey Reilly (SHU) 4.7 11.1 +6.4
Javier Ezquerra (WC) 1.6 7.4 +5.8
Rob Taylor II (WC) 2.4 7.6 +5.2
Joe Munden Jr. (FDU) 4.9 9.9 +5.0
Quion Burns (LIU) 3.2 7.6 +4.4
Mike Sixsmith (SHU) 4.4 8.7 +4.3
Delonnie Hunt (WC) 8.4 11.6 +3.2
Nico Galette (SHU) 12.4 15.6 +3.2
It’s a two-way race at this point for the biggest scoring jumps between LIU sophomore guard Andre Washington (Staten Island, NY/Williston Northampton) and FDU sophomore forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)).
Almonor, who ranks third on the Knights with 14.7 ppg, has lifted his scoring average 11.2 points, while Washington has jumped 11.0 ppg to 12.8 ppg on the year, which is second on the Sharks.
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 TV package or on NEC Front Row.
When the LIU Brooklyn-St. Francis Brooklyn rivalry is renewed on Saturday at 7 pm at the ARC, neighborhood bragging rights will once again be at stake when the two teams matchup live on NEC Front Row. But can the game top these LIU-SFBK thrillers?
2022 - After Michael Cubbage hit an NBA range triple to make it a one possession game, LIU’s Eral Penn delivered the dagger on a monstrous two-handed slam with 19 seconds remaining in a game that saw Penn (24) and Ty Flowers (32) combine for 56 points in a 74-69 win. There were seven second half lead changes in the contest.
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 Sharks 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 Sharks. 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 Sharks come back from five down with under three 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 Sharks 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 Sharks 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 Sharks. 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 Sharks 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 Sharks 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.
UP NEXT ON NEC-TV
The NEC’s four-game men’s package on CBS Sports Network opens on Thursday in a battle of New York City rivals.
The Spiro Sports Center will be the site on Thursday when St. Francis Brooklyn crosses the Verrazano to take on Wagner. Tipoff is 5:00 pm with Dave Popkin (PxP), Joe DeSantis (analyst) and Paul Dottino (sideline) on the call.
Two days later, FDU visits Merrimack in a 3:00 pm tip on ESPN3. Dottino (PxP) and DeSantis (analyst) are in the booth.
The 13-game men’s TV package includes four linear telecasts on CBSSN and one on ESPNU. Five regular season games will be broadcast on ESPN3/ESPN+.
The NEC semifinals are set to be carried on SNY and ESPN3 on March 4, and the final on ESPN or ESPN2 on March 7.
DERKACK IN GOOD COMPANY
The numbers Merrimack freshman guard Jordan Derkack (Colonia, NJ/Colonia (Spire Academy)) registered in Sunday’s win over St. Francis Brooklyn may not have jumped off the page upon initial glance, but dig a little deeper and they begin to come to life.
Derkack finished with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in an all-around effort that was a rarity on a national basis.
The Colonia, NJ native became just the 21st player this season to finish with at least 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game against a DI opponent.
CCSU DEFENSIVE DEEP DIVE
CCSU delivered a lockdown defensive effort in its 58-42 win over LIU on Sunday, leaving a trail of superlatives in the aftermath.
- The 42 points allowed was the first time the Blue Devils conceded fewer than 50 points since a 56-47 win at Hartford on December 6, 2014.
- CCSU permitted its fewest points overall since a 60-34 win over Bryant on February 4, 2010.
- The Blue Devils allowed just 0.65 PPP, the best single-game performance since Bryant generated 0.61 PPP in the aforementioned game
- CCSU held the Sharks to 28.6 percent shooting, the lowest single-game defensive percentage by a Blue Devil team since Maine shot 27.3 percent on December 20, 2017.
KRAUS REACHES MILESTONE
Friday night’s win at LIU marked the 250th game for Chris Kraus as head coach at Stonehill.
His 251 career games as head coach ranks third all-time in Stonehill history behind Ray Pepin (312) and David McLaughlin (288).
Kraus improved to 139-112 (.554) at the helm of the Skyhawks with their two road wins over the weekend.
