Choice Hotels/NEC Player of the Week
Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart
6-2, 180lbs
Sr., G, Killingly, CT/Killingly
In winning the seventh
Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week award of his career, Gibson averaged 29.5 points to lead Sacred Heart to back-to-back victories and a tie for first place in the NEC standings with a 6-2 record. The top scorer in NEC play (25.4 ppg), Gibson dropped 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting and nailed four shots from beyond the arc in an 87-76 victory over previously unbeaten Bryant at home on Thursday. He also went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe and grabbed six boards. The 6-2 guard then shined on NEC-TV on Saturday, reeling off a season-high 33 points, including 24 in the second half, as SHU rallied to beat Monmouth, 82-68. With the Hawks holding a 10-point lead midway through the second stanza, Gibson took over with 19 straight points for the Pioneers to position his team for the comeback victory. Gibson extended his streak of 20-plus point performances to seven games and made a move deeper into the NEC record books, cracking the top-10 in scoring at No. 10 with 1,835 career points. Overall, the Killingly, CT native ranks second in the NEC in scoring (20.1), first in free throw percentage (.889), second in made three-pointers (2.8/game) and fifth in three-point percentage (.422).
Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week
Eric Fanning, Wagner
6-4, 205lbs
Fr., G, Trenton, NJ/Perkiomen (PA)
Fanning averaged a team-best 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, and shot 63.2 percent from the field as Wagner posted a pair of road wins over Mount St. Mary’s and Saint Francis U last week. In a narrow 52-50 victory over the Mount on Thursday, Fanning supplied the Seahawks with a game-high 12 points and seven boards in just 20 minutes of action. He also added one the team’s five blocks. On Saturday, the 6-4 guard posted a career-high 15 points as Wagner bested the Red Flash by an 81-56 count to improve to 5-3 in NEC play. For the year, Fanning is averaging 6.9 points on 48.4 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from long range. During conference action, the Garden State native is third on the team in scoring with 9.9 ppg and boasts a team-best 51.7 field-goal percentage.
It's Getting Crowded At The Top (And Here Come The Blackbirds!)
If the first eight games is any indication of what we are in for this season, then February is going to be one exciting month as teams position themselves for NEC Tournament qualification and seeding.
The jockeying has already begun.
And after a stunning weekend of play, there are three teams tied for first (Bryant, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart) and two more (LIU Brooklyn and Wagner) just a game back.
As they say, it’s anyone’s game.
The biggest mover last week was two-time defending NEC champion LIU Brooklyn.
Following an 0-3 start, the Blackbirds have now won five straight, including a pair of road wins over St. Francis Brooklyn and league leader Bryant, a team ranked 17
th in the
College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll.
LIU now sits in a fourth place tie with Wagner, just one game out of first.
And just like that, a season that looked somewhat bleak after NEC Player of the Year
Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) went down with a season-ending knee injury in December, has taken a welcome turn for first year head coach Jack Perri.
“We’re just trying to get better, trying to create our own identity,” Perri said. “We had to change our identity a little bit with Julian out. We’ve really focused on defense and rebounding in practice. Our last few games we did a good job with that.”
LIU first rallied from 14 down to score a 78-68 win over SFC in the 38
th annual Battle of Brookluyn (see note below), then came into a hostile atmosphere at the Chace Center two days later.
Before a packed house, LIU and Bryant went toe-to-toe in an
NEC Game of the Year candidate.
It literally came down to the final second as the Blackbirds escaped Smithfield with a 79-78 win when Bryant junior forward
Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep (NH)) failed to convert a three-point play opportunity with 1.1 ticks left on the clock.
As per usual, it was the terrific inside-outside tandem of senior forward
Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) and junior guard
Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) that provided the spark for LIU.
Olasewere averaged 19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and shot 64.0 percent from the field for the week, while Brickman averaged a double-double with 10.0 ppg and 10.5 apg.
“The whole year I’ve used the word resilience; we’ve shown a lot of resilience,” said Olasewere.
“When we’re down, we don’t give up.
That’s just Blackbird basketball.”
The loss to LIU was the second straight for Bryant, which had its eight-game win streak snapped on Thursday against Sacred Heart.
As a result, the Bulldogs dropped to 6-2 in the NEC, and now share first place with Robert Morris and Sacred Heart.
