NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ansley Almonor, FDU    
6’7”, 219 lbs.
Jr., F, Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)
Almonor provided the offensive spark for the Knights in their third road win of the year, a 76-71 comeback victory over Manhattan on Friday. Almonor, the NEC’s Most Improved Player last season and a Preseason All-NEC honoree, scored a game-high 24 points and added eight rebounds, two assists and a block. He converted 8-16 shot opportunities, including three from long range, as FDU pushed its record back over .500. Almonor ignited FDU’s rally from a 12-point deficit, scoring 12 points in an eight minute span, culminating with a three-pointer with 8:39 to play that gave the Knights their first lead of the second half.  Almonor currently leads the league with 2.73 three-pointers per game and 30 triples on the season. He also ranks second in scoring (15.9), eighth in rebounding (5.7), and ninth in both three-point percentage (,357) and free throw percentage (.750). His four 20+ outings are tied for most on the circuit.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Eli Wilborn, Saint Francis U
6’8”, 215 lbs.
Fr., F, Middletown, CT/Middletown
Wilborn repeated as NEC Rookie of the Week after another strong outing in Saint Francis U’s tightly contest setback at Iona on Sunday. The Middletown, CT native recorded his league-leading third double-double of the season with 10 points, a career-best 13 rebounds and a career-high tying three blocks. Wilborn made 5-7 shots from the field, including a layup with 3:22 remaining that gave the Red Flash their last lead of the game. All three of his double-doubles have come in the last five games and he has averaged 9.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg and converted at a 61.5 percent clip from the floor over his last six outings. On the year, Wilborn paces all NEC freshmen and ranks in the conference top-10 in rebounds (6.1, sixth), blocks (1.5, fourth) and field goal percentage (.564, fourth), while putting up 7.4 ppg. 

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
 
Allan Jeanne-Rose (CCSU, Gr, F)
Last week: 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 45.8 FG%

- Posted his first career double-double, recording 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at Boston College on Tuesday.
- Ranks fourth in the league in scoring (15.1) and second in field goal accuracy (.584)

Jordan Jones (CCSU, Sr, G)
Last week: 15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 46.2 FG%, 37.5 3PFG%

- Scored a season-high 19 points on 8-15 shooting at Boston College on Tuesday.
- Averaging 16.0 ppg while shooting at a 50.0 percent clip from the floor over his last four games.
- Contributing 10.1 ppg, and his 2.7 apg ranks eighth in the league.

Ansley Almonor (FDU, Jr, F)
Last week: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 8-16 FG, 3-8 3PFG vs. Manhattan

- Logged his fourth 20+ point game of the season in 76-71 win over Jaspers.
- Recorded sixth game of 3+ three-pointers.
- Leads conference with 30 3P and 2.7 triples per game.
- Ranks second in NEC in scoring (15.9) and eighth in rebounding (5.7).
- NEC Player of the Week

DeVante Jamison (FDU, Gr, G)
Last week: 12 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals vs. Manhattan

- Scored key bucket on layup with 1:16 to play to put Knights up three in road win.
- Matched season high in steals and finished one shy of season-best in assists.
- Paces NEC with 5.1 apg and 2.22 A/TO ratio ranks second in league.

Luke Sutherland (LEM, Gr, F)
Last week: 26.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 61.3 FG%, 57.1 3PFG%

- Exploded for a career and NEC single-game season-high 35 points at Binghamton on Saturday, hitting 12-17 from the floor and 5-7 from downtown.
- Registered a 61/57/100 shooting slash for the week.
- Moved up to third in the NEC in scoring with 15.9 ppg.
- Leads the conference in free throw accuracy at 91.2 percent (31-of-34)

Tai Strickland (LIU, Gr, G)
Last week: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals vs. #15 Miami (FL)

- Matched career-high with four steals and his nine rebounds were one shy of his career-best.
- Ranks second on Sharks with 12.6 ppg.

Jordan Derkack (MC, So, G)
Last week: 13.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 56.3 FG%

- Dished for nine assists against Felician on Saturday to equal his career-high.
- Matched season-high with nine rebounds at Florida on Tuesday.
- Leads NEC with 16.9 ppg and ranks in NEC top-10 in rebounding (6.7, fourth), assists, (2.9, seventh), steals (2.3, second) and field goal percentage (.505, ninth).

