NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Cohen, Saint Francis U
6’10”, 220 lbs.
R-Jr., F, Lincroft, NJ/CBA
Cohen picked up his league-leading fourth NEC Player of the Week accolade on the strength of averaging 25.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals, while converting at a 53.8 percent clip from the floor in a Red Flash split. He was the catalyst behind SFU’s rally from a 17-point deficit midway through the second half in Thursday’s thrilling 78-76 overtime win over Sacred Heart on ESPN U. Cohen made his last nine shots in the game, including the game-winner with 3.6 seconds to play. He finished with 22 of his NEC career-best 27 points in the second half, including eight in OT alone. The Lincroft, NJ product followed with 24 points, nine boards and a career-high tying six assists vs. Merrimack. Cohen is just two points shy of 1,000 for his career and has a conference-high 13 games with at least 20 points this season. He leads the NEC and ranks ninth nationally with 21.7 ppg. Cohen is also first in the league in field goal percentage (.590) and fourth in rebounding (8.0).
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Jordan Derkack, Merrimack
6’5”
Fr., G, Colonia, NJ/Colonia (Spire Academy)
Derkack joins teammate and three-time winner Javon Bennett on the NEC Rookie of the Week list after he supplied 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per outing in a sweep that stretched Merrimack’s win streak to four and lifted the Warriors into a first place tie at 9-4 on the season. He was instrumental in Saturday’s 75-68 win at Saint Francis U with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and a career-high tying five steals. For the week, he shot 50.0 percent from the field and from three-point territory, where he made 4-of-8 shots. Derkack ranks fourth among NEC freshmen with 7.9 ppg. He is fourth in the league in steals (2.0), seventh in free throw accuracy (.761) and 12th in assists (2.4).
Keyontae Lewis, Wagner
6’9”, 255 lbs.
Fr., F, Chesterfield, VA/Lloyd C. Bird
In claiming his second NEC Rookie of the Week honor, Lewis furnished the Seahawks with 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and made 57.1 percent of his shot opportunities. Lewis shined in Wagner’s 58-46 triumph over visiting LIU on Saturday, finishing with an NEC season-best 12 points on 6-9 shooting. He also pulled down seven caroms and blocked three shots. Among conference freshmen, Lewis ranks second with 4.0 rpg and he’s also seventh overall in blocks (0.9). The Chesterfield, VA native averages 5.1 ppg and has compiled a 51.7 success rate from the floor.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Kellen Amos (CCSU, Jr, G/F)
Amos recorded a team-best 17.5 ppg on 54.5 percent shooting, and also generated 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg and 2.0 spg in the Blue Devils’ split. He paced CCSU with 20 points at Hartford on Wednesday, making 9-12 shots, while adding four assists and three steals. Amos went on to score 15 points in Saturday’s big victory at FDU. The junior is eighth in the league with 14.6 ppg, and also ranks in the top-10 in FG percentage (.468, 7th) and made 3P (1.9/game, fifth).
Jay Rodgers (CCSU, Jr, G)
Rodgers drained 8-11 shots from the field and finished with 17 points in the Blue Devils’ 77-73 victory at first place FDU on Saturday. He averages 9.3 ppg on the year and ranks second on the Blue Devils with 32 triples.
Demetre Roberts (FDU, Gr, G)
Roberts paced the Knights with 19.5 ppg on 48.1 percent shooting from the floor and 91.7 percent from the line. He also registered 2.5 rpg and 3.5 apg. Roberts made 7-10 shots and tallied 18 points in a one-point triumph over LIU on Thursday and tossed in a team-high 21 two days later vs. CCSU. Roberts, who leads the NEC with 4.3 apg, also ranks second in scoring (16.9), eighth in made 3P (1.9/game) and fourth in free throw percentage (.793).
Tre’ Wood (LIU, R-Sr, G)
Wood was terrific in LIU’s near upset of FDU on Thursday, finishing with a season-high 18 points to go along with nine dimes, six rebounds, three steals and a 7-12 mark from the floor. His weekly line included 13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.0 spg and 62.5 FG accuracy. Wood leads the Sharks with 4.1 apg.
