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NEC Player of the Week: Jordan Jones, CCSU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Darin Smith Jr., CCSU
Previous NEC Releases: Preseason Poll Release
 
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Jones, CCSU
Sr., G, 6-0, 180 lbs.
Florence, SC/ Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Coker)
Jones, a second team All-NEC pick a year ago and 2024-25 Preseason All-NEC honoree, opened his senior year in peak form for the NEC co-favorites. The Florence, NC native averaged 17.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg and shot 84.6 percent from the line in a 1-1 week, highlighted by an eye-opening 73-67 win at Saint Joseph’s last Friday. Jones tallied 13 points, a game-high six assists and five rebounds in the road victory. He converted a traditional three-point play with 3:24 to play, then assisted on Davonte Sweatman’s triple that extended CCSU’s lead to seven with 1:42 remaining. On opening night last Monday, he sparked the Blue Devils to a near upset of Providence, tying for game scoring honors with 21 points on 8-18 shooting in a 59-55 setback. Jones added three steals and was 5-6 from the stripe.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Darin Smith, Jr., CCSU
R-Fr., F, 6-7, 190 lbs.
Springfield, MA/Vermont Academy
Amidst a lineup of senior standouts, Smith Jr. brought a veteran’s poise to CCSU’s 73-67 victory over Saint Joseph’s last Friday. The redshirt freshman came off the bench to score 13 points on 6-8 shooting, and added a pair of steals. Smith served in the catalyst in a game-changing 9-0 run that gave the Blue Devils the lead midway through the second half, converting a pair of layups in the spurt. With CCSU nursing a three-point lead late in the contest, Smith knocked down a clutch three-pointer from the wing with 2:27 on the clock to give the Blue Devils a 68-62 lead. For the week, the Springfield, MA native averaged 6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg and shot 54.5 percent from the field. He added a pair of steals and a block.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
 
Jordan Jones (CCSU, Sr, G)
Last week: 17.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 84.6 FT%

- Tied for team-scoring honors and dished a game-high six dimes in CCSU’s 73-67 win at Saint Joseph’s on Friday.
- Dropped a game-high 21 points and added three steals in the Blue Devils’ narrow setback at Providence on opening night.

Abdul Momoh (CCSU, Sr, F)
Last week: 10.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg, 70.0 FG%

- Narrowly missed a double-double in CCSU’s victory at Saint Joseph’s, compiling 9 points on 4-5 shooting, along with 11 boards.

Gabe Spinelli (CSU, Jr, G)
Last week: 14.0 ppg, 1.5 apg, 50.0 FG%

- The son of Chicago State head coach Scott Spinelli paced the Cougars in scoring in each of its first two games, ringing up 13 at Loyola Chicago and 15 vs. Youngstown State.

Terrence Brown (FDU, So, G)
Last week: 20.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 spg, 2.0 spg, 52.3 FG%

- The 2023-24 NEC All-Rookie pick led the NEC in scoring during opening week, with 19 at Creighton and 18 vs. Miami (FL), both team-leading figures.

Dylan Jones (FDU, Jr, G)
Last week: 13.3 ppg, 1.0 spg, 46.2 FG%

- Jones kicked off his FDU and NEC career with a bang, lighting it up from three-point range. He made 5-10 in the Knights’ opener at Miami (FL), then drilled 4-8 in Sunday’s outing at #15 Creighton.

Will Amica (LEM, Gr, G)
Last week: 14.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 52.6 FG%, 83.3 3P%

- Albany transfer came off the bench to score 12 points in 13 minutes on 5-9 shooting from the field and 2-2 from deep at Syracuse.
- Drilled 3-4 from long range in a 16-point, 8-rebound effort vs. CSUN.

Zek Tekin (LEM, Jr, G)
Last week: 12.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.0 spg, 64.7 FG%

- Siena transfer finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a game-high six assists in Le Moyne’s near upset of Syracuse.
- Paced the Dolphins with 17 points, including a 10-12 mark from the stripe, vs. CSUN.

Malachi Davis (LIU, R-Jr, G)
Last week: 16.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.5 spg, 90.0 FT%

- The Arizona State transfer scored 19 points in his LIU debut, tying for the team lead, in the Sharks’ opener at #24 Ole Miss last Monday. He hit 7-15 from the floor and 2-3 from long range.

Jeff Planutis (MU, Gr, F)
Last week: 15.0 ppg, 2.0 spg, 50.0 FG%, 54.5 FT%, 1.000 FT%

- Scored a game-high 21 points in Mercyhurst’s first DI game against George Washington on Monday, converting 7-14 from the field and 2-4 from deep.

#NECMBB BY THE NUMBERS
 
4 - Under Pat Sellers, CCSU has returned four players who are four-year players in the program: Jayden Brown, Abdul Momoh, Joe Ostrowsky & Davonte Sweatman.

18 - CCSU turned the ball over just 18 times in its first two games, a four-point setback at Providence and a six-point win at Saint Joseph’s.

19 - Of the NEC’s top-30 scorers after the first week of the regular season, 19 are newcomers to the conference.

19 - FDU sank 19 three-pointers in last Friday’s win over Purchase, matching the Knights’ NEC single-game from last season in a win over Penn St.-Brandywine.