Cam Gregory (SFU, So, G)
Last week: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks at Iona

- Set career-highs in rebounds, steals and blocks against the Gaels on Sunday.
- Has posted double figure scoring totals six times this season.
- Leads SFU with 12.3 ppg, 1.9 apg and 1.4 spg,

Eli Wilborn (SFU, Fr, F)
Last week: 10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5-7 FG at Iona

- Registered league-leading third double-double at defending MAAC champion Iona on Sunday.
- Set career-high in rebounds and matched his career-best in blocks.
- Leads all NEC freshmen and ranks in the NEC top-10 in rebounding (6.1), blocks (1.5) and FG percentage (.564).
- NEC Rookie of the Week.

Zaire Williams (WC, Jr, G)
Last week: 18.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 48.0 FG%, 37.5 3PFG%

- Poured in a game and career-high 21 points on 7-13 shooting, including a 3-4 showing from deep, in Wagner’s 62-59 win at Coppin State on Wednesday.
- Hit a key three-pointer with 2:19 to play, then extended the Seahawks’ lead to three on a layup with 12 seconds remaining.
- Boosted season average to 8.6 ppg.
   
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK FIVE

Here’s all you need to know from the fifth week of the 2023-24 season...

>> NEC SCORING JUMPS
 
A host of NEC players have taken on greater offensive roles for their respective teams this season, a number of whom rank among league scoring leaders. The biggest scoring jump thus far in 2023-24 goes to Merrimack sophomore guard Jordan Derkack (Colonia, NJ/Colonia (Spire Academy)), whose average has ballooned 7.5 points from 7.4 ppg in his All-Rookie campaign to a league-leading 16.9 ppg.
 
FDU sophomore forward Jo’el Emanuel (Suffern, NY/Suffern) ranks second in scoring improvements, having tacked on an additional 7.4 points from last season to 10.6 ppg, which ranks fifth on the Knights.
 
Saint Francis U sophomore guard Cam Gregory (Accokeek, MD/The Steward School (VA)) has upped his scoring average 7.2 points to a team-leading 12.3 ppg.
 
Below is a list of all the players who have boosted their scoring averages at least 3.0 ppg from last season.
 
Player                Team        2022-23 PPG       2023-24 PPG       Change
Jordan Derkack        MC             7.4               16.9            +9.5
Jo’el Emanuel         FDU            3.2               10.6            +7.4
Cam Gregory           SFU            5.1               12.3            +7.2
Bryan Etumnu          MC             0.8               7.2             +6.4      
Gestin Liberis        SFU            2.0               6.5             +4.5
Devon Savage          MC             6.5               11.0            +4.5      
Jayden Brown          CCSU           4.8               9.2             +4.4
Sean Moore            FDU            7.3               11.6            +4.3
Jaylen Stinson        MC             2.3               6.3             +4.0      
Tanner Thomas         SHU            6.9               10.8            +3.9
Chas Stinson          STO            2.1               5.5             +3.4      
Tre Breland           CCSU           4.8               8.3             +3.3      
Jackson Benigni       STO            9.5*              12.7            +3.2
 
* 2021-22 stats (DNP last season)
 
>> SUTHERLAND’S STANDOUT SATURDAY
 
Le Moyne grad student forward Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee (Siena/Bryant)) had himself a day against I-81 rival Binghamton on Saturday.
 
The Syracuse native rang up a career-high 35 points on a scintillating 12-17 mark from the field that included 5-7 shots from distance. He also hit 6-6 from the line. The five trifectas and 12 field goals were also personal-bests.
 
The 35 points marked an NEC single-game season-high and were the most points by a conference competitor since LIU’s Andre Washington scored 37 vs. Saint Francis U on February 18, 2023.
 
Sutherland’s 35-point explosion was also the highest output by a Le Moyne player since his head coach Nate Champion scored 35 against Saint Rose on November 23, 2013.
 