Jordan Minor (MC, Sr, F)
In a week that saw the Warriors feature balanced scoring in its sweep, Minor put up 14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg and made 50.0 percent of his field goal attempts. He tallied his league-leading tenth double-double of the year on Thursday, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 56-43 win over Stonehill. Minor also had eight points and four rebounds over the final five minutes to help clinch a road win at SFU. Minor also tops the NEC with 2.5 bpg, and ranks second in rebounding (8.6), along with third in scoring (16.8) and field goal percentage (.528).
Nico Galette (SHU, Jr, F)
Galette paced the Pioneers with 18 points and eight rebounds in Thursday’s two-point setback at SFU. He scored 12 of his points in the second half. Galette ranks fifth in the NEC with 15.9 ppg, and his 7.0 rpg places him seventh in the conference. He’s also sixth on the circuit with four double-doubles.
Josh Cohen (SFU, R-Jr, F)
Cohen is now just two points shy of 1,000 for his career after averaging 25.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.0 spg in a SFU split. He sank 21-39 (.538) from the field. Cohen scored 22 of his game-high 27 in the second half and OT in the Red Flash’s 78-76 comeback win over SHU on ESPNU last Thursday. He added 24 more along with a career-high tying six dimes in a tight loss to MC on Saturday. With an NEC-best 21.7 ppg, he also ranks ninth nationally in scoring. Cohen paces the circuit in field goal percentage (.590) and is fourth in rebounding (8.0).
Josiah Harris (SFBK, Jr, F)
Harris recorded a pair of double-doubles on his way to averaging 17.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg, while also contributing 2.5 apg and 2.5 bpg in a 1-1 week. The junior big also hit 11-12 (.917) from the stripe. Harris scored a career-high 20 and snared 11 boards in a 64-62 OT win against Wagner on Thursday, then came back with 15/10 at Stonehill. Harris has supplied the Terriers with 8.8 ppg, and ranks third in the NEC with 8.6 rpg. His six double-doubles is the fifth-best mark on the circuit.
Andrew Sims (STO, Sr, F)
Sims rang up a career-high 30 points on just 10 shots - making nine - and finished 2-3 from downtown and 10-12 from deep in a stellar effort vs. SFBK on Saturday. He scored nearly half of the Skyhawks’ points in the win - including 24 in the second half - and grabbed seven caroms. For the week, he contributed 17.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 spg and shot 11-16 (.688) from the field. Sims is sixth in the NEC in scoring (15.3) and fourth in field goal shooting (.489).
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB WEEK 14
Here’s all you need to know from the 14th week of the 2022-23 season...
WHERE WE STAND
With 16 days remaining until the start of the NEC Tournament, there are more questions than answers when it comes to determining who will emerge as the top seed and the four teams that will earn the right to host quarterfinal round games.
The standings remain clogged to the point that we are almost assured of a photo finish on February 25.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
A look at the week-to-week standings shows that the bunching started early and has persisted throughout the season.
January 16 January 22 January 28 February 4 February 11
1. FDU (5-0) 1. SFU (5-1) 1. FDU (7-2) 1. STO (8-3) 1. STO (9-4)
2. SFU (4-1) 2. FDU (5-2) 2. STO (6-3) 2. FDU (7-3) MC (9-4)
3. SHU (3-2) 3. STO (5-3) 3. SFU (5-3) 3. MC (7-4) 3. FDU (8-4)
4. STO (3-3) 4. WC (4-3) 4. MC (5-4) 4. SHU (6-5) 4. WC (6-6)
MC (3-3) SHU (4-3) 5. WC (4-4) 5. WC (5-5) SHU (6-6)
6. WC (2-3) MC (4-3) 6. SHU (4-5) SFU (5-5) SFU (6-6)
SFBK (2-3) 7. CCSU (3-4) CCSU (4-5) 7. SFBK (5-6) 7. SFBK (6-7)
CCSU (2-3) 8. SFBK (2-5) 8. SFBK (4-5) 8. CCSU (4-7) 8. CCSU (5-7)
9. LIU (0-6) 9. LIU (0-8) 9. LIU (1-9) 9. LIU (1-10) 9. LIU (1-12)
What the chronological standings do reveal is the steady progression Stonehill and Merrimack both made in their rise to the top of the NEC.
Both teams started the year 3-3, and since that time have won six-of-seven games to push their respective records to 9-4 with two weeks to play.