#NECMBB FAST BREAK

CCSU
CCSU’s win at Saint Joseph’s (92) was its first over a KenPom Top-100 team since beating La Salle (74) on November 18, 2012.

Chicago St.
Junior guard Saxby Sutherland, a transfer from Longwood, converted 16-18 shots from the line in his first two games for the NEC newcomers.

FDU
Newcomer Dylan Jones has hit 12 trifectas over his first three outings, including a 9-18 mark over two games vs. Miami (FL) & #15 Creighton.

Le Moyne
A transfer from UT-Arlington, Dwayne Koroma shot an astounding 87.5% from the field last week, making 16-18 shots.

LIU
LIU rang up 23 steals in its win over Pratt on Saturday, the most by an NEC team since Merrimack had 26 vs. Lesley on Nov. 22, 2019.

Mercyhurst
Preseason All-NEC forward Jeff Planutis powered MU to its first DI win, scoring the Lakers’ final 7 points in a 78-73 victory at Morgan St.

Saint Francis U
SFU’s win at Campbell was it’s first in the state of North Carolina since 1971 and also the program’s first ever road win vs. a CAA opponent.

Stonehill
Josh Morgan scored 25 points In his Stonehill debut last Monday, just three shy of his career high set during his time at Incarnate Word.

Wagner
Senior guard Javier Ezquerra has dished for 12 assists to just one turnover in his first two games.
  
TOP STORYLINES FROM #NECMBB TIPOFF WEEK

Here’s all you need to know from the opening week of the 2024-25 season...

>> PHILLY FEELING BLUE AFTER BIG CCSU WIN
 
Selected as NEC co-favorites by the league’s head coaches last month, CCSU made a statement during opening week, looking every bit the contender - and then some.
 
CCSU took Providence right down to the wire on opening night before dropping a 59-55 decision, but the Blue Devils were undeterred, turning their road trip to the City of Brotherly Love into a well-earned 73-67 victory over Saint Joseph’s on Friday.
 
Trailing 46-42 with 14 minutes remaining against the Hawks, CCSU redshirt freshman forward Darin Smith Jr. (Springfield, MA/Vermont Academy) sparked a 9-0 run with a pair of layups, handing the Blue Devils a lead it would not relinquish.
 
To get across the finish line, the Blue Devils knocked down a series of clutch, highlight-worthy shots.
 
With CCSU clinging to a two-point lead, senior guard Joe Ostrowsky (Mt. Pleasant, MI/Cheshire Academy (CT)) drilled a straight-on, 30-foot rainbow to beat the shot clock with 6:07 to play.
 
A minute later, senior guard Davonte Sweatman (Boston, MA/Lawrence Academy) hit a runner off glass as the shot clock was set to expire to boost CCSU’s lead to 62-55.
 
Up by three, senior guard Jordan Jones (Florence, SC/Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Coker)) knifed through the Hawks’ defense, switched hands and converted a lefty layup and was fouled for a three-point play at the 3:24 mark.
 
Smith came through with perhaps the biggest shot of the game, drilling a contested wing three as the shot clock expired, bringing CCSU’s lead to 68-62 with 2:29 to go.
 
On CCSU’s next possession, Sweatman hit the dagger. After the Blue Devils ate up most the shot clock, Jones lost control of the ball in the lane, regained it, then zipped a pass to Sweatman, who calmly sank a 27-footer from well past the top of the key.
 
Smith, Jones and senior forward Jayden Brown (Providence, RI/Tilton School (NH)) led the Blue Devils with 13 points apiece, while senior forward Abdul Momoh (Carteret, NJ/The Patrick School) hit 4-5 from the field and finished with nine points, 11 boards and two blocks.
 
>> CCSU WIN IN PERSPECTIVE
 
CCSU’s win over Saint Joseph’s was the program’s first over a top-100 KenPom team in nearly 12 years.
 
Saint Joseph’s entered the game ranked 92nd. The Blue Devils moved up 29 spots after the win.
 
CCSU travelled down to Philadelphia to knock off La Salle, 81-74, back on November 18, 2012. The Explorers were ranked 72nd at the time and finished the year 50th in the nation according to KenPom. In that game, Adonis Burbage hit 5-6 shots from three-point land in a 21-point effort.
 
>> LAKERS MAKE D1 DEBUT, PICK UP ROAD WIN AT MORGAN ST.
 
One of the NEC’s shiny new additions, Mercyhurst wrapped up its first week as a DI program with two wins already under its belt.
 
After opening with a 76-59 setback at George Washington in a game that was tied at intermission, the Lakers completed their Mid-Atlantic trip with a 78-73 triumph at Morgan State two days later for the program’s first DI win.

With the game tied at 71 in the final minute, preseason All-NEC forward Jeff Planutis (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton (Woodstock Academy)) took the game into his own hands.
 
The grad student hit a clutch three-pointer with 29 seconds left, then sealed the win by sinking four straight free throws, scoring the Lakers’ final seven points.