Surging Robert Morris has now won six straight after beating Saint Francis U (84-70) and Mount St. Mary’s (76-68) last week.
The catalyst has been junior guard
Karvel Anderson (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart (Glen Oaks CC)), whose long distance shooting has been off the charts the last two weeks.
Anderson scored 22 points – including 19 straight at one point (see note below) against the Red Flash on Thursday, then dropped 19 at the Mount on Saturday.
He has now hit 12 of his last 18 from three-point range and is shooting 43.4 percent from long distance on the year.
The Colonials are averaging 78.2 ppg over the six game streak and have shot 44.4 percent (55-124) from beyond the arc during the stretch.
Meanwhile, in Fairfield, a season that looked to be slipping away due to a never-ending series of injuries, has both reversed course and turned some heads in the conference.
Sacred Heart finished just 2-9 in non-conference play, and with starting guards
Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) and
Chris Evans (Stamford, CT/Stamford (Taft School)) out for the year, and starting center
Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross (Holy Family)) in and out of the lineup all season long with various ailments, there was cause for concern from the Pioneer faithful.
But longtime head coach Dave Bike and his staff have expertly navigated the team through adversity, and with players stepping up and filling the voids, SHU has assumed a share of first place and is off to its best start since 2007-08 (11-2).
Of course,
Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) has been on a scoring spree during the Pioneer revival, having averaged 27.1 ppg over his last seven games.
But he has help this season.
Sophomores
Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) and
Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) have ably filled Kelley and Evans’ spots in the backcourt (see note below), and junior forward
Louis Montes (Brockton, MA/Brockton) is quietly having an all-star caliber year.
In Saturday’s 82-68 win over Monmouth on NEC-TV, Gibson racked up a 24 of his season-high 33 points in the second half, but it was Montes who came up huge down the stretch, scoring nine points in the last four minutes as the Pioneers ended the game on a 15-0 run.
Throw in Wagner, which earned a road sweep last week with wins over Mount St. Mary’s (52-50) and Saint Francis U (81-56) to improve to 5-3 in conference play, and you have five teams, all with their sights set on first place.
As NEC broadcaster Joe DeSantis remarked on Saturday's SHU-MU broadcast, you may as well spell NEC "P-A-R-I-T-Y."
NEC Fast Break…News You Need To Know
Dobbs, Johnson Join Grand Club
The NEC laid out the welcome mat for the two newest members of its 1,000-point club last week.
Bryant senior guard
Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH/Saint Edward (Ohio U.)) and Robert Morris senior forward
Russell Johnson (Chester, PA/Chester) both hit the milestone last Thursday.
Dobbs had already eclipsed the 1,000 point mark earlier this month, but the Ohio U. transfer cracked 1,000 in a Bryant uniform as well in a nine-point outing at Sacred Heart.
He has amassed 1,078 overall points and 1,018 at Bryant in his career.
Johnson crossed 1,000 points in RMU's 84-70 win at Saint Francis U.
He had 12 points in the victory and added 12 more on Saturday against Mount St. Mary's to bump his career total to 1,022 points.
He is one of 21 RMU players to cross the plateau.
There have been 182 players in the history of the NEC who have reached 1,000 points.
Other players who have made it to 1,000 include Sacred Heart senior guard
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly), who is the NEC's active leader with 1,835 points.
Behind him are LIU Brooklyn senior forward
Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) (1,604), Robert Morris senior guard
Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) (1,499), LIU Brooklyn senior forward
Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) (1,467) and Bryant junior forward
Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep) (1,261).
The next likely candidates to join the club are LIU senior guard
C.J. Garner (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) (979 points), Wagner junior guard
Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth (Avon Old Farms (CT)) (976) and CCSU sophomore guard
Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) (943).
Top-10 Hit: Gibson In Rare Air
Sacred Heart senior guard
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) has been on a scoring tear as of late for red-hot Sacred Heart, but in a broader sense, has reached an individual milestone that has earned him a place among the NEC’s all-time point producers.
With a 29.5 ppg scoring average last week, Gibson entered the top-10 on the NEC career scoring list, passing former rival Jeremy Chappell (RMU) and newly enshrined NEC Hall of Fame inductee Desi Wilson (FDU).
Gibson has now accumulated 1,835 career points, and with 10 regular season games remaining, has a good chance to become just the fifth player in league annals to reach 2,000 points.