Sutherland has now reached double digits in seven straight games. He also rang up a team-high 17 points and drilled 3-7 from distance at Army on Monday.
 
Sutherland leads the NEC in free throw percentage (.912), and ranks third in scoring (15.9), fourth in three-point shooting percentage (.444) and tenth in field goal percentage (.481).
 
>> MC’S CLARK “STEALING” THE LIMELIGHT
 
Following in the footsteps of his 2022-23 NEC Rookie of the Year Javon Bennett and four years after the incredible feats of legendary defensive whiz Juvaris Hayes, another Merrimack player has asserted himself as a ballhawking, disruptive force.
 
Just 11 games into his freshman season and Adam “Budd” Clark (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) has already earned a reputation for his thievery on the hardwood.
 
Clark ranks first in the NEC with 2.9 steals per content, a figure that ranks him eighth in DI.
 
His 5.30 steal percentage also leads the NEC and ranks 20th nationally.
 
The Philly native has three of more steals in seven games this season, highlighted by a career-high six vs. Worcester State on November 9.
 
Bennett’s 99 steals set an NEC freshman record last season. The conference single season mark for steals per game by a freshman was established by St. Francis Brooklyn’s Jeff Myers, who tallied 3.1 per outing back in 1992-93.
 
In a related note...
 
>> MC’S THIEVING TRADITION
 
It’s pretty much a sure thing that Merrimack will feature a cat quick guard at or near the top of the NEC steals leaders at year’s end.
 
It started with a legendary season from Juvaris Hayes in 2019-20, who led the nation with 3.9 steals per game. He ended his career as the NCAA’s all-time steals leader spanning all divisions with 457, breaking a 17-year mark. The record has since been eclipsed by Providence’s Jacob Gilyard, who amassed 466 steals, but he did it over five seasons from 2017-22.
 
After Hayes graduated, Mikey Watkins took over as the Warriors’ top theft artist, ranking third in the NEC in 2020-21 (1.9 spg) and fourth in 2021-22 (1.8).
 
Last season, NEC Rookie of the Year Javon Bennett paced the circuit and finished second nationally with 2.9 steals per outing.
 
This year, it’s freshman Adam “Budd” Clark (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) who tops the NEC charts. In averaging 2.9 spg, Clark ranks eighth in the country.
 
Clark also has the benefit of being mentored by Hayes, who has returned to North Andover as an assistant coach following an overseas pro playing career that included stints in Germany and Georgia.
 
>> NEC BIG SHOTS
 
The smallest player on the court made the biggest shot in FDU’s 76-71 win at Manhattan on Friday.
 
Holding a precarious one point lead, FDU graduate guard DeVante Jamison (Dorchester, MA/Jeremiah E. Burke (STAC)) took matters into his own hands, slicing into the lane and splitting two defenders for a nifty lefty finish at the rim to make it 72-69 with 1:16 on the clock.
 
Sophomore forward Jo’el Emanuel (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and senior forward Joe Munden Jr. (Harlem, NY/Monsignor Scanlan) went on to hit two free throws apiece to ice FDU’s third road win of the season and push the Knights’ record over .500 at 6-5 on the year.
 
Two days earlier, Wagner junior guard Zaire Williams (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) came up huge for the Seahawks down in Baltimore.
 
After drilling two late three-pointers in a back-and-forth affair at Coppin State, the Brooklyn native took advantage of a scramble in transition in the waning moments. With Wagner ahead by one and the Eagles pressing for a steal, Williams broke free for a layup that made it 62-59 with 12 seconds remaining.
 
Williams netted a game and career-high 21 points in the victory, highlighted by a 3-4 mark from outside the arc.

>> NEC BIG STOPS
 
We have big shots, then we have big stops.

Wagner came up with a pair of huge defensive sequences on Wednesday to help clinch its 62-59 win at Coppin State.
 
Holding a 60-59 lead, the Seahawks forced the Eagles into a difficult, off-balance shot with 25 seconds to play. After a Zaire Williams (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) layup pushed the lead to three at the 12 second mark, Coppin State had one last chance.

