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NEC Co-Players of the Week: Marcus Burton, WC
NEC Co-Rookies of the Week: Cane Broome, SHU and Martin Hermannsson, LIU
Previous NEC Releases: January 19 | January 12 | January 6 | December 29 | December 22 | December 15 | December 8 | December 1 | November 24 | November 17
NEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Marcus Burton, Wagner
6-0, 170 lbs.
Sr., G, Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler
Burton continued his scoring spree and came through in the clutch for the Seahawks last week, averaging 21.5 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting from the floor, including 43.8 percent (7-16) from outside the arc. The Charlotte, NC native also averaged 4.0 rpg. Burton drilled back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes and netted 22 of his 23 points in the second half of a 63-58 home win over Saint Francis U on Thursday. He then finished with 19 points in a 53-50 setback at CCSU on Saturday. In that game, Burton hit one of the most memorable shots in recent Wagner history as he launched a desperation 27-foot three-pointer to tie the game at 50 only to be outdone by a Brandon Peel last-second shot to win it for the Blue Devils. Burton, who leads the NEC in scoring with 18.0 ppg overall and 22.5 ppg in league play, needs just 47 points to become the 42nd member of Wagner’s 1,000 point club.
NEC Men’s Basketball Co-Rookies of the Week
Cane Broome, Sacred Heart
6-0, 150 lbs.
Fr., G, East Hartford, CT/East Hartford (St. Thomas More)
Broome’s third NEC Rookie of the Week honor comes after he helped lead the Pioneers to a pair of much-needed wins. Broome contributed 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in an outstanding all-around week. He shot 52.4 percent from the field and 66.7 percent (4-6) from three-point range. In Thursday’s 78-77 overtime victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, Broome scored nine of his 13 points after the break, and added six rebounds and three assists. The East Hartford, CT product came up big on Saturday in an 83-66 victory at first place Bryant. He tallied 18 points on 7-10 shooting, including 3-4 from long distance. Broome leads Sacred Heart and is ninth in the league with 14.0 ppg. He ranks in the NEC top-20 in six different categories.
Martin Hermannsson, LIU Brooklyn
6-3, 170 lbs.
Fr., G, Reykjavik, Iceland/Reykjavik
Hermannsson becomes the third LIU Brooklyn player to claim NEC Rookie of the Week accolades this season, joining two-time winner Nura Zanna and Elvar Fridriksson. He averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and made 50.0 percent from the floor and 85.0 percent (17-20) from the charity stripe. Hermannsson recorded 13 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 74-69 setback at Bryant on Thursday, then rang up a career-best 21 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and a personal-best five steals as the Blackbirds posted an 80-76 win over FDU. He scored 18 points in the second half, including 11 straight at one point, and sealed the game with a pair of free throws with six seconds to play. Hermannsson ranks second on LIU and fourth among NEC freshmen with 10.3 ppg.
NEC MEN’S BASKETBALL: WE KNOW DRAMA
With all due respect to TNT, the drama this season in NEC men’s basketball is worthy of it’s own series.
Two weeks ago we saw buzzer-beaters in back-to-back games in Loretto with Saint Francis U’s Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) and St. Francis Brooklyn’s Chris Hooper (Bronx, NY/Satellite Academy (Odessa CC)) emerging as the heroes with near identical shots.
But while those made waves - and in Brown’s case, the #4 spot on that night’s SportsCenter Top-10 - this past Saturday NEC hoops went next level in an MSG-televised game at Detrick Gymnasium.
In a low-scoring affair, Wagner found itself down three to CCSU in the waning seconds when NEC Player of the Week and league scoring leader Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) drained a ridiculous 27-footer to tie things up with 1.0 second left on the clock.
Following a timeout, and with most everyone thinking we were headed to overtime, the shot heard round New Britain was fired.
Senior forward Faronte Drakeford (Aberdeen, NC/Pinecrest (Cape Fear CC)) launched a 65-foot bullet pass from under the CCSU hoop that found junior forward Brandon Peel (Forestville, MD/Riverdale Baptist). With a Wagner defender in his face, Peel wheeled and launched an off-balance triple from NBA distance that splashed as the buzzer sounded.
Then came the bedlam.
The three-pointer was just the second of Peel’s career and gave CCSU its first NEC win of the year, a 53-50 triumph over the Seahawks.
