Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart
6-2, 180lbs
Sr., G, Killingly, CT/Killingly
Gibson, a senior guard, fueled Sacred Heart to its biggest second-half comeback in its Division I era, scoring 24 of his game-high 29 points in the second half and overtime to lift the Pioneers to an 85-82 victory over Yale in the Connecticut 6 Classic on Saturday. Trailing 44-28 at the break, the preseason All-NEC selection and nation’s fourth-leading scorer a year ago, sparked runs of 14-0 and 11-0 in the second half before hitting a layup with just eight seconds remaining to make it a 76-76 game and give the crowd some free basketball. He then chipped in two more points in OT as SHU overcame another deficit, this one of the five-point variety, 81-76, and outscored the Bulldogs 9-1 in the final three minutes. Gibson hit 11-21 shots from the floor, and also finished with six rebounds and one block in 38 minutes worth of action.
Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Andrew Nicholas, Monmouth
6-6, 205lbs
So., G, Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York
Nicholas netted a career-high 28 points in just 27 minutes as Monmouth routed Colonial Athletic Association foe Hofstra 91-62 at home last Friday. The sophomore wing did most of his damage in the first half, dropping 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point range. For the game, the Wrightville, PA product finished 10-for-22 from the floor and 4-for-8 from distance. He also added three assists and three rebounds, all of which came on the defensive side of the ball.
Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week
Kendrick Ray, Quinnipiac
6-3, 180lbs
Fr., G, Middletown, NY/Middletown
Ray recorded eight points in the Bobcats’ 65-61 win over Hartford on Saturday at the Connecticut 6 Classic. He went 3-for-7 from the field and chipped in two points from the charity stripe in his collegiate debut. The 6-3 guard capped off the game with a layup with just 11 seconds remaining, sealing the final score. The brother of former Villanova star and Boston Celtic Allan Ray also added one assist and one rebound in 23 minutes of action off the bench.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
SACRED HEART’S COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: It looked bleak for an undermanned Sacred Heart team on Saturday. Playing without injured starters Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) and Chris Evans (Stamford, CT/Stamford (Taft School)), the Pioneers trailed by 24 points with under 14 minutes to play against Yale in game two of the Connecticut 6 Classic. An 11-0 run over the next four minutes gave the Big Red some life, and the chance for All-NEC guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) to take over. The NEC Co-Player of the Week first scored seven straight points to cut the lead to 71-63 with 5:45 to play. The Pioneers continued to chip away and Gibson’s bucket with 1:11 on the clock sliced the lead to one at 73-72. Down by a deuce, Gibson sliced in for a clutch layup with eight ticks on the clock to force OT. Sacred Heart fell behind by five in the extra session, but scored the last eight points of the game, including two free throws by sophomore guard Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) with 19 seconds to go as the Pioneers pulled out the 85-82 victory. Gibson, who ranked fourth in the nation in scoring last season, finished with 24 of his game-high 29 points in the second half and overtime, while junior forward Louis Montes (Brockton, MA/Brockton) posted his sixth career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
CONNECTICUT 6 WRAPUP: The NEC came ever so close to earning a sweep at the annual Connecticut 6 Classic on Saturday. Along with Sacred Heart’s improbable comeback win, Quinnipiac posted a methodical 65-61 win over host Hartford in the opener, and CCSU fell in overtime to Fairfield, 64-63.
A 9-2 Quinnipiac run that culminated in Garvey Young’s (Washington, D.C./Georgetown Prep (Vermont)) three-pointer with 3:54 to play gave the Bobcats a 58-53 lead, and a layup with 11 seconds to go by freshman Kendrick Ray (Middletown, NY/Middletown) sealed the victory for QU. Junior forward Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep (CT)) led the way with 17 points and nine boards, while Young finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. In the nightcap, a new-look CCSU team had a chance to win in the final seconds, but sophomore guard Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) couldn’t get his layup attempt to drop with six seconds to go and the game went to overtime. With the score deadlocked at 63 in the extra session, the Blue Devils had another chance to secure the victory in the final seconds, by Vinales came up short on a shot, and Fairfield was fouled going to the hoop in transition. The Stags hit one-of-two free throws with two ticks left on the clock to seal the win. Vinales, who led all NCAA freshman in scoring a year ago, paced CCSU with 18 points. Newcomer Matt Hunter (Detroit, MI/Henry Ford (Odessa JC)) had an impressive debut with 16 points, five rebounds, four steals and a pair of blocks.