As we look ahead, it’s important to remember that Merrimack is eligible to compete in the NEC Tournament, but the Warriors do not become NCAA eligible until next season. If Merrimack wins the NEC Tournament, the runner-up will represent the conference in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Stonehill will become NEC Tournament eligible in 2024-25 and NCAA eligible in the 2026-27 season.
With that said, FDU still remains in a good spot to snag the #1 seed despite a 3-4 mak in its last seven outings. The Knights swept Merrimack and split with Stonehill should tiebreakers come into play. FDU does have to play three of its last four games on the road.
In its quest for the top seed, Merrimack has a favorable schedule with its remaining three opponents having combined for a .324 NEC winning percentage.
Stonehill, which is playing for a regular season crown, also faces opponents with the same .324 win percentage.
The jumble in the middle of the standings has all the makings of a tiebreaker nightmare.
Assuming Merrimack and FDU don’t falter down the stretch, it appears five teams are fighting for two home QF spots. And fittingly, just one game separates the five squads.
CCSU put itself back squarely in the mix for a top-four seed with its 77-73 win at FDU on Saturday, as the Blue Devils sit just one game back of the Sacred Heart, Saint Francis U and Wagner pileup (all 6-6), and one-half game behind St. Francis Brooklyn (6-7).
At cursory glance, Sacred Heart (6-6) and CCSU (5-7) both have three of their last four games at home, but a deeper look reveals the Pioneers still have to play FDU and Merrimack, and the Blue Devils have Merrimack and Stonehill on the schedule.
The lone sweep thus far among teams in the quintet is St. Francis Brooklyn’s 2-0 mark against Wagner.
Knowing that tiebreakers among the mid-pack squads could be decided by their success against teams at or near the top of the table, let’s see who has notable wins thus far.
Sacred Heart: 1-0 vs. MC, 0-2 vs. STO, 1-0 vs. FDU
Saint Francis U: 0-1 vs. MC, 1-1 vs. STO, 0-1 vs. FDU
Wagner: 1-1 vs. MC, 0-1 vs. STO, 1-0 vs. FDU
SFBK: 0-2 vs. MC, 0-2 vs. STO, 0-1 vs. FDU
CCSU: 0-1 vs. MC, 0-1 vs. STO, 1-1 vs. FDU
LIU has been mathematically eliminated from a top-four spot.
STONEHILL LOOKING TO JOIN FIRST YEAR CHAMPS
Picked to finish last in the preseason coaches’ poll, Stonehill has two weeks to secure a place in NEC history.
With just three games remaining, the Skyhawks find themselves tied with Merrimack atop the league table with a 9-4 mark.
And if everything falls in place for Stonehill, it will find itself linked with its old NE10 rival in the conference recordbook.
Only four teams have captured the regular season title in their first year as a member of the NEC, and only Merrimack has done so in its first year moving up from DII.
NEC First Year Members That Have Won Regular Season Title
- Merrimack in 2019-20 (14-4 record)
- UMBC in 1998-99 (17-3)
- Rider in 1992-93 (14-4)
THE JOSH COHEN GAME
Sometimes you just need to put the team on your back and get them across the finish line.
That’s exactly what Saint Francis U redshirt junior forward Josh Cohen (Lincroft, NJ/CBA) was able to do last Thursday to spark a Red Flash rally from a 17-point deficit over the final 11 minutes in a thrilling 78-76 overtime win over Sacred Heart at DeGol Arena.
Cohen, the NEC’s leading scorer, had just five points at the break, but exploded in the second stanza, putting on a low-post, drop-step, up-and-under clinic. The Lincroft, NJ scored 22 points on 9-10 shooting, including eight in OT, as part of a game-high 27-point effort.
And when the Flash needed a clutch bucket late in OT, Cohen delivered.
With the score tied at 76-all, Cohen received the ball in the high post, pump faked his defender in the air, then finished through contact for a high degree of difficulty shot off glass with just 3.6 seconds left on the clock.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Flash.