“It was do or die,” said Peel. “It’s a play we practice almost every day. We gave up a big rebound to let Marcus (Burton) hit that shot at the other end of the floor, but we weren’t gong to give up.”
The shot also gave Peel and CCSU both the lead story on SportsCenter and the #1 spot in the #SCTop10 plays.
Here’s some of the immediate reaction from media and CCSU alumni, among others:
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
Maybe instead of the Tyson Chandler Brandon Peel is Chandler Parsons/Klay Thompson???? @pioneer_pride
Ralph S. Ventre @NECralph
Brandon Peel said “I’m giving you no choice but to put me on the #SCTop10
Vinny Simone @VTSimone
Brandon Peel just turned into Christian Laettner for 1.1 seconds to give CCSU their first #NECMBB win. That was unreal
Coach Allen @_Terrellallen
@CCSUBlueDevils getting some love on @SportsCenter tonight with my man Brandon’s buzzer beater!
Corsley Edwards @corsley1947
Nice win at home #CCSU against #wagner at the buzzer. #34
Kevin Connors @kevconnorsespn
LOVE leading off @SportsCenter with #NEC Hoops! Unreal finish today between Wagner & CCSU! @NECHoopsRon
Northeast Conference @NECsports
Congrats, Brandon Peel. You’re No. 1! #SCtop10 @CCSUBlueDevils
Nelson Castillo @NelCastBHJ
This morning’s SportsCenter is all over the wild finish in the Wagner-CCSU game last night. Good to see #NECMBB get the national exposure.
“We call that play Home Run and we practiced it a lot,” CCSU head coach Howie Dickenman said. “But the ironic part is that we probably haven’t practiced it in at least three weeks, probably because we thought we’d never use it. But Faronte was on the money, Brandon turned and shot. Reminded me a little of Tate George in 1990. I’m so proud of the players how hard they played. We deserved to win that basketball game even before that shot. Taking nothing away from Wagner, but our defense was the best it was this year.”
The big shot wrapped a big night for Peel, who posted his fifth double-double of the year with 17 points and 13 rebound in the win. He hit 6-9 from the field and added five blocks. Peel also averaged 12.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg on the week. He ranks second in the NEC with 8.8 rpg and leads the conference with 1.7 bpg.
NEC-TV has been the place to be thus far in 2014-15. All six of the men’s games televised regionally or nationally this season have been decided by five points or less. In fact, the six games have been settled by a combined 20 points, including Sacred Heart’s 78-77 overtime win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Fox College Sports and ESPN3 two days earlier in Fairfield. Likewise, Robert Morris used a late three-pointer from senior Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) to upend St. Francis Brooklyn, 67-65, earlier in the day on Saturday.
Speaking of close games...
NAILBITERS & SHOT MAKERS
Of the 10 NEC games contested last week, two went to overtime and seven were decided by five points or less. The average margin of victory in NEC hoops last week was 6.5 points.
And there was big shot after big shot.
Along with the wild finish in New Britain, this past week also saw the following heroics:
- FDU freshman guard Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) drilled a three-pointer with 14.5 seconds left to play to cap a nine-point rally in the final 90 seconds of regulation and send the Knights to overtime against Sacred Heart. He then hit a shot at the buzzer in overtime that was initially ruled good, but then waved off after official review in a one-point setback to the Pioneers.
- Robert Morris freshman guard Marcquise Reed (Landover, MD/Capitol Christian) hit a fadeaway three-pointer with 11.5 seconds on the clock to send Thursday’s game at the Mount in overtime. The Colonials went on to win, 63-59.
- LIU Brooklyn sophomore guard Joel Hernandez (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) converted a huge follow jam with 22.8 seconds to play to help clinch the Blackbirds’ 74-69 win at FDU on Saturday.
- Robert Morris senior swingman Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 17.8 seconds left on the clock in the Colonials’ 67-65 win at first place St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday.
THIS WEEK IN NEC-TV
It’s another big week for NEC-TV with three more games on the slate.
The first will air on Thursday from the Stokes Center as Saint Francis U hosts Bryant in a 7:00 pm game on Fox College Sports (FCS), ESPN3 and Cox (CT/RI). Root Sports Pittsburgh will show the game on delay at 10:00 pm. Dave Popkin (PxP), Tim Capstraw (color) and Paul Dottino (sideline) are in the booth.