BIKE’S 1,000TH IS A MEMORABLE ONE: There is no disputing Dave Bike is a legendary figure both at Sacred Heart and in the New England coaching ranks. Now in his 35th(!) year at the helm of the program, Bike is the second -longest tenured coach at the same Division I institution behind Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, who has spent 37 years leading the Orange. Bike, who coached SHU’s Division II national championship team in 1986 and reached two NEC title games in 2007 and 2008, took the floor for the 1,000th time as Pioneer head coach on Saturday. Of the 1,000 games, the rally from a 24-point deficit to stun Yale in overtime had to rank among his greatest triumphs. The second half comeback was the biggest in Sacred Heart’s Division I history and gave the Pioneers their third win in four tries at the Connecticut 6 Classic.
MAC ATTACK: Monmouth was the only team to play at home on opening weekend, and they gave 2,307 fans at the MAC something to remember. With the Jersey Shore school recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, King Rice’s charges gave the entire region a shot in the arm with a convincing 91-62 win over Hofstra. The Hawks dropped 50 points in the first half and took a 19-point lead into the break, then pulled away in the second half to register their largest margin of victory in a game since trouncing FIU, 99-70, in the 2010 season opener. Sophomore Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York), the NEC Co-Player of the Week, led the way with a career-high 28 points, including four shots from outside the arc.
NEWCOMERS OF NOTE: A number of newcomers to the NEC made good first impressions last week, none more than Quinnipiac freshman guard Kendrick Ray (Middletown, NY/Middletown). The NEC Rookie of the Week and brother of Allan Ray, a former Villanova star and member of the Boston Celtics back in 2006-07, scored eight points, including the game’s key bucket. With the Bobcats nursing a two point lead and Hartford applying full court pressure, senior guard Dave Johnson (Jackson, NJ/St. Mark’s (MA) School) found Ray down the court for a layup with 11 seconds to play to clinch the 65-61 victory.
Along with Ray, here are a host of NEC newcomers who made impressive debuts:
Dyami Starks (BRY, So, G): 8 points, 3 steals vs. Indiana
Matt Hunter (CCSU, Jr, F): 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals vs. Fairfield
E.J. Reed (LIU, Fr, F): 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block vs. Morehead State
Steve Spinella (MU, Sr, G): 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists vs. Hofstra
Rashad Whack (MSM, Jr, G): 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3-6 3PFG vs. Pitt
Kendrick Ray (QU, Fr, G): 8 points vs. Hartford
Karvel Anderson (RMU, Jr, G): 11 points, 4 rebounds vs. Rider
Tevin Falzon (SHU, Fr, F): 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block vs. Yale
Ronnie Drinnion (SFPA, Fr, F): 6 points, 5 rebounds vs. Penn State
COACHING DEBUTS: Three of the NEC’s four first year head coaches made their debuts over the weekend. While all three came up short, there was still plenty of reason for optimism. Saint Francis (PA) fans are certainly familiar with Rob Krimmel, who played for the Red Flash from 1996-00 and served as an assistant coach the next 12 seasons. On Friday, a young SFU team made its way to State College and was within one point of Penn State with just over seven minutes to go before falling, 65-58. Another former NEC player returned to his alma mater in the offseason at Mount St. Mary’s. Jamion Christian was a three-year captain for the Mountaineers during his time in Emmitsburg from 1999-03 and served as an assistant at VCU under Shaka Smart during the Rams’ run to Round of 32 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. On Friday, he brought Mount St. Mary’s to Pitt, and after hitting 6-8 from three-point range, the Mount held an 18-17 lead to start the game. Pitt eventually took over, and poured it on late for an 80-48 win. At LIU Brooklyn, longtime assistant Jack Perri took over the reins of the two-time defending NEC champions. Taking on Morehead State in the first game at the Barclays Center, the Blackbirds rallied from 11 down at the under four minute timeout of the second half to cut the lead to one with six seconds to play, but came up short, 77-74. Wagner’s Bashir Mason, the nation’s youngest Division I head coach at 28 years old, will get his shot on Wednesday when the Seahawks play at Delaware State. Mason served as an assistant for the Green & White the last two years.
STREAKBUSTER: LIU Brooklyn’s 27-game home win streak, the second-longest in the nation behind Kentucky, came to an end on Friday with a 77-74 setback to Morehead State. The game, which was played in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is considered a home game by the NCAA.