“Tonight, I think we were down 17 with about 10 to go and to be able to come back and put ourselves in a position late.” said SFU head coach Rob Krimmel. “Brad’s big free throw to tie it and then Josh obviously his bucket to win the game. A lot of things you can point to and you know as to how we got to where we were to be in a position to win a basketball game like that, but I think two players in particular. I thought Wisler Sanon II and Cam (Gregory in the second-half really with about 10 minutes to go did a fantastic job of coming in and changing the intensity of our defense and we started to play through our defense we held them to 32 points in the second-half and that’s a really good offensive team.”
WARRIORS’ STEAL GAME
Merrimack is now first nationally with 10.81 steals per game.
The Warriors were fourth in steals in their inaugural NEC season in 2019-20 and 14th in 2021-22.
MINOR CLIMBING BLOCKS & REBOUNDING CHART
This week’s Jordan Minor (Kingston, MA/Brimmer and May) update sees the Merrimack star continuing his rise up the NEC career blocks and rebounding lists.
The Kingston, MA native swatted a pair of shots last week to up his career total to 184, moving to within 11 rejections of reaching the top-10.
NEC Career Blocks Leaders
10. Ken Horton CCSU 195 2007-12
11. Gerben Van Dorpe MSM 195 1994-98
12. Nana Opoku MSM 194 2018-22
13. Frantz Pierre-Louis WC 188 1994-99
14. Heberth Reyes SFBK 186 1997-01
15. Jordan Minor MC 184 2019-23
After averaging 7.0 rpg last week, Minor moved up three spots to crack the NEC top-50 and settle in at No. 49 all-time.
The senior forward enters play this week with 710 career caroms.
NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
38. Kaleb Bishop FDU 749 2016-20
39. Darwin Purdie SFBK 748 1985-89
40. Russell Johnson RMU 746 2009-13
41. Michael Watson MSM 746 1992-95
42. Malik Jefferson MSM 743 2018-22
43. Damari Riddick FDU 737 1984-88
44. Mychal Kearse MSM 725 2003-07
45. Kennedy Okafor UMBC 725 1998-01
46. Ike Aztoam QU 716 2010-13
47. Mark Flagg SFU 711 2017-22
48. Jeff Hamilton SFU 711 1981-85
49. Jordan Minor MC 710 2019-23
Dan Garvin BRY 710 2013-17
With 1,214 points, Minor is vying to become just the fourth player in NEC history to compile 1,000 points, 750 rebounds and 200 blocks, joining the following list of conference luminaries:
Rik Smits MAR 1,945 pts/811 rebs/345 blks 1984-88
Carey Scurry LIU 1,413 pts/1,013 rebs/291 blks 1982-85
Alan Tomidy MAR 1,508 pts/838 rebs/267 blks 1992-96
OT DEBUTS
After going five weeks without a single NEC game going past regulation, there were two OT games last Thursday as St. Francis Brooklyn beat Wagner, 64-62, and Saint Francis U stopped Sacred Heart, 78-76.
Last season saw nine conference games go to OT.
BUZZER BEATER MANIA
It was one of those finishes at the ARC last Thursday.
After a wild rally that saw Wagner erase a 19-point deficit with under 12 minutes remaining and nine-point hole with under three minutes to play, junior guard Delonnie Hunt (Upper Marlboro, MD/Rock Creek Christian) put a bow on the comeback by sinking a 35-foot runner at the buzzer to send the game into overtime at St. Francis Brooklyn.
But St. Francis Brooklyn had an answer.
With the game tied and the clock winding down in the extra session, Roy Clarke (Brooklyn, NY/John C. Fremont) swung the ball to the corner where freshman Di’Andre Howell-South (Paterson, NJ/Immaculate Conception) calmly drilled a long two with two seconds to play for the win.
STONEHILL STEAL KING: BURNETT > KRAUS
Last Thursday, Stonehill fifth year senior guard Isaiah Burnett (Annapolis, MD/Glenelg Country Day (Navy)) broke the program’s single-season steals record, reaching 76 on the year.
That in itself is impressive enough, but there’s a back story.
Who did he pass to become the leader?
None other than his head coach Chris Kraus, who posted 74 swipes back in 2006.
By week’s end, Burnett upped his season total to 81. He ranks first in the NEC and second nationally with 2.9 per game.
He also recorded at least one steal in 34 straight games dating back to last season.
NEC LEADERBOARD: FINISHING AT 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, the answer is FDU forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)). The rising soph has been efficient and proficient taking the ball to the rim, converting 68.7 percent of his attempts, making 57-of-83.
