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2025 Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament
(all games played at home of higher seeded team)
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, March 5
#8 Le Moyne 67 at #1 CCSU 86 (BOX)
#7 Chicago State 57 at #2 LIU 68 (BOX)
#6 Wagner 55 at #3 Saint Francis U 58 (BOX)
#5 Stonehill 56 at #4 FDU 71 (BOX)
Semifinals
Saturday, March 8
#3 Saint Francis U 71 at #2 LIU 68 (BOX)
#4 FDU 72 at #1 CCSU 76 (BOX)
Championship
Tuesday, March 11
#3 Saint Francis U at #1 CCSU, 7:00 pm (Live Stats)
Watch Live: 7:00 pm on ESPN2, ESPN+
Who Will Go Dancing?
It’s the story of a proud program with high expectations, aiming to solidify its place as the dominant force in the NEC.
It’s the story of an NEC original looking to complete a dramatic run to its first NEC crown in more than three decades.
It’s the story of two NEC charter members who’ve taken different paths to arrive at the same place on NEC Championship Tuesday. Both teams have something to prove, and it will all come down to 40 minutes in New Britain on Tuesday evening.
Pat Sellers hasn’t just reignited the CCSU program; he’s revived the swagger of the revered Blue Devil teams from the early 2000s. In his fourth season at the helm, the CCSU alum and now two-time NEC Coach of the Year guided his squad to back-to-back NEC regular season titles for the first time in program history, this time with a commanding 14-2 record. The senior-laden preseason co-favorites locked up the No. 1 seed in the NEC Tournament with a week to spare and will enter the final as one of the hottest teams in the nation. CCSU has rattled off 14 straight wins - tied for the longest active streak in the country - and its 12 road wins is tied for second nationally. And at 25-6, CCSU has also notched consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time as a DI program. The Blue Devils turned heads early with statement wins at Saint Joseph’s and UMass, finishing non-conference play with an NEC-record-tying nine victories. Now, their focus shifts to the program’s quest for its first conference championship since 2007. Sellers has built a team that thrives on both ends, leading the NEC in offensive efficiency (110.2) while ranking second in defensive efficiency (92.2) during league play.
Brimming with star power, the Blue Devils boast the NEC Player a of the Year in Jordan Jones, alongside Abdul Momoh, the NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Jones was named to the All-NEC first team, while swingman Devin Haid earned second team honors and Momoh was selected to the third team.
On the other side, Saint Francis U’s path to the title game has felt like a storybook journey, with the Red Flash playing like a team of destiny.
After a significant roster overhaul, the Red Flash were predicted to finish at the bottom of the NEC standings, tying for eighth with Stonehill in the preseason coaches’ poll. But instead of faltering, SFU has thrived, with new faces accounting for five of their top six scorers on the season. Far from just reloading, SFU has found its stride, playing its best basketball when it counts the most.
The Red Flash have spent the last two weeks proving they’re built for the big moments.
Riding high on the momentum of three consecutive overtime victories to close out the regular season and claim the third seed, the drama has only intensified for Saint Francis U in the NEC Tournament. The Red Flash edged out defending NEC champion Wagner at home in the quarterfinals, with first-team All-NEC guard Riley Parker sinking three clutch free throws with just two seconds remaining. Three days later, they one-upped themselves. Trailing by 15 at the half against second-seeded LIU in the semifinals, SFU remained unfazed, mounting a remarkable comeback fueled by a star-making performance from NEC Rookie of the Year Juan Cranford Jr. to earn a 71-68 victory in Brooklyn. Cranford scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, including the game-tying bucket in the final minute and the go-ahead free throws with 1.4 seconds on the clock, capping off a heart-pounding finish eerily similar to its quarterfinal victory.
What’s at stake historically?
SFU is hunting for an NEC title 34 years in the making. The Red Flash won their lone conference championship in 1991 with a 97-82 triumph over FDU behind the play of all-time greats Joe Anderson and Mike Iuzzolino, who went on to play in the NBA two seasons for the Dallas Mavericks.