Saturday brings NEC doubleheader action. At 2:00 pm, Sacred Heart hosts Mount St. Mary’s on ESPN3. John Schmeelk (PxP) and Dave Calloway (color) are on the call. The 4:00 pm game is the annual “Battle of Brooklyn” affair between St. Francis Brooklyn and LIU Brooklyn. This year’s game is at the Pope Center and will air on MSG and FCS. Paul Dottino (PxP), Tim Capstraw (color) and Dave Popkin (sideline) will bring fans all the action.
RMU’S TOOLE QUICKEST TO 100
The 100-victory milestone is a memorable one for coaches. And when you can get there in just four and one-half seasons, you are on a path that few have traveled.
On Saturday, Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole reached 100 career victories as the Colonials pulled out a 67-65 win over St. Francis Brooklyn on ESPN3. Toole became the quickest to 100 wins in NEC history, needing just 160 games to get there. He joined former head coach Jarrett Durham (1984-96) as the only coaches in program history to eclipse 100 wins.
In his four-plus seasons, RMU has won (in order) 18, 26, 24, 22 and 10 games.
Toole, who at 6-2 has the Colonials tied for first in the NEC, was the recipient of numerous congratulatory tweets after word spread of the milestone.
Dan Yost @dtyst1
Andy Toole is now 100-60. Has to be in the conversation for the best coach in Pittsburgh not named Clint Hurdle.
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
Congrats to coach @AndyToole on his 100th win. Here’s to 900 more!
Andrew Chiappazzi @BCT_AChiappazz
At 100-60, Andy Toole’s 52nd in win % (.625) among active coaches who have coached at least 150 games. Better than some headliners...
Andrew Chiappazzi @BCT_AChiappazzi
The names right around Andy Toole on the win % list - Buzz Williams, Brad Brownell, John Beilein, Bob McKillop. That’s some solid company
STAT OF THE WEEK
Sacred Heart’s 78-77 overtime victory over Fairleigh Dickinson last Thursday was the first NEC overtime win for the Pioneers since they defeated FDU, 133-130, in four extra periods on December 1, 2001. Incredibly, Sacred Heart had lost its past 12 overtime games against conference foes.
#NECPRIDE TWEETS OF THE WEEK
From one of the best to lace ‘em up in recent NEC memory.
Karvel Anderson @ThaBestKeptScrt
Love being a pro, but damn I miss playing in the NEC
Karvel Anderson @ThaBestKeptScrt
Players from the #NEC have a different type of grind too them. Everybody feels overlooked or underrated.
BATTLE OF BROOKLYN TV HISTORY
The Battle of Brooklyn not only spotlights the NEC’s fiercest rivalry, but almost without fail delivers some of the most compelling television when it is airs annually as part of the conference package.
When the LIU Brooklyn - St. Francis Brooklyn rivalry is renewed on Saturday at the Pope Center (TV: MSG, FCS at 4 pm), there will be plenty of hype, and deservedly so. But can the game top these recent LIU-SFBK TV thrillers?
2014 - Contested for the first time at the Barclays Center, Jason Brickman finishes with 14 assists in a 69-68 win for the Blackbirds. It marked the sixth time in the last seven years that a televised game between the two teams was decided by four points or less.
2013 - LIU rallies from 14 down in the second half, scoring 57 points after intermission to win 78-68 at a packed Pope Center.
2012 - Julian Boyd hits the go-ahead jumper with 18 seconds left as the Blackbirds come back from five down with under three minutes to play and secure an 81-78 home win.
2011 - CJ Garner goes coast-to-coast and hits a runner at the buzzer to give LIU the 82-80 victory as pandemonium breaks out at the Pope Center.
2010 - In perhaps the most exciting game of the series in recent years, the Terriers take down the Blackbirds in triple overtime, 88-84. SFBK twice had to hit late three-pointers to force the second and third OTs.
2009 - SFBK rallies back from 15 down in the second half to tie it up, but the Blackbirds are able to salt the game away at the line, winning 74-70.
2008 - The Terriers win at the Steinberg Wellness Center, 67-64, when a Kyle Johnson three-point attempt is just off the mark with four seconds to play.
2006 - LIU erases a 14-point second half deficit and survives a last possession by SFBK to win at home, 67-64.
2003 - This one wasn’t televised, but went down as perhaps the most memorable contest in NEC history. LIU guard Antawn Dobie turned in the most brilliant single-game performance in league annals exploding for an NEC single-game record 53 points. But that wasn’t all. He also dished out 15 assists and was directly involved in 87 of LIU’s points that day. One would assume those numbers would guarantee a victory for the Blackbirds. Not on this night. Not in this rivalry.