It should come as no surprise that Saint Francis U redshirt junior forward Josh Cohen (Lincroft, NJ/CBA) is nipping at his heels. Cohen has made an NEC-best 120 shots at the rim for a 68.2 percent conversion rate.
Surprisingly, three players who measure 6’0” or less - FDU’s Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)), Stonehill’s Josh Mack (Winchester, VA/Saint Marie Goretti) and Sacred Heart’s Joey Reilly (Cromwell, CT/East Catholic (Holy Cross)) - rank in the NEC top-10 in their ability to finish among the trees.
FDU is the league leader in conversion rate at the rim, making 59.7 percent of their attempts, while Saint Francis U ranks first in PPP at the rim at 1.234.
NEC Top-10, FG% at Rim (min. 50 att.)
Ansley Almonor, FDU 68.7 (57-83)
Josh Cohen, SFU 68.2 (120-176)
Kellen Amos, CCSU 65.8 (75-114)
Isaiah Burnett, STO 64.4 (58-90)
Sean Moore, FDU 63.8 (37-58)
Grant Singleton, FDU 62.1 (59-95)
Cheikh Ndiaye, LIU 61.5 (40-65)
Rob Taylor II, WC 60.8 (45-74)
Josh Mack, STO 60.8 (31-51)
Joey Reilly, SHU 60.7 (37-61)
TEAM EFFORT SPARKS CCSU
After dropping three-of-four, CCSU came back in a big way last week with a non-conference road win at Hartford followed by the team’s signature victory of the year, a 77-73 conquest of FDU on Saturday.
It was a true team effort over the two victories with five Blue Devils averaging double digits on the week.
CCSU shot a combined 53.0 percent from the field and 82.7 percent from the foul line, where it converted 43-of-52 opportunities. The Blue Devils were a season-best 26-30 (.867) from the stripe at FDU, including a scintillating 22-24 (.917) mark in the second half.
The Blue Devils posted a season-high 1.304 PPP against the Hawks and followed with 1.147 PPP vs. the Knights.
WOOD SHINES IN NEAR UPSET
In a tough season that has seen him miss nine games, LIU redshirt senior Tre’ Wood (Largo, MD/St. John’s College (UMass)) delivered arguably the finest effort of his career in the Sharks’ near road upset of FDU on Thursday.
Wood was spectacular in all facets of the 80-79 setback, finishing with a career-high matching 18 points, six rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 38 minutes. He hit 7-12 shots and was 2-2 from three-point land.
Down the stretch he sparked an LIU comeback that saw the Sharks nearly rally back from 11 down in the final four minutes.
He registered five points and three assists during a comeback that fell just short when freshman C.J. Delancy’s (Jonesboro, AR/Valley View) elbow jumper didn’t go down at the buzzer.
Wood became just the third player in the nation this season to finish a game with at least 18p/6r/9a/3s and shoot at least 50 percent from the field.
Wood, who averages 4.4 apg, paces the NEC in assist rate (31.3).
BENNETT & DERKACK: NO LONGER FRESHMEN
How good has the Merrimack freshman starting guard combo of Javon Bennett (Orlando, FL/Trinity Prep) and Jordan Derkack (Colonia, NJ/Colonia (Spire Academy)) been this season?
Aside from the tranditional stats and combined four NEC Rookie of the Week honors, their impact cannot be denied from an analytics standpoint as per KenPom.
NEC Rank (All Games) Steal Rate Assist Rate FT Rate Fouls Drawn/40 Usage Rate
Bennett 1st (5.74) 2nd (23.9) 17th (26.3) 19th (3.4) 10th (24.2)
Derkack 3rd (5.10) 3rd (23.7) 2nd (64.2) 6th (4.8) 11th (24.2)
Derkack has come on strong in recent weeks, as noted by these same categories in league play only.
NEC Rank (NEC Games) Steal Rate Assist Rate FT Rate Fouls Drawn/40 Usage Rate
Bennett 2nd (5.40) 4th (26.2) 16th (28.4) 28th (3.2) 20th (21.9)
Derkack 1st (6.00) 3rd (27.9) NA* (83.6) 3rd (5.2) 13th (23.3)
* Does not qualify for league leaders, but would rank first in NEC with four more minutes played to reach 60.0 percent minimum
THE WEEK AHEAD ON NEC-TV
The NEC’s national package continues this week with a pair of games on the docket.