NEC Career Scoring Leaders
8. Desi Wilson FDU 1,902 1988-91
9. Jeremy Chappell RMU 1,875 2005-09
10. Shane Gibson SHU 1,835 2008-12
11. Joe Griffin LIU 1,830 1991-95
12. Jeff Hamilton SFU 1,810 1981-85
13. Charles Jones LIU 1,772 1996-98
14. Gregory Harris MSM 1,760 1997-00
15. Alex Blackwell MU 1,749 1989-92
Gibson is the NEC scoring leader in league play with 25.4 ppg and is second overall with 20.1 ppg on the year.
Velton To Join Super-Elite NEC Group
How rare is it to finish with 1,500 points and 500 assists in a career?
Well, in the 32-year history of NEC hoops, only eight players have reached the dual milestone, that is until, do-everything Robert Morris senior guard
Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) scores his next point.
In fact, Jones crossed the 500-assist mark on Saturday as the Colonials downed Mount St. Mary's, 76-68, in Moon Township.
He is the second player in RMU history to eclipse 500 helpers, joining Forest Grant (555 from 1981-84),
Jones, who ranks third among active NEC players in points and second in assists, enters play this week with 1,499 points and 502 helpers in his illustrious career.
NEC Players with 1,500 Points, 500 Assists
Deon Hames RID 1,589/598 1992-96
Rob Monroe QU 1,685/541 2001-05
Gregory Harris MSM 1,760/529 1996-00
Mark Porter WC 1,577/523 2004-08
Tristan Blackwood CCSU 1,605/506 2004-08
Dave Masicale LIU 1,501/504 1994-98
Jeremy Goode MSM 1,716/603 2006-10
Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 1,693/538 2006-10
SHU's G-Men
While Bryant has been one of the most surprising success stories, not only in the NEC, but in the nation, Sacred Heart has turned its season around in a big way since the start of NEC play, and now finds itself in first place with a 6-2 NEC mark as we near the halfway mark of the conference slate.
Beset by injuries in the backcourt - starters
Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) and
Chris Evans (Stamford, CT/Stamford (Taft School)) have missed the entire year - longtime head coach Dave Bike has simply filled the void with a pair of sophomores who have exceeded all expectations following modest freshman campaigns.
Sophomore point guard
Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) has been piling up assists all year long and now ranks second in the NEC and fifth nationally with 7.8 apg.
Against NEC rivals, Gaetano is the league leader with 9.4 apg, and has also posted a conference-best 3.57 assist-to-turnover ratio.
A frequent target of Gaetano's precision passing has been long range bomber
Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain).
Glowiak is currently seventh in the NEC in three-point percentage (.394) and made three-pointers (2.3/game), and has raised his scoring average from 4.4 ppg as a freshman to 10.6 ppg in his sophomore campaign.
He is averaging 12.5 ppg in NEC play.
Rounding out the G-Men of course is senior
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly).
Gibson is the NEC's second leading scorer this season at 20.1 ppg, and has torched NEC foes to the tune of 25.4 ppg, including seven straight 20+ point outings heading into this week's competition.
Point Guard U…
…is in session, led by LIU Brooklyn junior
Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) and Sacred Heart sophomore
Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)).
The pinpoint passing duo continue to pile up double-digit assist games, and in doing so, rank among national leaders in the category.
Brickman’s 8.2 apg makes him the second-leading distributor in the nation behind Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams.
Gaetano is fifth with 7.8 apg.
Gaetano established a career-high with 11 dimes last Thursday against Bryant, then followed with another personal best and NEC single-game season-high 13 assists versus Monmouth.
Brickman dished for 11 assists in LIU’s Battle of Brooklyn win at St. Francis Brooklyn, then added 10 more in the Blackbirds’ win at Bryant.
The duo have combined for 313 assists against just 135 turnovers on the year.
Heat Check: Anderson & Gibson Go On Scoring Spree
Rarely in the history of college basketball will you find five minute stretches like Robert Morris junior guard
Karvel Anderson (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart (Glen Oaks CC)) and Sacred Heart senior guard
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) had last week.
Over a 5:08 stretch of the first half at Saint Francis U on Thursday, Anderson was unstoppable, scoring 19 straight points for the Colonials.