While Dobie was putting on a one-man show, the Terriers received stellar performances from a pair of Brooklyn products. Freshman sharpshooter John Quintana came off the bench to register a career-high 31 points and senior forward Clifford Strong added 29 points. Likewise, future All-NEC point guard Tory Cavalieri dished for 13 assists.
Carrying the Blackbirds on his back, Dobie played the role of hero on more than one occasion. His 40-foot runner as time expired forced overtime and sent the evenly split crowd into a frenzy.
His two free throws at the end of the first extra session sent the game into double overtime. Dobie then scored five of his team’s 11 points in the second overtime. One would think destiny would be on Dobie’s side as the game reached its final climax, but his potential game-winning 17-foot jumper went in and out with five seconds to play and the Blackbirds trailing by one.
It was one of the very few shots Dobie missed on the day.
In the end, St. Francis (NY) won the Battle of Brooklyn that year. The score: 142-140. To this day, it remains the highest scoring game in NEC history. No single team has ever scored that many points in an NEC game before or since.
RMU’S REED, SHU’S BROOME & NEC FRESHMAN PAST
Over the last two decades, there have been some outstanding freshman in the NEC who wasted little time in making a major impact.
Longtime fans may recognize some of the names:
- Kyle Vinales (CCSU): 17.9 ppg, 3.6 apg in 2011-12
- Alex Francis (BRY): 14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 50.7 FG% in 2010-11
- Ken Horton (CCSU): 12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 55.2 FG% in 2007-08
- Jeremy Chappell (RMU): 14.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg in 2005-06
- Darshan Luckey (SFU): 21.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg in 2002-03
- Landy Thompson (MSM): 15.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg in 2002-03
- Rob Monroe (QU): 13.0 ppg, 4.6 apg in 2001-02
- Jermaine Hall (WC): 16.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 54.4 FG% in 1999-00
- Alpha Bangura (MU): 18.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg in 1998-99
- Corsley Edwards (CCSU): 12.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 50.4 FG% in 1998-99
- Richie Parker (LIU): 16.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg in 1996-97
- Rahshon Turner (FDU): 10.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 54.0 FG% in 1994-95
This season, we’ve witnessed a host of first-year players with impressive statistical outputs, one of them being Robert Morris freshman guard Marcquise Reed (Landover, MD/Capitol Christian), who has been named NEC Rookie of the Week a league-high four times this season.
Reed currently ranks seventh in the NEC in scoring (14.4) and field goal percentage (.505), as well as second in steals (1.8). He’s been even better in league play, contributing 16.1 ppg to rank third in the conference.
Last Thursday, with RMU trailing the Mount by three points, Reed hit a fadeaway three-pointer with a hand in his face to tie things up with 14 seconds left on the clock in a game the Colonials would eventually win in overtime, 63-59.
“He backed up and all I needed was that little bit of space to see the rim,” Reed said afterward.
The shot was so impressive, that it immediately set Twitter afire amongst NEC media types.
Chris Cappella @C_Cappella
Marcquise Reed step-back, game tying three. That was FILTH. WOW
John Templon @nybuckets
Marcquise Reed O!M!G! What a shot!!
Ryan Peters @pioneer_pride
Marcquise Reed. Straight butter!!
Andrew Chiappazzi @BCT_AChiappazzi
Marcquise Reed. Onions.
Craig Meyer @CraigMeyerPG
Marcquise Reed makes a fallaway 3 over a player with 8 inches on him to tie it with 11.5 seconds left. Kid’s special. #RMU
The shot certainly left an impression on his head coach.
“He’s the kind of kid who, usually when he feels like he did something incorrectly, is going to do his best to make up for it,” Andy Toole said. “And that’s exactly what he did.”
Reed finished with 21 points in the Mount game - his sixth 20+ point outing of the season - and averaged 14.5 ppg on the week.
And Reed has plenty of company in this loaded freshman class, most notably Sacred Heart freshman guard Cane Broome (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford (St. Thomas More)), now a three-time NEC Rookie of the Week who ranks in the NEC top-20 in six different categories, including ninth in scoring at 14.0 ppg.
Broome collected co-Rookie honors after averaging 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in an outstanding all-around week. He shot 52.4 percent from the field and 66.7 percent (4-6) from three-point range.