TERRIERS SHOT OUT OF A (CANNON): St. Francis (NY) had no trouble in its 2012-13 debut, posting a comfortable 76-65 win over Lafayette in Easton. The Terriers shot 50 percent from the field and controlled the boards, posting a +13 rebound margin. It should come as no surprise that sophomore Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen), an NEC All-Rookie selection last season, was the key to the team’s domination of the glass. Playing a short drive away from his hometown, Cannon posted his ninth career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 13 boards. As a freshman in 2011-12, Cannon was the second-leading freshman rebounder in the nation behind Kentucky’s Anthony Davis.
LIU’S BOYD TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY?: LIU Brooklyn senior Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft), after pacing the two-time defending regular-season league titlists in scoring and rebounding the last two seasons, could rub shoulders with some of the premier players in NCAA history if he achieves the feat a third time. The following is a chronological list of 18 players who led major conference regular-season champions in scoring and rebounding for three consecutive campaigns in the last 60 years:
Scoring/League
Rebounding Leader School Conference Mark Three-Year Run
Art Quimby Connecticut Yankee 19-1 1953-55
Oscar Robertson Cincinnati MVC 39-3 1958-60
Jerry Lucas Ohio State Big Ten 40-2 1960-62
Billy McGill Utah Mtn.States 38-4 1960-62
Bill Bradley Princeton Ivy 36-6 1963-65
Ollie Johnson San Francisco WAC 35-3 1963-65
Lew Alcindor UCLA AAWU/Pacific-8 41-1 1967-69
Willie Sojourner Weber State Big Sky 39-5 1969-71
Bill Walton UCLA Pacific-8 40-2 1972-74
Reggie Lewis Northeastern North Atlantic 46-6 1985-87
David Robinson Navy ECAC South/
Colonial Athletic 37-5 1985-87
Lionel Simmons La Salle MAAC 43-1 1988-90
Kit Mueller Princeton Ivy 36-6 1989-91
Ronald “Popeye” Jones Murray State OVC 31-7 1990-92
Keith Van Horn Utah WAC 45-7 1995-97
Nick Fazekas Nevada WAC 43-7 2005-07
Caleb Green Oral Roberts Mid-Continent 38-8 2005-07
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina ACC 38-10 2007-09
ROBERT MORRIS RUN EARNS SPOT AMONG THE TOP MID-MAJORS: Since the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Robert Morris has become one of the nation’s elite mid-major programs. In a five-year span from 2007-12, the Colonials compiled an overall record of 117-56 (.676), with the 117 victories tied for ninth with Kent State among mid-major programs in the country. Butler has posted 139 wins over the same span, tops among mid-major institutions. A who’s who of mid-major elite stand ahead of RMU, including Saint Mary’s (133 wins), VCU (132), Gonzaga (131), Murray State (122), Belmont (121), Old Dominion (119) and Creighton (119).
ACTIVE LEADERS/TOP-10S: There are four active NEC players ensconced in the 1,000-point club and 179 in the history of the conference who have reached the milestone. The quartet of players with 1,000+ points were all tabbed to the Preseason All-NEC team led by Sacred Heart senior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly), who leads all current players with 1,482 points. Behind him are LIU Brooklyn senior forwards Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) (1,338) and Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) (1,292), and Robert Morris senior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) (1,267). Next to join the list will likely be Bryant junior forward Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep (NH)), who is 33 shy of becoming the first Bryant player to reach 1,000 points exclusively at the Division I level.
Among active leaders in the three major categories, only Boyd ranks in the top-20 in an NEC career category. The 2011-12 NEC Player of the Year is 17th on the league’s all-time rebounding chart.
SCORING
Shane Gibson SHU 1482
Julian Boyd LIU 1338
Jamal Olasewere LIU 1292
Velton Jones RMU 1267
Alex Francis BRY 967
Latif Rivers WC 868
Russell Johnson RMU 869
Ed Waite MU 793
Frankie Dobbs BRY 783
CJ Garner LIU 750
REBOUNDING
Julian Boyd LIU 800
Jamal Olasewere LIU 695
Russell Johnson RMU 565
Ed Waite MU 515
Ike Azotam QU 479
Alex Francis BRY 469
Kenny Onyechi LIU 396
Jamee Jackson QU 375
Akeem Johnson SFNY 364
Shane Gibson SHU 340
ASSISTS
Jason Brickman LIU 437
Velton Jones RMU 396
Frankie Dobbs BRY 301
Dave Johnson QU 292
Anthony Myers-Pate RMU 229
CJ Garner LIU 228
Josh Castellanos MSM 217
Jesse Steele MU 180
Shane Gibson SHU 162
Latif Rivers WC 154
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“When our kids guard and rebound, we have a chance to play with anybody. I just have to keep convincing them to do the little things, and we will have big nights like this,” Monmouth head coach King Rice said after his team’s win over Hofstra. “When our kids guard and rebound, we have a chance to play with anybody. I just have to keep convincing them to do the little things, and we will have big nights like this.”