On Thursday, CCSU will play host to Wagner in an ESPN+ game at Detrick Gym. Tipoff is at 7 pm with Dave Popkin (PxP) and Tim Capstraw (color) on the call.
The scene shifts to the Pitt Center on Saturday with NEC contenders Merrimack and Sacred Heart squaring off on CBSSN in a 2 pm start. The three-man booth features Paul Dottino (PxP), Tim Capstraw (color) and John Schmeelk (sideline).
Please note that the February 23 wildcard game has been shifted from CBSSN to ESPN3/SNY, and that a quarterfinal men’s game has been added on ESPN3/SNY for March 1. 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.
SINGLETON HITS ONE MILESTONE, SHOOTING FOR RARE NEC MILESTONE
Dead-eye FDU shooter Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)), who scored his 1,500th career point on Saturday, has an opportunity to make NEC history at year’s end.
Currently shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from beyond the arc and 92.6 percent from the line, the Sumter, SC native is on the cusp of becoming the first NEC player since at least 1992-93 to finish with 45/40/90 shooting percentages at years end (min. 10.0 ppg and 1.0 3P/game).
This list of select players who just missed out reads like a Who’s Who of NEC shooting royalty.
Peter Kiss (BRY, 2020-21): 50/42/85
Darnell Edge (FDU, 2018-19): 47/48/89
Karvel Anderson (RMU, 2013-14): 51/46/84
Karvel Anderson (RMU, 2012-13): 48/44/85
Shane Gibson (SHU, 2011-12): 51/43/86
DeMario Anderson (QU, 2004-05): 47/44/89
Mustafa Barksdale (MU, 1994-95): 51/45/85
Singleton has been even better against NEC competition, with 47.7/44.3/96.4 percent splits.
The Sumter, SC native scored 1,115 points at St. Thomas Aquinas and has 389 this season at FDU for 1,504 in his career.
DID YOU KNOW?
Current Wagner head coach Donald Copeland and former coach Bashir Mason not only share the same birthday, but they were born in the same hospital and have been friends since they were seven years old. Copeland served as a GA and then assistant coach at Wagner from 2015-21.
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.
In Stonehill’s convincing home victory over St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape Regional) played arguably his best game against a DI opponent. The Mount Laurel, NJ native poured in a season high 30 points by shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from inside the arc - the only time this season he’s made all of his 2s in a game - and 2-of-3 from deep. According to Synergy, Sims was a true three-level scorer in the victory, draining two corner threes, one long mid-range jumper, three post up buckets and two at the rim. Sims was rightfully declared the “KenPom MVP” for the game by registering an offensive rating of 152 (100 is considered average) and scoring 48.4 percent of the Skyhawks’ points.
After Saturday’s much needed victory over FDU, CCSU has now scored over 1.00 point per possession in three straight games. It’s the first time all season the Blue Devils have accomplished this feat, and they did it despite making only 31.0 percent of their 3s in the three contests combined. This is because Pat Sellers’ group have been dominant on the interior over the same span, shooting 54.9 percent on their 2s while doing a respectable job running their offense with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.15. In league play, CCSU currently has the fourth best adjusted offensive efficiency (102.3 ORtg), its highest mark relative to their NEC opponent since the 2007-08 season, when Howie Dickenman’s crew finished first with a 110.9 ORtg mark.
Over the last 5:30 of their game on Saturday, Merrimack locked down Saint Francis U to close on a 15-3 run to earn their eighth victory in their past 10 games. The Red Flash missed all seven of their shots in that period, including 5 threes and 2 mid-range jumpers. Even more impressive, SFU wasn’t able to attempt a shot near the basket during that period, despite making eight such shots in the first 15:30 of the second half. For the season, the active Merrimack zone has held NEC opponents to a league best 31.7 percent from deep.