And this tweet that came during the RMU-SHU game on January 18 sums up the feeling of many followers around the NEC when it comes to these two rookies.
Stephen Gertz @Stephen_Gertz
I am enjoying this battle between Marcquise Reed (#RMCMB) and Cane Broome of #SHUMBB - should be a fun one for another 3 years. #NEC
TRIO APPROACHING MILLENNIUM MARK
There are five active members and 201 players in NEC history who have reached the 1,000-point milestone.
Next in line to reach 1,000 points appear to be St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) (958 points), Wagner senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) (953) and Sacred Heart senior guard Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) (933).
DEFENSE KEYS MOUNT SURGE
Mount St. Mary’s is 5-1 over its past six games, and defense has been the key to the surge that has lifted the Mount into fourth place (5-3), just one game back of the three-team logjam in first place.
The Mountaineers limited Saint Francis U to just 40 points in a 52-40 win on Saturday. The 40 points allowed were the fewest in an NEC game since Robert Morris held Bryant to 40 back on February 16, 2012.
The Mount is permitting just 53.3 points while holding the opposition to 36.8 percent shooting and 24.2 percent from three-point range over that stretch. All six opponents have been held to 63 points or less, while four of the six have been limited to 54 points or fewer.
In league play, the Mount leads the NEC in scoring defense (59.4), field goal percentage defense (.391) and three-point percentage defense (.271).
NEC CAREER REBOUND RECORD IN SIGHT FOR CANNON
It seems inevitable that St. Francis Brooklyn senior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) will make history, and he’s set out to do it quickly.
With 22 rebounds in two games last week, Cannon moved up two spots on the NEC career chart to fourth place and inched even closer to the NEC career rebounding mark. With 993 rebounds, he is just...
- 7 caroms shy of becoming the fourth player in league history to reach 1,000 rebounds
- 20 boards behind LIU Brooklyn’s Carey Scurry (1,013) for third place on the NEC list
- 30 rebounds away from unseating Quinnipiac’s Justin Rutty as the NEC’s all-time leader
Cannon averaged 18.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg last week, including 21 points and a season-high 16 boards for his 11th double-double of the season on Saturday against Robert Morris. He has lifted his career numbers to 1,457 points and 973 rebounds, both first among active league competitors. He can become just the second player in NEC annals to finish with 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Rutty (1,521/1,032 from 2007-11).
He paces the NEC with 9.6 rpg and 11 double-doubles ranks him 24th and ninth, respectively, nationally.
NEC Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Justin Rutty QU 1,032 2007-11
2. Ron Robinson CCSU 1,022 2000-04
3. Carey Scurry LIU 1,013 1982-85
4. Jalen Cannon SFBK 993 2011-15
5. Alex Francis BRY 990 2010-14
6. Obie Nwadike CCSU 980 2003-07
7. Eric Taylor SFU 967 1994-98
8. Corsley Edwards CCSU 966 1998-02
9. Jamal Olasewere LIU 963 2009-13
10. Rahshon Turner FDU 927 1994-98
11. Ted Taylor MAR 923 1981-85
12. Greg Foster FDU 916 1982-84
BRYANT’S STARKS RACING UP 3P CHART
How prolific a shooter has Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)) been in his Bulldog career? Despite playing just over two and one-half seasons in the black and gold, Starks is about to enter the NEC top-20 in career three-pointers made.
Starks, who sank nine from distance last week, has now drained 238 career trifectas to rank 21st all-time in the conference. He needs one more to crack the top-20.
NEC Career Three-Point Leaders
15. Ben Mockford SFBK 252 2011-14
16. John Hilvert SFU 247 1987-91
17. Jeremy Chappell RMU 243 2005-09
18. Julian Norfleet MSM 242 2010-14
19. Kyle Johnson LIU 240 2007-11
20. Danny Basile MAR 239 1992-96
21. Dyami Starks BRY 229 2012-15
22. Terence Ward UMBC 233 1998-01
23. Dejan Delic MU 230 2003-07
24. Charles Jones LIU 225 1996-98
25. Steve Paterno MAR 224 1987-91
He currently leads the NEC and ranks 22nd in the nation with 3.06 made three-pointers per game.
SFBK’S JONES NEARING NEC TOP-10 SPOT
With 15 dimes in two games last week, senior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) established a new St. Francis Brooklyn school record and jumped up three spots to 13th on the NEC career assists chart with 521 helpers. He matched his season-high with nine assists against Robert Morris on Saturday.
