NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Cohen, Saint Francis U
6’10”, 220 lbs.
R-Jr., F, Lincroft, NJ/CBA
Cohen wrapped a extraordinary regular season with his league-leading fifth NEC Player of the Week accolade. The redshirt junior from Lincroft, NJ put up huge numbers in Saint Francis U’s split that netted the Red Flash the #3 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament. He averaged 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals while shooting a torrid 67.7 percent from the floor. Cohen was in can’t miss mode on Thursday, converting 11-12 shots during a sparkling 31-point performance in Thursday’s 82-72 win over FDU that secured SFU a quarterfinal home game in the NEC Tournament. He then posted 29 points and an NEC career-high tying 12 boards against Wagner on Saturday. Cohen, who pulled down his 500th career rebound last week, became the 20th player in SFU history and 89th in NEC annals to compile 1,000 points and 500 caroms. He leads the NEC and ranks ninth nationally with 22.0 ppg. Cohen also paces the circuit in field goal percentage (.591) and is sixth in rebounding (8.1).
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Javon Bennett, Merrimack
5’11”
Fr., G, Orlando, FL/Trinity Prep
Bennett closed out his initial conference campaign with a flourish to collect his fourth NEC Rookie of the Week honor for the regular season champion Warriors. His terrific all-around numbers included 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 4.5 steals per game while shooting 4-7 (.571) from long range as Merrimack secured the #1 seed in the NEC Tournament and stretched its win streak to eight games. Bennett amassed 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals in Thursday’s 70-54 conquest of CCSU, then came back two days later to post a career-high 12 dimes, to go along with six points, four boards and four steals to spark an 80-59 win at LIU. Bennett, who hails from Orlando, FL, enters the postseason with an NEC-best 2.9 spg, good for second nationally. He’s also fourth in the league with 3.3 apg and averages 8.8 ppg.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Grant Singleton (FDU, Gr, G)
Singleton led a balanced FDU scoring attack in its split with 14.5 ppg on 61.1 percent shooting. He added 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and committed just one turnover in 60 minutes. Singleton is all over the NEC leaderboards, ranking seventh in scoring (14.6), third in assists (3.4), seventh in FG accuracy (.463), fifth in 3P percentage (.390), second in made 3P (2.4/game), fourth in steals (2.0) and first in A/TO ratio (2.66).
Javon Bennett (MC, Fr, G)
Bennett filled it up in Merrimack’s sweep, registering 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 8.5 apg and 4.5 spg while shooting 4-7 (.571) from deep. Bennett put up 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals in Thursday’s 70-54 conquest of CCSU, then came back two days later to post a career-high 12 dimes, to go along with six points, four boards and four steals. Bennett closed out the regular season with an NEC-best 2.9 spg, which ranks him second nationally. He’s also fourth with 3.3 apg and averages 8.8 ppg.
Jordan Minor (MC, Sr, F)
Minor extended his double-double streak to four and his league-leading total to 14 this season in a 2-0 week that clinched Merrimack its second regular season title and top seed in the NEC Tournament. He averaged 20.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 bpg and 2.0 spg, Minor had 19 points and 12 boards in Thursday’s win over CCSU, then went for 22 and 13 in an 80-59 victory at LIU. Minor paces the NEC with 9.5 rpg and 2.4 bpg, and ranks second in scoring (17.4) and field goal percentage (.519). He is now 33rd on the NEC’s career rebounding chart (767) and 13th all-time in blocks (189).
Joey Reilly (SHU, Sr, G)
Reilly was fantastic in a must-win game for the Pioneers on Saturday, delivering a game-high 21 points on 7-14 shooting, including a 3-5 showing from outside the arc. The 69-67 victory at CCSU secured the #4 seed for SHU and a home playoff game. Reilly scored seven straight points in a key stretch late in the second half to build a cushion for the Pios. The senior guard averaged 13.1 ppg in league play and 11.7 ppg overall on the year. He’s third in the NEC in 3P shooting (.403) and sixth in field goal percentage (.465).
Di’Andre Howell-South (SFBK, R-Fr, G)
Howell-South continues to blossom for the Terriers, and last week was his best two-game stretch of the season. The freshman contributed 15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.5 spg. He set new career-highs with 18 points, six assists and four steals at FDU on Sunday. Howell-South averages 6.4 ppg on the year.
Josh Cohen (SFU, R-Jr, F)
Cohen was simply unstoppable in SFU’s split last week that netted the Red Flash the #3 seed in the NEC playoffs. He averaged 30.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 bpg and 1.0 spg while shooting a red-hot 67.7 percent from the floor. He converted 11-12 shots in Thursday’s 82-72 win over FDU, then came back with a 29-point and an NEC career-high tying 12-rebound effort against Wagner on Saturday. With an NEC-best 22.0 ppg, he also ranks ninth nationally in scoring. Cohen paces the circuit in field goal percentage (.591) and is sixth in rebounding (8.1).
Maxwell Land (SFU, Jr, G)
Land came up big in SFU’s 82-72 win over FDU on Thursday that clinched a quarterfinal round home game for the Red Flash. He sank 8-12 overall and 4-6 from three-point territory as part of a 24-point outing that was his highest-ever output in an NEC contest. For the week, Land averaged 15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and shot 52.6 percent from the field along with 54.5 percent from long range. He ranks 11th in the NEC with 12.5 ppg and fifth with 5.5 rpg.
Brandon Brown (WC, Sr, G)
Brown averaged a double-double in a 2-0 week for the Seahawks, tallying 10.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg and 2.0 spg. On Thursday, Brown scored nine points and led all players with 11 rebounds in a 10-point win over Stonehill in a low scoring affair. Two days later, the senior helped boost the Seahawks to a victory at SFU with 11 points and a Wagner career-best 15 rebounds. Brown is the NEC’s second-leading glass cleaner with 9.1 per game, and he also ranks third in double-doubles (nine) and fifth in steals (1.9).