CCSU has posted a 12-1 record as the #1 seed, winning all three of its NEC crowns as the top seed under legendary head coach Howie Dickenman. The Blue Devils captured their first NEC title in 2000 on a team loaded with all-time greats, including a pair of NEC Player of the Year honorees in Rick Mickens and Corsley Edwards. CCSU ran it back in 2002, finishing with a league record 27 victories. The Blue Devils reached the summit again in 2007 behind the powerhouse trio of NEC Player of the Year Javier Mojica, Tristan Blackwood and Obie Nwadike. Now, 17 years later, CCSU has positioned itself to capture title number four before a frenzied, SRO crowd in New Britain.
With an NCAA bid at stake, Detrick Gymnasium will serve as the setting for the NEC final for the third time. Set to tipoff at 7:00 pm, the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 with Doug Sherman and Tim Welsh calling the action for the fourth straight year.
NEC Championship Key Storylines
Looking Back
This marks the third straight year CCSU and Saint Francis U will meet in the NEC Tournament. Prior to that, the two programs had never met in the postseason.
2023 Quarterfinals: #3 Saint Francis U 83, #6 CCSU 69
2024 Quarterfinals: #1 CCSU 71, #8 Saint Francis U 62
Semifinal Sizzle
The combined margin of just seven points in this year’s NEC semifinals was the smallest since 2011, when both games were decided by just two points. Likewise, the CCSU-FDU game marked the first overtime contest in the NEC semifinals since those two same teams squared off in another classic back in 2004. In that matchup, CCSU forced overtime on an iconic Justin Chiera 30-footer at the buzzer, eventually winning 76-73 in a near mirror-image of Saturday’s final score.
Preseason Poll Misfire
Back in October, a CCSU-SFU final wasn’t exactly what the coaches envisioned.
While CCSU tied for first with Wagner in the annual preseason poll, the Red Flash were picked dead last, tying with Stonehill for the eighth and last spot.
NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion three times in the last 25 years. Over the last 37 seasons, their predictions have been accurate on only five occasions, or just 14 percent of the time.
We’re Number 1
CCSU has posted a 12-1 record as the #1 seed in its history, with the lone setback coming to Wagner in the 2024 semifinals.
The Blue Devils have won all three of their titles as the #1 seed in 2000, 2002 and 2007/
Red Flash Rewind
SFU is hunting for an NEC title 34 years in the making. The Red Flash won their lone conference championship in 1991 with a 97-82 triumph over FDU behind the play of all-time greats Joe Anderson and Mike Iuzzolino, who went on to play in the NBA two seasons for the Dallas Mavericks.
Welcome Back
Saint Francis U is making its fourth NEC Finals appearance since 2017, the most by any team in the conference during that span. The Red Flash have come up short in previous title games, falling to Mount St. Mary’s in 2017, FDU in 2019 and Robert Morris in 2020.
Krimmel & Sellers
Both head coaches in Tuesday’s final are chasing their first NEC title.
Saint Francis U head coach Rob Krimmel returns to the championship game for the fourth time, while CCSU’s Pat Sellers is making his first appearance in the finals. Sellers, however, won two NEC titles as an assistant at CCSU in 2000 and 2002, and added another at FDU in 2019. Ironically, the Knights defeated SFU to claim that championship.
25 Milestone
By winning its 25th game of the season on Saturday, CCSU became the eighth NEC team to reach that milestone and first in 13 seasons. It’s the third time the Blue Devils have hit 25 victories, previously finishing 27-5 in 2001-02 and 25-6 in 1999-00.
3s The Charm
Saint Francis U will look to become the fourth #3 seed to capture the NEC Tournament crown and first in 12 years. LIU (2013) and Monmouth (1996, 2006) are the only other third-seeded teams to win the title.
Regular Season Rewind
CCSU swept Saint Francis U this season by an average of 15.5 ppg. The Blue Devils posted a 74-59 win in Loretto on January 3 in its NEC opener, then took down the visiting Red Flash, 83-67, on February 15. NEC Player of the Year Jordan Jones averaged 25.0 ppg and 5.5 apg, while shooting 69.0 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from long range in the two wins.