“I have to be happy when we shoot 42 percent and score 75 points. Xavier is a good team; much better than they’re getting credit for right now,” said FDU coach Greg Vetrone. “But no matter what the other team does, it’s exciting to see that our team can put together that kind of offense.”
“This is a very unique environment to come into with a big crowd like that. We had a couple guys playing their first game in Division I and a couple guys who sat out last year,” said Bryant head coach Tim O’Shea after playing No. 1 Indiana. “I know what the scoreboard says, but I saw a lot of positive things from my team, and I can certainly see why Indiana is picked number one. They have a chance to win the National Championship. They were tremendous.”
“I’m not going to remember it was my 1,000th game, but I will remember this one,” Sacred Heart’s Dave Bike said. “It’s a hell of a way to start the season.”
“I don’t want them to be happy,” an animated and upbeat Central coach Howie Dickenman said of his players afterward. “It’s not a party. Yup, we played our [butts] off and things sometimes don’t work out. But if we continue to play that kind of defense we’re going to have an over-achieving season, and we’ve had a number of those in the past.”
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
BRYANT (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at No. 1 Indiana (L, 97-54)
This Week: Nov. 12 at Providence; Nov. 17 at New Hampshire
• The Bulldogs played the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time in program history to open the 2012-13 season Friday night in Bloomington, Ind., and fabled Assembly Hall. The game also marked the program’s first official Division I game and marked the start of the Bulldogs’ first season with full NCAA DI eligibility.
• Junior Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep) led the Bulldogs with 15 points, second in the game only to preseason national player of the year Cody Zeller, and eight rebounds, going 6-for-12 from the field.
• Senior point guard Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH/St. Edward) chipped in 12 points while junior Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia/Sacred Heart College) added 11 off the bench, including seven-straight in the first half to give Bryant a 15-14 edge, their only lead of the game.
• The contest featured the debut of sophomore transfers Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East) and Joe O’Shea (Burlington, VT/Burlington), who each earned starts after sitting out the 2011-12 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
• Rookies Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, NJ/Choate Rosemary Hall), Andrew Scocca (Melrose, MA/Worcester Academy) and Curtis Oakley (South Euclid, OH/Charles F. Brush) also made their Bulldog debuts in the game.
• Francis is just 33 points away from becoming the 32nd 1000-point scorer in program history.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 10 vs. Fairfield (L, 64-63 OT)
This Week: Nov. 12 at Saint Peter’s; Nov. 15 vs. Brown; Nov. 18 at La Salle
• Sophomore Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) picked up where he left off last season, scoring 18 points and dishing out three assists in the overtime loss to Fairfield on Saturday night. Vinales also had three rebounds and a pair of steals in 40 minutes.
• Junior Matt Hunter (Detroit, MI/Odessa JC), playing his first game in a CCSU uniform, filled up the stat sheet. Hunter had 16 points, five rebounds, four steals, two blocks and an assist in the loss to Fairfield.
• Sophomore Adonis Burbage (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian Prep) had 12 threes in his entire freshman season a year ago. Burbage was 4-for-6 from three and had four rebounds and three steals.
• Senior Joe Efese (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional) had 10 points and eight rebounds against Fairfield. He was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at Xavier (L, 117-75)
This Week: Nov. 18 at Northwestern
• After missing one week of practice and school due to Hurricane Sandy, the Knights opened the season at Xavier in Cincinnati.
• The Knights fell to 2012 Sweet 16 team, Xavier in the season opener, 117-75.
• The senior duo of Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach) and Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, NY/Bishop Stepinac) combined for 37 points (Robinson leading the team with 20).
• Newcomers made a significant impact for FDU with transfers Yves Jules (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) and Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/ Neumann Goretti) putting up 11 and 9 points, respectively. Freshman Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) added 11 points in his collegiate debut.