Only four NEC players have posted an effective field goal percentage of 48 percent or better when attempting what Synergy considers a long mid-range range jumper (17 feet to the 3-point line). The list includes CCSU’s Kellen Amos (Houston, TX/St. John XXIII College Prep (Binghamton)) (64 percent eFG), Wagner’s Brandon Brown (Memphis, TN/White Station (Arkansas Pine Bluff)) (60 percent eFG), CCSU’s Davonte Sweatman (Boston, MA/Lawrence Academy) (50 percent) and Wagner’s Rahmir Moore (Philadelphia, PA/Rise Prep (Ontario) (Saint Joseph’s)) (48.5 percent eFG). While each of the first three aforementioned players have only attempted 11 or fewer such shots, Moore has taken 33 of these jumpers, registering a solid 0.97 points per possession in these opportunities. Because of his success in what’s now a lost art in college basketball, Moore’s scoring has ticked up of late - the junior is averaging 12 ppg in his last seven contests, posting a KenPom offensive rating north of 130.0 in four of those games.
NOTHING BUT NUMBERS
CCSU sophomore guard Joe Ostrowsky (Mt. Pleasant, MI/Cheshire Academy) averaged 11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.5 spg, while dropping a .750/.800/1.000 shooting slash line. He hit 4-5 three-point shots on the week. Ostrowsky reached double-digits in both outings, including a season-high 12 points in 24 minutes at FDU. His pullup jumper with 27 seconds to play put the Blue Devils up by four, and he iced matters with a pair of free throws with less than a second to go.
CCSU senior guard Nigel Scantlebury (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena (Niagara County CC)) scored all 18 of his points in the second half of Saturday’s win at FDU and averaged 14.5 ppg on the week.
FDU grad student guard Grant Singleton (Sumter, SC/Lakewood (St. Thomas Aquinas)) had 10 assists and committed just one turnover in 67 minutes of play last week.
LIU sophomore guard Marko Maletic (London, Ontario/Saunders Secondary School (Laramie County CC)) scored 28 points and grabbed six caroms at FDU on Thursday. He has eight games of 20+ points this season and ranks fourth in the league with 16.5 ppg.
Merrimack held Stonehill to 43 points in Thursday’s 13-point win, marking the fewest points allowed the Warriors have conceded vs. a DI opponent since joining the NEC in 2019-20.
Sacred Heart senior guard Joey Reilly (Cromwell, CT/East Catholic (Holy Cross)) was an efficient 7-12 from the filed and 3-5 from downtown in a 17-point effort at Saint Francis U last Thursday. He added four steals. Reilly has been in double digits in all but one NEC game this season.
Saint Francis U junior guard Maxwell Land (Cincinnati, OH/Archbishop Mueller) produced 12.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg last week, and posted his third double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high tying 11 boards vs. Merrimack.
Saint Francis U’s loss to Merrimack on Saturday snapped a six-game home win streak at DeGol Arena.
St. Francis Brooklyn redshirt freshman guard Zion Bethea (South Orange, NJ/Immaculate Conception) extended his double digit scoring streak to eight games. He has put up 13.9 ppg during that span to raise his season average from 8.4 ppg to 10.1 ppg.
Stonehill fifth-year senior Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape Regional) cracked the top-30 on Stonehill’s career scoring list with 1,129 points after his 100th career game on Saturday, moving past Dezmond Morgan, ‘05 (1,119) and Art Horan, ‘71 (1,121) to 29th all-time.
Wagner freshman guard Julian Brown (Middletown, NY/Bergen Catholic) has come on strong as of late, contributing 9.3 ppg on 64.7 percent shooting overall and a 66.7 percent mark from outside the arc over his last three contests. He finished 3-5 from distance and scored nine points in the Green and White’s win over Wagner on Saturday.
NEC IN NATIONAL LEADERS (TOP-25)
Team Category Rank Value
FDU TO Margin 10th 4.67
FDU TO Forced 23rd 16.22
MC Steals 1st 10.81
MC TO Forced 11th 17.44
SFU 3PFG% 16th .383
WC Off. Reb. 19th 12.74
WC Scoring Def. 22nd 62.3
Individual Category Rank Value
Javon Bennett, MC Steals 4th 2.78
Jordan Minor, MC Blocks 9th 2.48
Isaiah Burnett, STO Steals 2nd 2.89
Josh Cohen, SFU Scoring 9th 21.7
Marko Maletic, LIU 3P 22nd 3.00