Home Sweet Home
CCSU has won eight straight home games entering Tuesday’s title tilt and is 13-2 overall at home this season.
Roadblock
SFU hopes to become the sixth team in NEC history to claim the league championship after winning on the road in both the semifinals and title contest. Most recently, Wagner ousted CCSU in the 2024 semis and Merrimack in the championship. Mount St. Mary’s did it three times, including in 2021 when the Mount won at Wagner in the semis and Bryant in the final. The Mount also turned the trick in 2014 with victories over Wagner in the semis and Robert Morris in the title tilt, and in 2008, downing Robert Morris in the semis and Sacred Heart for the championship. Monmouth accomplished it in 2006, beating CCSU in the semis and FDU for the championship.
Krimmel & NEC Tournament
Saint Francis U head coach Rob Krimmel holds an 11-10 record in the NEC playoffs, with seven semifinal appearances and now four trips to the finals.
As a player for the Red Flash, Krimmel competed in three NEC Tournaments and later made five appearances as an assistant coach.
Sellers & NEC Tournament
CCSU fourth-year head coach Pat Sellers is 4-3 overall in the NEC playoffs.
Sellers took part in four NEC Tournaments as an assistant coach at CCSU from 1999-03 and then two more while assisting at FDU from 2017-19.
See The Stars, They’re Shining Bright
These stars will never let you down.
CCSU is stacked with elite talent. The Blue Devils won three of the five major NEC individual awards at the conclusion of the regular season.
NEC Player of the Year: Jordan Jones, CCSU
NEC Defensive Player of the Year: Abdul Momoh, CCSU
NEC Coach of the Year: Pat Sellers, CCSU
Title Game Records
In NEC finals, CCSU holds a 3-2 record while Saint Francis U is 1-3 all-time.
Home Cooking
Teams hosting the NEC championship game have posted a 24-14 record (.632).
1 vs. 3
This year marks the fourth time we will see a #1 vs. #3 matchup in the NEC title game, the last coming in 2012 when top-seeded LIU beat Robert Morris.
Where’s No 2?
A six-year streak of the No. 2 seed advancing to the NEC final has been broken.
CCSU In The Postseason
CCSU has qualified for the NCAA Tournament on three occasions.
Year Seed Opponent Result
2000 15 Iowa State Loss, 88-78
2002 14 Pittsburgh Loss, 71-54
2007 16 Ohio State Loss, 78-57
SFU In The Postseason
SFU competed in the 1991 NCAA Tournament .
Year Seed Opponent Result
1991 15 Arizona Loss, 91-80
The Red Flash have competed in the NIT Tournament four times, highlighted by a trip to the Final Four in 1955.
1954 Brigham Young Win, 81-68
Duquesne Loss, 69-63
1955 Seton Hall Win, 89-78
Holy Cross Win, 68-64
Dayton Loss, 79-73
Cincinnati Loss, 96-91
1958 Fordham Loss, 83-59
2019 Indiana Loss, 89-76
SFU also competed in the CIT three times.
2015 Bowling Green Loss, 67-64
2017 Jacksonville Won, 78-76
UMBC Loss, 87-79
2018 UIC Loss, 84-61
How About Overtime?
There have been three NEC championship games that have gone to overtime, with the most recent being LIU’s 85-82 win over Robert Morris in the 2011 title game. Also going past regulation were FDU’s 63-59 win over Loyola (MD) in 1985 and Marist’s 57-56 triumph over FDU in 1986.
NEC Championship Game Trivia
An NEC charter member will be competing for the NEC title for the 16th time in the last 16 years.
Wagner owns the distinction of being the lone team to win on the road in all three rounds on its way to the championship, doing so in 2024 as the #6 seed.
Wagner (2024) and Mount St. Mary’s (1999) were the lowest seeded teams (#6) to win the NEC Tournament. In 2008, 2014 and 2021, the Mount became the second lowest seeded team (#4) to win it all. LIU also claimed the crown as the #4 seed in 2018.