Following a timeout, Wagner’s Keyontae Lewis (Chesterfield, VA/Lloyd C Bird) and Melvin Council Jr. (Rochester, NY/University Prep (Monroe College)) swarmed Coppin’s Camaren Sparrow outside the three-point line, and forced him into a double clutch shot that landed in the hands of a teammate who missed a layup as time expired.
 
>> FDU’S FAB FIVE
 
FDU leads the NEC in scoring by a wide margin, and they’re doing it by committee.
 
The Knights currently have five players averaging in double-digits after 11 games, led by junior forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)), who ranks second in the league at 15.9 ppg. All five players rank in the NEC top-20 in scoring.
 
The last time an NEC team produced five double-digit scorers was back in 2021-22 when Bryant turned the trick.
 
FDU previously sported five double-digit point producers during its run to an NEC championship in 2018-19.
 
>> TRACKING BACK ON SFU COMEBACKS
 
Saint Francis U has two of the top-15 wins nationwide this year per the KenPom Minimum Win Probability index. The Red Flash’s 75-73 win at American on December 2 ranks eighth, while SFU’s 62-61 comeback victory at Lehigh on November 29 is 15th on the chart.
 
The Flash had a 1.1 percent chance to win with under eight minutes to play against American and a 1.4 chance with less than two minutes remaining vs. Lehigh.
 
>> RED FLASH RIVALRIES RENEWED
 
Saint Francis U will reacquaint itself with two familiar foes over the next 10 days when the Red Flash host Mount St. Mary’s  on December 15 and Robert Morris on December 20.
 
The schools were the two closest geographically to Loretto when both were longtime NEC members.
 
While the Red Flash have played their former NEC brethren from Western Pennsylvania three times since the Colonials exited following the 2019-20 academic year, SFU will play the Mount in a regular season non-conference game for the first time since 1964-65 and the first non-conference regular season home game since 1958-59. It will also be the first time SFU and Mount St. Mary’s will play without a Phelan connection since 1951. Legendary Mount head coach Jim Phelan, an NEC Hall of Famer, retired at the end of the 2002-03 season after 49 years as the head coach. Phelan’s daughter, Lynne Phelan Robinson, continued the Phelan legacy as an administrator until August 2023 when she retired as the Mount’s Director of Athletics. It will be only the 13th meeting between the two programs that does not have a Phelan connection and the first since February 15, 1951 when Phelan supposedly wore his famous bow tie for the first time against Maurice Stokes and the Red Flash.
 
>> QUOTABLE
 
SFU head coach Rob Krimmel following the Red Flash’s 61-54 setback at reigning MAAC champion Iona on Sunday.
 
“I was pleased with our effort after 40 minutes battling against a very good basketball team. I thought we got some good clean looks at the end of the game, just did not knock them down. Despite not playing our best offensive game, it is a credit to the way these guys battled and competed. Iona made a few more plays down the stretch than we did, but it’s a game that we can build on in a game that these guys left everything out on the court. I am proud of their efforts and looking forward to getting back on the court with them as we prepare for our next opponent in the next couple of days.”

>> NEC ANALYTICS ZONE

Longtime 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 throughout the 2023-24 season.

In FDU’s road win at Manhattan last week, the Knights posted a 1.88 assist-to-turnover ratio thanks in large part to DeVante Jamison’s (Dorchester, MA/Jeremiah E. Burke (St. Thomas Aquinas)) efforts (8 assists, 1 turnover). Protecting the basketball has been the mantra of the Knights’ program in recent memory and the first few weeks of the 2023-24 season are no different. FDU is turning it over in just 16.8 percent of their possessions, the 120th-best value in college basketball. They also are in the top-80 nationally in assists per field goals made with a mark of 55.5 percent. That was right in line with their assist totals versus Manhattan - they had 15 helpers to 23 made baskets in the victory. 

Through five weeks, Le Moyne’s Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee (Siena/Bryant)) is one of the most efficient players in the NEC. Using a baseline of a 20 percent possession rate, Sutherland’s KenPom offensive rating of 115.4 tops all NEC players by a significant margin with Sacred Heart’s Alex Sobel (Setauket, NY/Ward Melville (Middlebury)) coming in second at 108.0. A deeper dive into Sutherland’s analytics illustrates his efficiency in the half court (52.3 percent eFG, 1.04 PPP), in transition (90.5 percent eFG, 1.72 PPP) and when taking a jump shot (60.3 percent eFG, 1.21 PPP). He rates as “excellent” in all three facets relative to other Division I players. 