It looked something like this:
9:56 - Made jumper
9:04 - Made three-pointer
8:34 - Made three-pointer
6:47 - Made three-pointer
6:17 - Made three-pointer
5:24 - Made jumper
4:48 - Made three-pointer
That's seven shots, all makes, including five three-pointers.
He finished the evening with 22 points in 21 minutes as the Colonials won in Loretto, 84-70.
Astute NEC fans will remember this isn't the first time Anderson was on fire.
Back on December 1, the transfer from Glen Oaks CC converted all 10 of his shots from the floor, including 8-8 from beyond the arc in a career-high 28 point effort as RMU knocked off Ohio, 84-76.
In doing so, he became the first NEC player in the Stat Crew era (1997 to present) to convert eight trifectas without a miss in a game.
The 10-10 showing from the 8-8 showing from long range remains the top single-game performances in the nation this season.
When Sacred Heart found itself down ten against Monmouth on Saturday, it was Gibson who answered the call with 19 consecutive points over a 5:50 span midway through the second half.
Here was how it happened:
11:48 - Two made free throws
10:09 - Made jumper
9:46 - Made three-pointer
8:59 - Two made free throws
8:22 - Three made free throws
7:46 - Two made free throws
6:57 - Two made free throws
5:58 - Made three-pointer
When all was said and done, Gibson had sank 3-4 from the floor and 11-11 from the line to give the Pioneers a one-point lead.
SHU would go on to win, 82-68, with Gibson finishing with a game-high 33 points.
Battle of Brooklyn Recap
It is arguably - and I don't think you'd get much of an argument - the NEC's greatest rivalry.
Two schools, separated by one mile and some fine dining establishments, seeking neighborhood bragging rights.
It doesn't get much simpler than that.
The Battle of Brooklyn was waged for the 38th time on Thursday, this edition coming from the Pope Center live on NEC-TV.
And for the third straight year, it was LIU Brooklyn coming out on top with a come-from-behind 78-68 win over St. Francis Brooklyn.
It didn't come easy for the Blackbirds, who were grounded in the first half, entering the locker room down by 12 points.
But a lightening quick 20-4 run turned the tables and a subsequent 8-0 spurt put LIU in control.
LIU shot a blistering 75.0 percent (18-for-24) from the floor in the second stanza, including a 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) mark from three-point range. The hot shooting was in complete contrast to the first half, where the Blackbirds managed just 25.0 percent (7-for-28) shooting and a 1-for-10 performance from beyond the arc.
“Obviously that was great win for us on the road with such an ugly first half, especially on the offensive end,” LIU Brooklyn coach Jack Perri said.
“We were able to keep it within 12 (points at the half), within striking distance as ugly as that was.
But in the second half I can’t ask for anything more.”
LIU senior guard
C.J. Garner (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) led the way for LIU with 22 points on 8-11 shooting from the field and earned the Lai-Lynch award as the game’s MVP for the second time in his career.
Garner's previous Lai-Lynch Trophy came as a sophomore in 2010-11, as his game-winning shot with 0.6 seconds remaining gave LIU an 82-80 win at Pope Physical Education Center..
100! Milestone Win For QU’s Moore
Not only did Quinnipiac come away with a home sweep last week, but sixth year head coach picked up a milestone victory on Saturday, winning his 100
th career game at the Hamden school as the Bobcats slipped past FDU, 58-56, on NEC-TV.
Moore has led Quinnipiac to three straight postseason appearances, as well as the NEC regular season championship in 2009-10.
The Bobcats entered the 2012-13 campaign with 63 wins over their last three seasons and have now moved into a tie for sixth place in the league standings with a 4-4 mark.
WC’s Kenneth Ortiz: Doing What He Does Best
Wagner head coach Bashir Mason needed a big defensive play.
His Seahawks were deadlocked with Mount St. Mary’s and the Mount held possession of the ball approaching 30 seconds to play.
In stepped the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Junior guard
Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ/Science Park (Southern Mississippi)), a terrific on-the-ball defender, this time came from off the ball,
darting in the passing lane to pickoff a pass from the corner to the top of the key and went coast-to-coast for what proved to be the game-winning points in Wagner’s 52-50 victory.
“I just went on instinct,” said Ortiz.
“I saw their two players make eye contact, and I tried to get myself into a position to get it.”
Ortiz finished with four steals in the game and now ranks fourth in the NEC with 1.8 spg.