HOME (NOT SO) SWEET HOME
NEC teams haven’t exactly enjoyed a home court advantage this season.
Home teams have posted a 15-17 (.469) record thus far in conference play.
The last time conference teams compiled a sub-.500 record at home was back in 2007-08, when they finished with a 45-54 mark (.455).
At 4-0, Saint Francis U is the lone team with a perfect home record against NEC rivals. Dating back to non-conference play, the Red Flash have won five straight at the Stokes Cener for the eighth time during head coach Rob Krimmel’s tenure.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
When CCSU sophomore forward Andre Snoddy (Melville, NY/St. Anthony’s (St. Thomas More (CT))) grabbed 18 boards at Wagner on Saturday, it was the most by a Blue Devil since Tyler Kohl snared 16 rebounds at Wagner on February 1, 2018.
After a 13-point, 13-rebound showing, Snoddy has now averaged 12.8 ppg and 10.8 rpg in four career outings against LIU.
With three first half jams at LIU on Sunday, CCSU junior swingman Kellen Amos (Houston, TX/St. John XXIII College Prep (Binghamton)) now has a league-leading 29 dunks on the season.
FDU graduate student guard Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)) drilled 5-7 shots from three-point land and rang up an FDU career-high 26 points against Sacred Heart on Friday.
LIU sophomore guard Marko Maletic (London, Ontario/Saunders Secondary School (Laramie County CC)) hit five more shots from downtown and led the Sharks with 13.5 ppg on the week. He remains well ahead of the NEC pack and sits 15th nationally with 3.2 triples per game.
LIU redshirt senior guard Tre’ Wood (Largo, MD/St. John’s College (UMass)) dished for his 200th career assist in an LIU uniform last week after averaging 4.0 dimes per game.
Merrimack senior forward Jordan Minor (Kingston, MA/Brimmer and May) led the Warriors with 14 points on 7-11 from the floor, and compiled four boards, two assists and three blocks against St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday.
Merrimack posted 15 steals in its win at SFBK on Sunday, its sixth double-digit steal game out of seven in league play. The Warriors also forced 23 turnovers, the most in an NEC game this season.
Sacred Heart junior forward Bryce Johnson (Stockton, CA/St. Mary’s (Pomfret)) is one rebound shy of reaching 500 for his career.
Sacred Heart graduate student guard Raheem Solomon (Hartford, CT/Sacred Heart HS (Niagara)) posted his top-two NEC scoring performances of the season last week with 14 in the Pios’ win at FDU followed by 15 at Wagner.
Saint Francis U shot 60.4 percent from the floor (33-53) and a sizzling 70.6 percent from behind the arc (12-17) in its win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday. It marked the first time SFU hit at least 60 percent against a DI opponent since converting at a 60.4 percent clip vs. Stony Brook on December 2, 2017. The Red Flash’s mark from behind the arc was it’s best on the season, exceeding the 66.7 percent success rate (14-21) in its win over CCSU on December 29.
St. Francis Brooklyn redshirt freshman guard Zion Bethea (South Orange, NJ/Immaculate Conception (Hofstra)) averaged 13.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 spg on the week for the Terriers. He is averaging 11.8 points over his last five games.
St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Trey Quartlebaum (Lawrence, KS/Lawrence) compiled a season-high 17 points and sank 4-6 from distance against Merrimack on Sunday.
Stonehill senior guard Isaiah Burnett (Annapolis, MD/Glenelg Country Day (Navy)) filled up the stat sheet to the tune of 14.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.0 spg in two road wins for the Skyhawks. He scored all 15 of his points in the second half of Sunday’s 70-59 win at FDU, draining eight straight free throws to help seal the win. Burnett extended his streak with at least one steal to 28 straight games dating back to last year.
Stonehill shot 51.6 percent from the field in its two road wins last week.
Wagner senior forward Darrius Hughes (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst (Omaha)) netted a season-high 10 points against CCSU on Friday. He made 4-5 shots from the field.
Wagner held opponents to 5-31 (.161) shooting from beyond the arc and posted a +8.5 rebound margin in its two wins last week.