Jones, only the second Terrier in history to score 500 points and hand out 500 assists, passed Greg Nunn, who played from 1997-01 and held the SFBK mark with 534 helpers. Jones also needs just 42 points to become just the second player in program history to produce 1,000 points and 500 assists.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
10. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
11. Rob Monroe QU 541 2001-05
12. Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 538 2006-10
13. Brent Jones SFBK 536 2011-15
14. Greg Nunn SFBK 534 1997-01
15. Gregory Harris MSM 529 1996-00
16. Mark Porter WC 523 2004-08
17. Mel Hawkins FDU 508 1987-91
18. Tristan Blackwood CCSU 506 2004-08
19. Dave Masciale LIU 504 1994-98
20. Antawn Dobie LIU 497 1999-03
GAETANO AMONG NEC PASSING GREATS
In an era that has featured some of the top distributors in league history, Sacred Heart senior Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) now enjoys a lofty status in NEC annals.
Firmly entrenched in third place on the NEC career assist list, only LIU Brooklyn’s Jason Brickman (1,009) and Marist’s Drafton Davis (804) have dished for more assists than Gaetano, who enters play this week with 660 dimes.
Gaetano leads the NEC and ranks 34th nationally with 5.5 apg this season.
NEC Career Assist Leaders
1. Jason Brickman LIU 1,009 2010-14
2. Drafton Davis MAR 804 1984-88
3. Phil Gaetano SHU 660 2011-15
4. Jeremy Goode MSM 603 2006-10
5. Deon Hames RID 598 1992-96
6. Napoleon Lightning SFU 589 1981-85
7. Courtney Pritchard WC 563 2000-04
8. Andre Van Drost WC 560 1982-87
9. Forest Grant RMU 555 1981-84
10. Velton Jones RMU 551 2009-13
ON THE NATIONAL LEADERBOARD
Below are a list of NEC players who rank in the top-25 nationally in various statistical categories.
Category Name Team Stats Ranking
Rebounds Jalen Cannon SFBK 9.6 24th
3PFG/Game Dyami Starks BRY 3.06 22nd
FT% Mustafaa Jones FDU .885 24th
Steals Brent Jones SFBK 2.29 17th
Double-Doubles Jalen Cannon SFBK 11 9th
HERE & THERE
Bryant sophomore forward Dan Garvin (Bethel, CT/Bethel) averaged a double-double in league play last week with 15.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg. He finished with a career-best 20 points and a season-high 13 rebounds against Sacred Heart on Saturday. It was his third double-double of the season. He hit 9-17 shots and added three assists and a pair of blocks.
Fairleigh Dickinson senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) posted the first back-to-back 20+ point games of his season last week as he dropped in 22 against Sacred Heart and then scored 21 versus LIU Brooklyn on Saturday. Jones averaged 21.5 ppg for the week and shot 92.3 percent (12-13) from the free throw line. Against LIU, Jones was 6-12 from the floor, including 4-8 from beyond the arc and 5-6 from the stripe. He played 41 of 45 minutes against Sacred Heart and scored five points in the final 90 seconds to help the Knights erase a nine-point deficit with a 10-1 closing run in the final 90 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Jones is sixth in the NEC with 14.5 ppg. He also ranks first in free throw percentage (.885), second in three-pointers made (2.7), third in steals (1.7) and fourth in three-point percentage (.391).
Fairleigh Dickinson freshman guard Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) continued his strong play and nearly led the Knights to a win with a buzzer beating shot against Sacred Heart on Thursday night. Anderson was electric in FDU’s one-point overtime loss with 21 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal. However, his real highlight plays came in the final 90 seconds of regulation and overtime. Anderson scored five of his team’s final 10 points to make up a nine-point deficit and tie the game at 71-71 on his three-pointer with 14.5 seconds to play. Anderson nearly worked his magic again at the OT buzzer, dropping in a runner to put FDU up 79-78, but the shot was waved off after a monitor review by the officials. For the week, he averaged 14.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Anderson ranks third among NEC freshman with 10.9 ppg.
LIU Brooklyn senior guard Gerrell Martin (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) poured in 17 points in LIU’s 80-76 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, marking the fifth time he has scored 17 or more in an NEC game this year. Martin leads the Blackbirds in scoring at 12.2 ppg and is second in the NEC in scoring against league opponents at 16.4 ppg.