Press Clip of the Week
Bryant has received a bevy of well-deserved accolades as the nation’s most improved team and first place standing in the NEC.
On Thursday,
Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Eisenberg was the latest to chronicle Tim O’Shea and the Bulldogs, getting to the core of program’s stunning turnaround.
NEC-TV: Title Game Rematch On The U Highlights Three-Game Week
Another big week of NEC-TV is on tap.
On Wednesday, NEC frontrunner Bryant visits FDU for a 7:00 pm tipoff on FCS, ESPN3 and Cox (RI).
Calling the game will be Dave Popkin (play-by-play), Tim Capstraw (color) and Paul Dottino (sideline).
Former Monmouth head coach Dave Calloway will also be sitting in the booth for the game.
The game will include a feature on FDU senior guard
Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach).
Saturday brings the ESPN crew to Brooklyn as Robert Morris and LIU Brooklyn square off in a rematch of the last two NEC men's title games.
Tipoff is at 3:00 pm on ESPNU and ESPN3 with Mike Corey and Bob Valvano in the booth.
The RMU and LIU women also clash on Saturday in a game airing on ESPN3.
Tipoff is at noon.
Enjoy The Best Seat In The House With NEC Front Row
With the start of league play,
NEC Front Row is the place to catch all the action.
One of the only free conference webstreaming platforms in the country, all NEC games will air on Front Row aside from events hosted by Monmouth and Robert Morris, who are contractually obligated to other providers.
Through Front Row’s unique Control Room, which debuted in January, fans can catch up to six games at once.
Likewise, games can also be viewed at no charge on smartphones and tablets, including the iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
Vinales's Race To 1,000...Updated
Looking for the definition of a pure scorer?
Well then look no further than CCSU's scintillating sophomore guard
Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School).
After averaging 25.0 ppg last week, Vinales upped his career point total to 943 in just his 48
th career game.
As the Detroit product races toward the 1,000-point mark, he has a chance to be the quickest NEC player to 1,000 since former Saint Francis U star Darshan Luckey.
Luckey reached the milestone in his 50th career game back in 2004.
For Vinales to match, he would need to average 28.5 ppg over his next six outings.
Two-time NEC Player of the Year Charles Jones of LIU Brooklyn holds the distinction as the fastest to 1,000 in NEC history, accomplishing the feat in just 33 games from 1996-97.
Vinales will almost certainly eclipse former
teammate Ken Horton, himself a former NEC Player of the Year, as the fastest Blue Devil to hit 1,000.
Horton crossed the plateau in 68 games.
LIU’s Jason Brickman: Top-10 Distributor
Just a few years ago, the NEC assist record appeared to be unbreakable as no player had come within 200 assists of challenging the mark established by former Marist great Drafton Davis from 1984-88.
That was until LIU’s
Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) arrived on the scene in 2010.
With 21 helpers in two games last week, the San Antonio native moved past Saint Francis U’s Napoleon Lightning (589 from 1981-85) to move into fourth place on the NEC career list with 593 to his credit.
He is second on the school's career chart behind Robert Cole (610 from 1979-83).
Brickman is now just 11 assists away from moving into sole possession of second in NEC history with just Davis to catch.
He currently leads the NEC and ranks second nationally with 8.2 apg.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
1. Drafton Davis MAR 804 1984-88
2. Jeremy Goode MSM 603 2006-10
3. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
4. Jason Brickman LIU 593 2010-12
5. Napoleon Lightning SFU 589 1981-85
6. Courtney Pritchard WC 563 2000-04
7. Andre Van Drost WC 560 1982-87
8. Forest Grant RMU 555 1981-84
9. Rob Monroe QU 541 2001-05
10. Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 538 2006-10
Stellar Numbers For SHU's Gibson
In the “stellar games” category, no NEC player is even close to Sacred Heart senior guard
Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly). Gibson has racked up 45 games of 20+ points over the course of his career, nearly double that of his next closest competitorCCSU sophomore guard
Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School). Gibson has also tallied seven games of 30+ points, also a league-leading mark.
This season, CCSU sophomore guard
Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) ranks first in the Conference with twelve 20-point games.