Freshman forward Mykolas Ivanauskas (Chicago, IL/Sunrise Christian Academy) made an impact in his second collegiate game, coming off the bench to score a game-high 16 points on 8-11 shooting in just 14 minutes. He also grabbed a game-best seven rebounds. 

Mercyhurst banked another win on Saturday, rolling past D3 Houghton, 88-62, in their home debut at Owen McCormick Court.
 
>> NEC9: NEWCOMERS OF NOTE
 
These newbies made a strong impression in their first NEC action last week.

>> LE MOYNE & SYRACUSE
 
The JMA Wireless Dome may have been cloaked in orange last Monday, but the Syracuse fans were seeing green much of the night.
 
Le Moyne took the Orange right down to the wire in the battle of 315 rivals in front of over 19,000 fans in both teams’ season opener.
 
While Syracuse walked away with an 86-82 win, the 82 points scored by Le Moyne were the most by a non-conference opponent in the JMA Dome since Indiana scored 110 on November 30, 2021.
 
The Dolphins came out strong, building a 41-36 lead at intermission by holding Syracuse to just 31.6 percent shooting.
 
A 9-0 run gave Syracuse a 76-68 lead with 4:31 to go, but Le Moyne would not quit.
 
Albany transfer Will Amica (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee (Albany)) hit a triple, and after the Orange responded with a layup, junior forward Freds Pauls Bagatskis (Riga, Latvia/Complejo Educativo Mas Camarena (Georgia Tech/UT Arlington)) was fouled on a three-point attempt and sank all three from the stripe to make it a 78-74 game.
 
With Syracuse up by five, junior guard Trent Mosquera (Brookline, MA/Belmont Hill School) drilled a three at the 1:02 mark. The Orange answered with a layup, but Bagatskis popped his third trifecta of the contest to cut it to one with 22 seconds remaining.
 
Syracuse made 1-2 free throws, giving the Dolphins a chance to tie or win it on their final possession, but it was not to be.
 
A turnover on a dribble handoff attempt gave the ball back to the Orange, who salted the game away at the line.
 
Five Le Moyne players reached double digits, led by Bagatskis, who had 17 points.
 
Of Le Moyne’s 82 points, 59 came via newcomers to the roster.
 
The Dolphins held Syracuse to 4-22 shooting from long range.

>> PINEDO POWERS RED FLASH COMEBACK
 
After playing sparingly in two seasons at East Carolina, Valentino Pinedo (Murcia, Spain/Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) (East Carolina)) seized his moment for Saint Francis U on Sunday.
 
The 6’8” junior forward delivered in the clutch, punctuating SFU’s rally from a 15-point deficit to secure a dramatic 65-64 victory at Campbell.
 
Pinedo’s layup tied the game at 62 with 1:39 on the clock and again at 64 with a tip-in with 49 seconds remaining. After SFU generated a stop on the other end, the Red Flash wound the clock down. With the ball in his hands, Pinedo was fouled with one second to play. After he missed the first free throw, the Camels took a timeout to ice the SFU newcomer, but Pinedo calmly sank the second free throw to win it.
 
Pinedo finished with a career-high 15 points and pulled down five boards.
 
Two days earlier, the Murcia, Spain native recorded eight points and five boards at Clemson.
 
“It was great to win a game early in the season where we didn’t fill up the stat sheet,” said Krimmell. “We played with more purpose and togetherness in the second half. We executed the game plan much better on both ends. Several guys stepped up down the stretch to allow Val to win it at the free throw line.”
 
It marked the 19th time under Krimmel that the Red Flash has rallied from a 10-point deficit for the victory. The 15 points are the fifth most under the 13-year head coach, a feat the team has now accomplished eight times.
 
Sophomore guard Ace Talbert (Wyandanch, NY/Scotland Campus (PA)) led the Flash with 18 points, hitting 4-6 shots from downtown.
 
>> DAVIS & DAVIS
 
The new-look LIU squad received stellar performances from a pair of newcomers in its opener at #24 Ole Miss.
 
Redshirt junior guard Malachi Davis (Toronto, ON/Central Tech (Tallahassee CC/Lake Land College/Arizona State)) and classmate Brent Davis (Miramar, FL/Miramar (The Citadel/Chicago State)) both dropped 19 points and combined for 38 of the Sharks’ 60 points.
 
>> THIS & THAT
 
LIU ranks in the NCAA top-10 in steals (4th, 16.0/gm), turnovers forced (7th, 22.0/gm) and turnover margin (13th, +9.5).
 
Mercyhurst is shooting 84.7 percent from the line after its first three games, which ranks 11th nationally. Senior guard Bernie Blunt III (Morgantown, PA/Peddie School (Edinboro/Quinnipiac)) is a perfect 15-15 from the stripe and grad student forward Jeff Planutis (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton (Woodstock Academy)) has made all 11 of his attempts at the line.
 
Wagner hit 15-29 shots from three-point land in its win over Manor on Saturday. Senior forward Tyje Kelton (Dunellen, NJ/Covenant College Prep) splashed 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc in a 15-point effort.
 
Wagner senior guard Javier Ezquerra (San Juan, Puerto Rico/IMG Academy) posted his first career double-double, finishing with 12 points and a career-high matching 10 dimes against Manor.