• The Knights scored 15 points more than their season average for the 2011-12 season.
LIU BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 vs. Morehead State (L, 77-74)
This Week: Nov. 12 at Lafayette; Nov. 16 at Maryland
• The Blackbirds opened up the 2012-13 season at the brand-new Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn, falling to Morehead State 77-74 in the first ever college game at the NBA arena.
• Preseason All-NEC selection Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) hit a running 10-footer with five seconds remaining to cut an 11-point deficit to one, 75-74, but LIU Brooklyn could get no closer.
• Olasewere finished with a game-high 26 points, and went to the foul line a career-high 19 times over 34 minutes played.
• Fellow preseason All-NEC pick and reigning NEC Player of the Year Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) closed with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
• The loss to Morehead State snapped LIU Brooklyn’s 27-game home winning streak, which was the second-longest streak in the nation entering the season. The Blackbirds still maintain their winning streak at the WRAC.
MONMOUTH (1-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 vs. Hofstra (W, 91-62)
This Week: Nov. 12 at Notre Dame; Nov. 17 at Rider
• Monmouth won its season opener for the first time since 2009.
• Monmouth’s 91 points was the most scored by the Hawks in a non-conference game since putting up 99 on FIU in the 2009 season opener, and MAC opener, on November 13.
• Sophomore Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) added four points, four assists, three steals, two rebounds and a block in 12 minutes for the Hawks on Friday night.
• Senior Jesse Steele (Milford, NJ/Oak Hill Academy (Army)) recorded his 31st career double-digit scoring game against Hofstra.
• Monmouth’s 50 points in the first half against Hofstra was the highest halftime point total for the Hawks since scoring 50 against Penn in a home win on Dec. 12, 2009.
• In their Monmouth debuts, senior Stephen Spinella (Colts Neck, NJ/Apex Academy (South Carolina)) added nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal and a block, while sophomore Khalil Brown (South Orange, NJ/Westwind Academy (AZ)) pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while adding four points and a pair of assists.
• Senior forward Ed Waite (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Pine Crest) moved into a tie for sixth place with 515 career rebounds with Karl Towns (1983-85), with No. 5 Marques Alston (2003-07) just 15 boards away.
MOUNT ST. MARY'S (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at Pittsburgh (L, 80-48)
This Week: Nov. 13 vs. Hartford; Nov. 15 at American
• The Mount opened the 2012-13 season with an 80-48 loss at Pittsburgh on Friday night. The Mount hit six three-pointers in the opening eight minutes to grab an 18-17 lead, but the Panthers closed the half with a 25-9 run to take control of the game.
• Sophomore Xavier Owens (Tampa, FL/Wharton) made his first collegiate start, tallying a career high 15 points, hitting 4-of-6 three-pointers in the game.
• Junior transfer Rashad Whack (Hyattsville, MD/Bishop McNamara) also started for the Mount, posting a career high 11 points. Whack played two seasons at George Mason (2009-11).
• Head coach Jamion Christian made his Mount debut. The 2004 graduate is the fifth-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I at 30 years old. He is the 22nd coach in Mount history.
QUINNIPIAC (1-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 10 vs. Hartford (W, 65-61)
This Week: Nov. 12 vs. American; Nov. 16 vs. Iona
• The Bobcats improved to 3-1 all-time in the CT 6 dating back to inaugural tournament back in 2009.
• Quinnipiac, now 5-1 in season-openers under head coach Tom Moore, also extended its winning-streak against Hartford to six straight with the win.
• The Bobcats improved to 16-5 all-time against the Hawks, while handing the Hawks their 23rd loss all-time in a season-opening contest.
• The Bobcats were ranked first in the CT 6 Coaches’ Poll, announced prior to the weekend.
• Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep (CT)) was named to the CT 6 All-Tournament Team.
• Head Coach Tom Moore is six wins shy of 100 for his career at Quinnipiac.
ROBERT MORRIS (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at Rider (L, 79-54)
This Week: Nov. 12 vs. Lehigh; Nov. 13 vs. Fordham/Pittsburgh; Nov. 17 at Xavier
• Robert Morris slipped to 19-18 (.514) all-time in season openers, including a 2-1 (.667) mark under third-year head coach Andrew Toole, with a 79-54 loss @ Rider.
• Junior guard Karvel Anderson (Elkhart, IN/Glen Oaks Community College) paced the Colonials with 11 points off the bench while also adding four rebounds.