NEC Active Leaders : 20 Point Games
Shane Gibson, SHU 45
Kyle Vinales, CCSU 23
Julian Boyd, LIU 20
Alex Francis, BRY 20
Jamal Olasewere, LIU 18
Velton Jones, RMU 16
Umar Shannon, SFU 15
Ike Azotam, QU 11
Latif Rivers, WC 11
Melquan Bolding, FDU 10
Frankie Dobbs, BRY 10
Dyami Starks, BRY 9
Julian Norfleet, MSM 8
Jonathon Williams, WC 7
Jalen Cannon, SFC 7
NEC Active Leaders: 30 Point Games
Shane Gibson, SHU 7
Kyle Vinales, CCSU 6
Jamal Olasewere, LIU 3
Melquan Bolding, FDU 2
Alex Francis, BRY 2
Velton Jones, RMU 2
Kinu Rochford, FDU 2
On The National Leaderboard
Below are a list of NEC players and teams who rank in the top-20 nationally in various statistical categories.
Category Name Team Stats Ranking
Scoring Kyle Vinales CCSU 22.3 ppg 4th
Shane Gibson SHU 20.1 ppg 12th
Assists Jason Brickman LIU 8.2 apg 2nd
Phil Gaetano SHU 7.8 apg 5th
Steals Matt Hunter CCSU 2.6 spg 11th
3PFG Dyami Starks BRY 3.2/game 14th
FG% Kinu Rochford FDU .581 14th
3PFG% Karvel Anderson RMU .434 17th
Doub-Doub Ike Azotam QU 9 15th
Jalen Cannon SFC 9 15th
3PFG RMU 8.5/game 17th
Rebounds QU 41.7 rpg 9th
Rebound Margin QU +8.6 9th
Steals MU 9.6 spg 15th
TOs Forced MU 19.3 2nd
Turnover Margin MU +4.3 11th
MSM +4.2 12th
Best of the Week
Alex Francis (BRY): 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 8-9 FG vs. LIU Brooklyn
Dyami Starks (BRY): 28 points, 5 rebounds, 10-20 FG, 5-10 3PFG vs. Sacred Heart; 25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 9-17 FG, 6-12 3PFG vs. LIU Brooklyn
Kyle Vinales (CCSU): 32 points, 4 assists, 12-20 FG vs. Quinnipiac; 19 points, 6 assists vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Melquan Bolding (FDU): 18 points, 4 steals, 7-11 FG, 4-5 3PFG
Jason Brickman (LIU): 9 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals vs. St. Francis Brooklyn; 11 points, 10 assists vs. Bryant
C.J. Garner (LIU): 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 8-11 FG, 2-2 3PFG vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Jamal Olasewere (LIU): 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 7-13 FG vs. St. Francis Brooklyn; 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 9-12 FG vs. Bryant
Dion Nesmith (MU): 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 6-9 FG, 2-3 3PFG vs. FDU
Christian White (MU): 18 points, 4 assists, 6-11 FG, 4-6 3PFG vs. FDU
Julian Norfleet (MSM): 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 7-12 FG, 3-5 3PFG vs. Robert Morris
Shivaughn Wiggins (MSM): 21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5-7 FG, 2-2 3PFG vs. Robert Morris
Ike Azotam (QU): 13 points, 17 rebounds vs. CCSU; 14points, 10 rebounds vs. FDU
Shaq Shannon (QU): 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 6-10 3PFG vs. CCSU
Karvel Anderson (RMU): 22 points, 8-11 FG, 5-7 3PFG in 21 minutes vs. Saint Francis U; 22 points, 7-11 FG, 4-4 3PFG vs. Mount St. Mary’s
Lucky Jones (RMU): 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5-7 FG, 5-5 FG vs. Saint Francis U
Phil Gaetano (SHU): 9 points, 11 assists vs. Bryant
Shane Gibson (SHU): 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8-16 FG, 6-6 FT vs. Bryant
Steve Glowiak (SHU): 21 points, 5 rebounds, 8-14 FG, 5-10 3PFG vs. Bryant
Jalen Cannon (SFC): 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 7-14 FG, 2-4 3PFG vs. LIU Brooklyn; 18 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, 7-14 FG vs. CCSU
Ben Millaud Meunier (SFU): 22 points, 7-12 FG, 6-10 3PFG vs. Robert Morris
Jonathon Williams (WC): 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 8-10 FG vs. Saint Francis U
By The Numbers
2 double-doubles last week for Quinnipiac junior forward
Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianpolis Prep)).