Seven NEC championship games have been decided by exactly one point, including Merrimack’s 67-66 win over FDU in the 2023 title tilt. A total of 18 have been decided by five points or less and 29 by ten or fewer points.
Monmouth’s rally from a 20-point second half deficit against St. Francis Brooklyn to win the 2001 NEC crown marked the biggest championship game comeback in league history.
It is the most famous finish in NEC Tournament history and Wagner was a part of it. In what will forever be known as “The Shot,” Rider’s Darrick Suber earned a place in NEC annals and ESPN Championship Week history in 1993. Rider and Wagner battled tooth-and-nail for 39-plus minutes as Suber and the Green & White’s Bobby Hopson waged their own individual dual. With the Broncs trailing by a point in the game’s waning seconds, Suber went coast-to-coast and hit an off-balance leaner just inside the free-throw line as time expired. The victory sent the Broncs Zoo into a frenzy and for a short time, brought the NEC into the forefront of the college basketball world.
Team-By-Team Capsules
#1 CCSU (25-6, 14-2 NEC)
• Top-seeded CCSU watched what appeared to be a runaway victory turn into a grueling battle of attrition on Saturday, but the Blue Devils survived a furious FDU rally to hold on for a 76-72 overtime win in the NEC semifinals to secure the program’s first NEC final appearance since 2007.
• Junior swingman Devin Haid was magnificent against FDU, erupting for a career-high 29 points on 12-16 shooting and a 4-6 mark from downtown.
• CCSU took care of business in the NEC quarterfinals, riding a red-hot first half to post an 86-67 win over eighth-seeded Le Moyne at Detrick Gymnasium.
• CCSU drained 11-17 shots from beyond the arc in a 51-point opening stanza against Le Moyne, then hit 9-18 to build a 41-24 lead at the break vs. FDU. Over the two games, the Blue Devils have shot 20-35 (.571) from deep in the opening 20 minutes, but just 3-15 (.200) after intermission.
• Senior Jaelen McGlone scored a CCSU career-high 18 points off the bench vs. Le Moyne, hitting 4-7 from beyond the arc.
• On February 22, CCSU clinched the NEC Tournament top seed for the second straight year and fifth time in its history. It marked the first back-to-back regular season crowns for the program. The Blue Devils previously captured regular season titles and earned the #1 seed in 1999-00, 2001-02 and 2006-07.
• Riding a 14-game win streak that’s tied for the longest in the nation, CCSU also boasts the second-most road wins in the country (12) and the second-longest active road win streak (9).
• Pat Sellers has guided CCSU to the postseason in all four of his years as head coach.
• CCSU has compiled a 12-1 record and won all three of its NEC titles as the #1 seed in the NEC Tournament. The Blue Devils raised the trophy in 2000, 2002 and 2007.
• The Blue Devils’ quarterfinal win over Saint Francis U in 2024 marked their first non-opening round NEC Tournament victory since defeating SFBK in the 2011 quarterfinals.
• CCSU’s 2022 opening round victory at FDU was the program’s first true road win in the NEC Tournament for the Blue Devils. They entered 0-10 as the road team in the postseason.
• After qualifying for 16 straight NEC Tournaments from 1999-2014, CCSU missed out on six of the next seven before reestablishing itself as a contender.
• CCSU is 19-17 (.528) all-time in NEC Tournament play.
• The Blue Devils are 1-0 in NEC opening round games, 9-12 in quarterfinal games, 6-3 in semifinal games and 3-2 in the finals.
• CCSU is 1-1 all-time against SFU in the NEC Tournament. The two teams met in the 2023 (won by SFU) and 2024 (won by CCSU) quarterfinals.
• CCSU swept SFU in the regular season by an average of 15.5 ppg.
• Sellers won a pair of NEC championship rings during his time as a CCSU assistant in 2000 and 2002. He also earned a ring as an assistant at FDU in 2019.