• RMU finished 24-for-32 (75 percent) at the free-throw line against the Broncs but had its streak of consecutive wins when visiting the charity stripe at least 30 times in a game snapped at 36.
• Robert Morris shot just 25.5 percent (13-for-51) from the field at Rider, its second worst shooting performance of the Andrew Toole era.
• Sophomore forward Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) started at forward for the Colonials and contributed nine points and five rebounds
• Redshirt senior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic), with 1,267 career points, is 10 points shy of moving into the top 10 all-time at Robert Morris in career scoring.
SACRED HEART (1-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 10 vs. Yale (W, 85-82 (OT))
This Week: Nov. 12 at Rutgers; Nov. 16 at Hartford
• The Pioneers erased a 24-point second half deficit en route to a 85-82 overtime win over Yale, marking the largest second half comeback for a win in SHU’s Division I history (1999 - Present). SHU trailed Yale 59-35 with 15:35 to go before marching back to steal a win over the Bulldogs. The previous biggest comeback was just two seasons ago when Sacred Heart trailed the Hartford Hawks 51-31 with 8:17 remaining at home before storming back for the win, 56-55. Here are the top-five second half comeback wins in SHU’s Division I history:
1. 11/10/12 vs. Yale - Down by 24 with 15:35 left W, 85-82 (ot)
2. 12/9/10 vs. Hartford - Down by 20 with 8:17 left W, 56-55
3. 12/21/09 vs. Stony Brook - Down by 16 with 12:03 left W, 78-70
4. 12/18/05 at Monmouth - Down 15 with 9:04 left W, 73-64
5. 12/29/08 at Columbia - Down 14 with 8:57 left W, 84-79 (ot)
• Senior Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) scored 29 points, with 24 coming in the second half and overtime to lead the way. Gibson ran his streak to 37-straight games in double figures, dating back to the 2010-11 season.
• Junior Louis Montes (Brockton, MA/Brockton) recorded the first double double of the season, scoring 10 poitns with 11 rebounds against Yale. It was his fifth double double.
• Senior Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross) hit a career-high nine-of-nine from the free throw line on his way to 17 points against Yale.
ST. FRANCIS (NY) (1-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at Lafayette (W, 75-65)
This Week: Nov. 12 at Illinois
• The Terriers won their lidlifter for the first time since Nov. 9, 2007 when they defeated Hartford in Brooklyn Heights, 62-59. SFNY had dropped three straight contests against Lafayette.
• Sophomore forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) has nine career double-doubles after a 13 point, 13 rebound effort against the Leopards. • The Terriers put four players in double-figures paced by senior center Akeem Johnson’s (Brooklyn, NY/Susan McKinney) 15 points. They nearly had a fifth but guard Dre Calloway (Harlem, NY/Lincoln (CO)) missed a free-throw in the closing seconds.
• Johnson needs eight rebounds for 400.
• Sophomore forward Kevin Douglas (Bronx, NY/Frederick Douglass III) scored 13 points and added five boards in just his third career start.
• The NEC’s leading returning three-point artist, junior guard Ben Mockford (Shoreham by the Sea, England/Oak Hill Acadmy (VA)) chipped in with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
SAINT FRANCIS (PA) (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: Nov. 9 at Penn State (L, 65-58)
This Week: Nov. 13 at Niagara; Nov. 16 at Youngstown State
• Saint Francis (PA) opened up its 107th varsity campaign with an 65-58 setback at Penn State.
• Sophomore Ollie Jackson (Dallas, TX/Pinkston) poured in a team-high 19 points, including a 4-for-8 performance from the 3-point arc
• SFU’s season-opener at Penn State marked the end of a 363-day layoff since redshirt junior Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) had seen game action.
WAGNER (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week: None
This Week: Nov. 14 at Delaware State; Nov. 18 at Syracuse
• Wagner begins its season on Wednesday, November 14 at Delaware State, before traveling to nationally ranked Syracuse on Sunday, November 18.
• The Seahawks were slated to finish the season third in the annual preseason poll.
• Head Coach Bashir Mason is the youngest in the nation at 28 years of age.
• In 2012-2013, Wagner returns nine letterwinners, including four starters, while bringing back 74.4 percent of its scoring and 84.2 percent of its rebounding.
• Junior Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ/Avon Old Farms (CT)) enters his junior year with 868 career points (14.2 ppg), ranking sixth among active NEC players.