He had 13 points and 17 boards in QU’s 85-78 win over CCSU and finished with 14 points and 10 caroms as the Bobcats beat FDU, 58-56.
2 Mount St. Mary’s players -
Julian Norfleet (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) and
Shivaughn Wiggins (Charlotte, NC/North Mecklenberg) - scored 21 points apiece against Robert Morris on Saturday, marking the first time the Mount has had two players score 20 or more in the same game since Jeremy Goode (24 points) and Jean Cajou (23 points) did against Sacred Heart on January 17, 2009.
2 straight double-digit scoring games for Wagner junior forward
Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian Prep) after failing to do so in each of the first 17 games of the year.
He averaged 13.0 ppg on the week.
3 straight double-doubles for St. Francis Brooklyn sophomore forward
Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen).
Cannon averaged 19.5 ppg and 12.0 rpg last week.
He is the NEC leader in rebounding at 9.5 per game and double-doubles with nine on the season.
6 three-pointers for QU junior guard
Shaq Shannon (Philadelphia, PA/Communications Tech (CSJC)) against CCSU on Thursday.
He became the first Bobcat to sink six in a game since James Johnson in 2010-11.
6 of Mount St. Mary’s next eight games are at Knott Arena.
The Mountaineers are 43-23 (.652) over their past 66 NEC home games, and are 4-2 at home this season.
6 assists on six straight possessions for LIU Brooklyn junior guard
Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) over a 5:32 span in the second half of the Blackbirds' 78-68 Battle of Brooklyn win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday.
7 game streak of double-doubles for Saint Francis U sophomore forward
Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) came to an end on Thursday.
The streak tied for the longest in the NEC in 15 years.
8-0 record for Wagner this season and 18-0 over the last two years when limiting the opposition to 60 points or less.
9 three-pointers in 12 attempts for Monmouth freshman guard
Christian White (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) over a recent three-game stretch.
10 three-pointers in his last 12 attempts for CCSU sophomore guard
Malcolm McMillan (Baltimore, MD/John Carroll).
14-0 record for Robert Morris this season when either tied or leading at the half.
15 points, a career-high, for CCSU junior forward
Terrell Allen (Virginia Beach, CA/Cape Henry) in his team's 72-70 win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday.
15-0 run to end the game for Sacred Heart on Saturday.
The Pioneers trailed Monmouth, 68-67, with just over four minutes to go, but would go on to win, 82-68.
17.0 ppg last week for Saint Francis U freshman guard
Ben Millaud-Meunier (Montreal, Quebec/Vanier).
He scored 22 points and hit 6-10 from three-point range against Robert Morris last Thursday.
He has led the Red Flash in scoring in each of the last three outings.
19.3 turnovers forced per game ranks Monmouth second in the nation.
20+ forced turnovers for Monmouth in nine games this season, including 23 against FDU last week.
25 career double-doubles for Quinnipiac junior forward
Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianpolis Prep)), second among active NEC players.
25.5 ppg last week for CCSU sophomore guard Kyle Vinales
(Detroit, MI/Phelps School).
He had 32 at Quinnipiac and 19 versus St. Francis Brooklyn.
He leads the NEC and ranks fourth nationally with 22.3 ppg.
26.5 ppg last week for Bryant sophomore guard
Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)).
He scored 28 against Sacred Heart and 25 versus LIU Brooklyn, both game-highs.
He hit 11 shots from long range in the two games.
52.9 percent shooting (18-34) in the last five minutes of games for St. Francis Brooklyn junior guard
Ben Mockford (Shoreham-by-Sea, England/Oak Hill Academy (VA) (Iona)).
All but one of those attempts have come from behind the arc.
+54 combined rebounding advantage for LIU Brooklyn over the last five games.