• CCSU’s 14 NEC wins this season were its most since finishing 16-2 in 2006-07.
• The Blue Devils’ .844 win percentage in league play over the last two seasons is the fifth-best mark in NEC history. CCSU has compiled a 27-5 conference mark from 2023-25.
• CCSU led the league in offensive efficiency (109.7) and ranked second in defensive efficiency (91.9) in conference play.
#3 Saint Francis U (15-17, 8-8 NEC)
• Saint Francis U won yet another thriller on Saturday, rallying from 15 down at halftime to stun #2 LIU, 71-68, in Brooklyn, earning its first NEC finals berth since 2020.
• NEC Rookie of the Year Juan Cranford Jr. put on a show, scoring 17 of his 20 points in the second half, including the game-tying layup with 43 seconds to play. But his biggest points were his final points. Cranford was fouled taking a three with 1.4 seconds to play, and he calmly sank all three free throws to win it for the Red Flash.
• One game earlier in the NEC quarterfinals, the Red Flash scored the go-ahead points in eerily similar fashion on three free throws from first team All-NEC guard Riley Parker with 2.4 seconds remaining to lift SFU over Wagner, 58-55, in Loretto.
• As if the two playoff games weren’t dramatic enough, SFU won its last three regular season games in OT.
• Saint Francis U battled its way into the NEC Tournament’s top four, locking up the No. 3 seed on the final day of the regular season.
• The Red Flash returned to the NEC playoffs for the tenth time in 11 seasons.
• SFU’s seven straight postseason appearances from 2014-20 marked its longest stretch since qualifying for 10 straight NEC Tournaments from 1989-98.
• This marks SFU’s third time as the No. 3 seed in program history (2018, 2023, 2025).
• Over the last decade, SFU has hosted quarterfinal games from 2017-20, 2023 and now 2025. That ended a long run of playing 15 consecutive NEC playoff games on the road or neutral sites.
• The Red Flash have reached the NEC semifinals seven times since 2014.
• SFU’s championship game appearances in 2017, 2019 and 2020 were its first since winning its lone NEC title in 1991.
• SFU is 0-2 all-time when playing against the #1 seed in the NEC Championship game with setbacks at Mount St. Mary’s in 2017 and Robert Morris in 2020.
• Prior to a victory in the 2014 quarterfinals, SFU had not won an NEC Tournament game since 1995.
• SFU is 1-1 all-time against CCSU in the NEC Tournament. The two teams met in the 2023 (won by SFU) and 2024 (won by CCSU) quarterfinals.
• Rob Krimmel is 11-10 overall in NEC Tournament play as SFU’s head coach.
• This marks Rob Krimmel’s 18th NEC Tournament as a player or coach.
• The Red Flash are 17-29 all-time in NEC Tournament play, including a 12-4 record at home, 5-20 record on the road and 0-5 at neutral sites.
NEC TOURNAMENT TITLES AND RECORDS
SCHOOL TITLES LAST TOURNEY RECORD
LIU 6 2018 38-30
FDU 6 2019 37-30
Central Connecticut 3 2007 19-17
Wagner 2 2024 28-35
Saint Francis U 1 1991 17-29
Le Moyne 0 1-2
Chicago State 0 0-1
Stonehill 0 0-1
PAST NEC TOURNAMENT WINNERS AND MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
2024 -- #6 Wagner 54, #2 Merrimack 47 (Tahron Allen, WC)