Speaking of Sobel, the graduate senior has brought a level of rim protection to the Pioneers not seen since the days of Defensive Player of the Year Jare’l Spellman. Currently, Sobel holds the 10th best block rate in the country at 12.5 percent while improving the Pioneers adjusted defensive efficiency by 8.9 points per 100 possessions when active, according to Hoop Explorer. That improvement is mainly driven by the opponent’s struggles to finish at the rim, as they can only convert 53.7 percent of their near-the-rim takes with Sobel in the vicinity. 

It took a little bit of adjustment, but it’s now clear that Central Connecticut’s Jordan Jones (Florence, SC/Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Coker University)) is fully acclimated to Division I basketball. Not only is the shifty guard scoring with efficiency over his last four games - he’s posted a 56 percent eFG during this time - but he’s also been a defensive stalwart for Pat Sellers group. Not only is Jones flashing the 66th best steal rate in the nation by getting a steal in 4.3 percent of the opponent’s possessions, but he’s also committing just 2.0 fouls per 40 minutes, the 324th best mark among all Division I players. According to Hoop Explorer, Central Connecticut’s adjusted defensive efficiency improves by 8.9 points per 100 possessions when the 6’0” guard is in the game. 

>> HERE & THERE
 
CCSU has excelled in transition this season, averaging 1.18 PPP and a league-best 60.7 percent from the field.
 
FDU senior forward Sean Moore (Columbus,OH/Reynoldsburg (STAC)) posted his second double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 boards in Friday’s win at Manhattan. Moore’s 7.8 rpg leads the league.
 
FDU finished with a 25-8 edge in points off turnovers in its win over Manhattan.
 
Le Moyne has taken 48.3 percent of its shot attempts from beyond the arc to lead the NEC. The Dolphins have made a league-best 9.80 triples per game, a figure that also ranks 25th in the country.
 
LIU junior guard Andre Washington (Staten Island, NY/Williston North Hampton) scored a season-high 14 points at Miami (FL) on Wednesday. He hit 5-10 shots in a 24-minute stint off the bench.
 
Merrimack has won ten straight homes games.
 
Merrimack graduate forward Samba Diallo’s (Rufisque, Senegal/Pope John XXIII (Manhattan)) 86.0 free throw rate ranks 14th nationally. He is second in the NEC in free throw attempts (47), makes (41) and percentage (.872).
 
Merrimack sophomore forward Bryant Etumnu (Sugar Land, TX/Kempner) leads the NEC with 14 dunks on the year, eight more than any other conference player.
 
Sacred Heart senior forward Nico Galette (Rahway, NJ/Rutgers Prep) led the Pioneers last week with 11.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg. He ranks in the NEC top-five in scoring (14.6), rebounding (7.1) and steals (2.3).
 
Sacred Heart redshirt sophomore forward Raymond Espinal-Guzman (Cranston, RI/Woodstock Academy) scored a season-best 11 points in 14 minutes against Fairfield on Saturday. He made 5-8 shots and snared five caroms.
 
After playing nine games in the first 27 days of the season, Saint Francis U is in the midst of a four-game, 25-day stretch that started at Iona on Sunday.
 
Stonehill senior forward Max Zegarowski (South Hamilton, MA/The Tilton School (NH) (Lynn/Franklin Pierce)) drilled three shots from downtown on his way to a 16-point night at Rider on Friday. He tied for game scoring honors.
 
Stonehill senior forward Todd Brogna (Southborough, MA/Worcester Academy) established new career-highs with 10 points and eight rebounds in his first career start at Rider.

Wagner’s bench outscored the starting five against Boston U on Sunday. Seahawk reserves combined for 31 of the team’s 59 points, including a Wagner career-best 13 points from junior guard Tahron Allen (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Collegiate (Monmouth)) and 10 points from sophomore guard Julian Brown (Middletown, NY/Bergen Catholic).