Quotable
"It's like you hold your breath. It would have been … if it had gone in … Whatever. It didn't go in and we won the game. There's a lot of happiness [in the locker room]. We deserved to win. Not that they didn't deserve to win, because it came down to a shot." - CCSU head coach Howie Dickenman after St. Francis Brooklyn missed a last three-pointer in the Blue Devils' 72-70 win on Saturday
"Somehow, some way, we got tougher. Last week we talked about being soft. … Before the game, I said I'm going to get Malcolm [39 minutes] out and I'm going to get Kyle [38 minutes] out. I got them out for about a minute. I'm true to my word. [ Burbage] was challenged, all right. You respect people when you go at them, you challenge them, and they answer the bell, respond." - CCSU head coach Howie Dickenman following Saturday's win over St. Francis Brooklyn
“I’m proud of my guys and the way we played today. But you cannot win a Division I basketball game going 8-for-18 from the free throw line.” – FDU head coach Greg Vetrone after the Knights battled back from an 11-point deficit at Quinnipiac before falling by two points on Saturday
"My teammates got me the ball in great spots. I didn't have too many contested looks tonight, and that's all them, finding me and setting good screens." – Monmouth freshman guard Christian White, after scoring a career-high 18 points, including 4-6 from three-point range, against FDU on Thursday
“Eric’s a kid who is just getting more and more comfortable. He’s someone who scored a ton of points in high school and I believe he has the ability to also do that at the college level.” - Wagner head coach Bashir Mason, on his emerging freshman swingman Eric Fanning, the
Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week who has now scored double-digits the last three games.
Tweets of the Week
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
Karvel Anderson went on his own personal 19-0 run today. In a division I game. I couldn't do that playing middle schoolers.
Andrew Chiappazzi @achiappazzi
I've followed #NEC hoops since '04. Usually 8 games in, I have good feel of how league is going to look. This year? I got nothin'. Buckle up
Julian Boyd @J_BOYD42
This is not fun. But I'll b look-in back on all this in 8 months n say I made it n then It's time ta get back out on that court.
Rick @RickStaintonJr (new FDU women’s soccer coach)
@FDUKnights the 2nd half is ours...Let's Go Knights! #UKnighted
Northeast Conference @NECsports
What a scene at @BryantAthletics today. #LIUvsBRY #NECpride "@jessica_alllie: #whiteout #godawgs pic.twitter.com/tMXh4lSa"
Dr. P @SHUprez
Great turnout at Pitt. Packed. Great spirit.
Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille
who knew St. Francis College had such great fan support. It's a sea of red behind the bench. 33-21 Terriers at the half. Fun atmosphere.
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Christian Standhardinger of Hawaii had 31 Pts and 16 Reb Saturday. Only Wagner's Jonathon Williams has reached those thresholds this season
Milestone Watch
LIU Brooklyn senior forward
Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) passed Richie Parker for seventh place on LIU's all-time scoring list with 1,604 points.
Monmouth senior guard
Jesse Steele (Milford, NJ/Millburn (Oak Hill Academy, Army)) now has 248 career assists, 11 shy of Jason Krayl, who ranks 12
th all-time at the school.
Likewise, his 134 made three-pointers is tied with Mustafa Barksdale for ninth place on MU’s career list.
With 114 career games played, Monmouth senior forward
Ed Waite (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Pine Crest) is now tied for 15th place in school history with Alex Nunner, Tyler Azzarelli and Kevin Owens.
Robert Morris senior forward
Russell Johnson (Chester, PA/Chester) became the 12th player in school history to accumulate career totals of both 1,000 points and 500 rebounds last week.
Wagner junior forward
Naofall Folahan (Cotonou, Republic of Benin/Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)) is six blocks behind Miladin Mutavdzic for second place on the all-time Wagner rankings.
He has 129 rejections for the Green & White.
Wagner’s
Bashir Mason, who is the nation's youngest head coach, became the fastest rookie head man in school history to reach 10 victories (18 games).
Active Leaders
SCORING
Shane Gibson SHU 1835
Jamal Olasewere LIU 1604
Velton Jones RMU 1499
Julian Boyd LIU 1467
Alex Francis BRY 1261
Russell Johnson RMU 1022
Frankie Dobbs BRY 1018
CJ Garner LIU 979
Latif Rivers WC 976
Kyle Vinales CCSU 943
REBOUNDING
Julian Boyd LIU 843
Jamal Olasewere LIU 836
Russell Johnson RMU 659
Ike Azotam QU 644
Alex Francis BRY 617
Ed Waite MU 605
Jamee Jackson QU 478
Akeem Johnson SFC 455
Jalen Cannon SFC 445
Kenny Onyechi LIU 428
ASSISTS
Jason Brickman LIU 593
Velton Jones RMU 502
Frankie Dobbs BRY 380
Dave Johnson QU 360
Phil Gaetano SHU 278
CJ Garner LIU 275
Anthony Myers-Pate RMU 272
Josh Castellanos MSM 269