2023 -- #1 Merrimack def. #2 FDU, 67-66 (Ziggy Reid, MC)
2022 -- #1 Bryant def. #2 Wagner, 70-43 (Peter Kiss, BRY)
2021 -- #4 Mount St. Mary’s def. #2 Bryant, 73-68 (Nana Opoku, MSM)
2020 -- #1 Robert Morris def. #1 Saint Francis U, 77-67 (Dante Treacy, RMU)
2019 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #1 Saint Francis U, 85-76 (Darnell Edge, FDU)
2018 -- #4 LIU def. #1 Wagner, 71-61 (Joel Hernandez, LIU)
2017 -- #1 Mount St. Mary's def. #4 Saint Francis U, 71-61 (Elijah Long, MSM)
2016 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #1 Wagner, 87-79 (Earl Potts Jr., FDU)
2015 -- #2 Robert Morris def. #1 St. Francis Brooklyn, 66-63 (Rodney Pryor, RMU)
2014 -- #4 Mount St. Mary’s def. #1 Robert Morris, 88-71 (Rashad Whack, MSM)
2013 -- #3 LIU def. #5 Mount St. Mary’s, 91-70 (C.J. Garner, LIU)
2012 -- #1 LIU def. #3 Robert Morris, 90-73 (Julian Boyd, LIU)
2011 -- #1 LIU def. #3 Robert Morris, 85-82 (OT) (Jamal Olasewere, LIU)
2010 -- #2 Robert Morris def. #1 Quinnipiac, 52-50 (Karon Abraham, RMU)
2009 -- #1 Robert Morris def. #2 Mount St. Mary’s, 48-46 (Jeremy Chappell, RMU)
2008 -- #4 Mount St. Mary’s def. #3 Sacred Heart, 68-55 (Jean Cajou, MSM)
2007 -- #1 Central Connecticut def. #2 Sacred Heart, 74-70 (Javier Mojica, CCSU)
2006 -- #3 Monmouth def. #1 Fairleigh Dickinson, 49-48 (Marques Alston, MU)
2005 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #6 Wagner, 58-52 (Tamien Trent, FDU)
2004 -- #1 Monmouth def. #7 Central Connecticut State, 67-55 (Blake Hamilton, MU)
2003 -- #1 Wagner def. #6 St. Francis Brooklyn, 78-61 (Jermaine Hall, WC)
2002 -- #1 Central Connecticut def. #7 Quinnipiac, 78-71 (Damian Battles, CCSU)
2001 -- #2 Monmouth def. #1 St. Francis Brooklyn, 67-64 (Rahsaan Johnson, MU)
2000 -- #1 Central Connecticut def. #3 Robert Morris, 63-46 (Rick Mickens, CCSU)
1999 -- #6 Mount St. Mary’s def. #4 Central Connecticut , 72-56 (Gregory Harris, MSM)
1998 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #1 LIU, 105-91 (Rahshon Turner, FDU)
1997 -- #1 LIU def. #3 Monmouth, 72-67 (Charles Jones, LIU)
1996 -- #3 Monmouth def. #4 Rider, 60-59 (Corey Albano, MU)
1995 -- #2 Mount St. Mary’s def. #1 Rider, 69-62 (Silas Cheung, MSM)
1994 -- #1 Rider def. #2 Monmouth, 62-56 (Charles Smith, RID)
1993 -- #1 Rider def. #2 Wagner, 65-64 (Darrick Suber, RID)
1992 -- #1 Robert Morris def. #7 Marist, 85-81 (Myron Walker, RMU)
1991 -- #1 St. Francis U def. #2 Fairleigh Dickinson, 97-82 (Mike Iuzzolino, SFPA)
1990 -- #1 Robert Morris def. #2 Monmouth, 71-66 (Alex Blackwell, MU)
1989 -- #1 Robert Morris def. #2 Fairleigh Dickinson, 67-66 (Vaughn Luton, RMU)
1988 -- #1 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #2 Monmouth, 90-75 (Jaime Latney, FDU)
1987 -- #1 Marist def. #2 Fairleigh Dickinson, 64-55 (OT) (Drafton Davis, MAR)
1986 -- #2 Marist def. #1 Fairleigh Dickinson, 57-56 (OT) (Rik Smits, MAR)
1985 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #4 Loyola (MD), 63-59 (Larry Hampton, FDU)
1984 -- #1 LIU def. #2 Robert Morris, 87-81 (Carey Scurry, LIU)
1983 -- #1S Robert Morris def. #1N LIU, 79-67 (Chipper Harris, RMU)
1982 -- #1S Robert Morris def. #2N LIU, 85-84 (Tom Parks, RMU)