QUOTABLE
“Getting that first home win in front of everybody was a big deal to us tonight. The fans give us big support. It gives us a big energy boost for sure. Our band is awesome. They are always here to support us. Just seeing all of our alumni, fans and kids coming in to support us gives us a big responsibility to give our best effort for them.” - SFU junior guard Maxwell Land (Cincinnati, OH/Archbishop Moeller) on the home crowd in Friday’s win over SFBK
FLOWERS SIGNS BBL DEAL
An NEC great has added his name to the long list of #NECinthePros performers.
LIU's Ty Flowers, who competed from 2018-22, signed last week with the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, a member of the British Basketball League.
He scored three points in 13 minutes in his Sheffield debut on Friday,
Flowers also had a brief stint in the NBA G League back in November, playing in two games for Ontario.
Flowers earned distinction as one of just three players in league history to earn four All-NEC honors, joining NEC Hall of Famer Chris McGuthrie and former NEC Player of the Year and Saint Francis U legend Keith Braxton.
On the NEC all-time chart, Flowers ranks 20th in scoring (1,770), 14th in rebounding (900) and 18th in three-pointers (250). He became the first DI player over the last 30 years to accumulate 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 250 assists, 200 three-pointers, 150 blocks and 150 steals over the course of his career.
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.
Wagner junior guard Rahmir Moore (Philadelphia, PA/RISE Prep (Saint Joseph’s)) has broken out of a scoring slump in unique fashion, with an embrace and mastery of the mid-range game. Over his last three contests - all wins over Merrimack, CCSU and Sacred Heart - Moore has converted 14-of-19 shots inside the arc, with four of those makes counting as “long two-point jumpers” and five as “short two-point jumpers” per Synergy. Moore’s past two performances at home are his best games in terms of KenPom offensive efficiency, as he registered ORtg scores of 168 and 132, respectively.
In its dominant home win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, Saint Francis U registered a Bart Torvik Game Score of 82, easily a season high. After posting a paltry effective field goal percentage of 36 percent in an offensively challenged road loss at Sacred Heart, Rob Krimmel’s group responded in a big way by nearly doubling that eFG percentage with a mark of 71.7 percent on Friday. The Red Flash scored 1.26 points per possession in the victory and were nearly perfect in transition, hitting 7-of-9 near the rim and 2-of-4 from deep in those fast break opportunities, according to Hoop Math.
Sacred Heart’s plan to attack FDU’s full court press with over the top passes worked in its road upset last Friday, as the Pioneers posted an effective field goal percentage of 86.6 percent when attempting shots in transition sets. Eight of the Pioneers’ 17 assists were made in those situations, as Nico Galette (Rahway, NJ/Rutgers Prep) led the way with four transition assists. Frontcourt starter Bryce Johnson (Stockton, CA/St. Mary’s (Pomfret)) led the Pioneers in high-tempo scoring by making 5-of-6 shots when getting out in the open floor.
Merrimack currently leads the entire nation in steal rate by getting a steal on 15.9 percent of its opponent’s possessions. In league play, that number actually swells to 17.1 percents, which if it holds would be the highest steal rate ever in NEC league play in the entire KenPom era dating back to the 2001-02 season. The current season best was when Merrimack executed a steal on more than 15 percent of its opponent’s possessions in the Warriors’ magical 2019-20 championship season. Currently, three Warriors - Javon Bennett (Orlando, FL/Trinity Prep), Devon Savage (Washington, D.C./Riverdale Baptist (JMU)) and Jordan Derkack (Colonia, NJ/Colonia (Spire Academy)) - are among the nation’s top 30 Division I players in steal rate.
NEC IN NATIONAL LEADERS (TOP-25)
Team Category Rank Value
FDU TO Margin 14th 4.6
MC Steals 4th 10.62
MC TO Forced 15th 17.52
WC Off. Reb. 21st 12.94
WC Scoring Defens 24th 61.9
SFU 3P% 18th .386
Individual Category Rank Value
Javon Bennett, MC Steals 4th 2.76
Isaiah Burnett, STO Steals 8th 2.64
Josh Cohen, SFU FG% 20th .615
Josh Cohen, SFU Scoring 9th 21.5
Marko Maletic, LIU 3P 15th 3.21