Mount St. Mary’s junior forward Gregory Graves (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) averaged 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last week. He posted 16 points and eight rebounds against Robert Morris on Thursday. He ranks fifth in the NEC with 7.1 rpg.
Robert Morris junior guard Rodney Pryor (Evanston, IL/Cloud County CC) led Robert Morris last week by averaging 14.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg while shooting 48.0 percent from the field, including 57.1 percent (4-7) from beyond the arc. Pryor contributed 17 points in a 63-59 overtime win at the Mount and hit the only field goal in overtime, which gave the Colonials the lead for good. Two days later Pryor chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds in a 67-65 triumph at St. Francis Brooklyn. He has now reached double figures in scoring in six consecutive games and ranks 10th in the NEC with 13.7 ppg.
Coming into the week with no career double doubles, Sacred Heart senior guard Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) nearly posted two. In two games off the bench, he averaged 12.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.0 apg off the bench in a 2-0 week for the Pioneers. He shot 8-12 from the field and made 5-9 three point attempts. Glowiak managed to get his first career double-double in SHU’s 78-77 overtime victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night, scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. He did so in near perfect shooting fashion, missing only one of his six field goal attempts and made 2-3 from distance. With the Pioneers trailing at halftime, Glowiak helped SHU erase a halftime deficit for just the second time in the last two seasons. He was perfect after the break, making all four attempts, including his lone three point effort. Glowiak nearly made it two double-doubles in a row in an 83-66 win at Bryant on Saturday, with 11 points and seven boards. He hit 3-6 from outside the arc and added three assists. When Bryant tied the game for the first and only time midway through the first half on Saturday, Glowiak went on a personal 6-0 flurry, hitting two three pointers to put SHU up for good. After Bryant cut a second half double digit lead to six, Glowiak capped off a 7-0 run with a triple to regain a 13-point advantage with 10:48 remaining. He is averaging 7.7 ppg and leads the team with 38 three-pointers on the year.
Saint Francis U senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) posted his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds against the Mount on Saturday. He is second in the NEC in double-doubles, fourth in scoring (14.9) and field goal percentage (.524), and seventh in rebounding (6.9).
NEC NUGGETS
Bryant’s Shane McLaughlin dished for 17 assists against just four turnovers in three games last week.
FDU senior guard Mustafaa Jones needs 19 three-pointers to establish a new school career record. He has made 169 in his three years.
LIU Brooklyn went to the free throw line a season-high 45 times, the most by an NEC school since the 2010-11 season. The last time the Blackbirds went to the charity stripe that frequently came against Saint Francis U (45 times) on December 4, 2010.
In eight NEC games this season, LIU Brooklyn (3-5 in NEC play) has been tied or leading its opponent 69.6 percent of the time (226 minutes, 3 seconds out of 325 minutes played). The Blackbirds have also led at halftime in all but one league game this year.
Mount St. Mary’s junior forward Gregory Graves has led the team in rebounding in each of the last five games, averaging 8.2 rpg over the span.
Eight different Mount St. Mary’s players have earned team scoring honors this season.
Robert Morris has won four straight road games, the longest streak in the NEC this season.
With his first three-point basket at Bryant on Saturday, Sacred Heart’s Steve Glowiak moved into fourth place in school history for career triples made. He has drained 207 in his four years.
Prior to Sacred Heart’s win at Bryant on Saturday, the Pioneers had lost 15 of their last 17 on the road, including a 1-8 start this season.
QUOTABLE
“NEC hoops baby. We love it.” - Former NEC announcer Kevin Connors leading off SportsCenter on Saturday night with the CCSU-Wagner finish
“A shot like that goes in, you just have to tip your hat and smile and try to prepare your team for the next game.” - Wagner head coach Bashir Mason following CCSU’s win at the buzzer on Saturday
“We’ve played good basketball for three straight weeks. We were up at Wagner with 15 seconds left, up three, if you close that game out, you’ve got another win. You play Robert Morris, we’re up three with 25 seconds left, if you can close that game out you’re looking at ... whatever. But if I had wings I’d be a bird. We just try to learn from those opportunities [and] I think our guys should have confidence because we know we can play with anyone.” - Mount St. Mary’s head coach Jamion Christian after Saturday’s win over SFU
“We’re playing better. We kept telling the guys that we were going to be OK, and this exactly where we hoped to be when things weren’t going so well.” - Wagner head coach Bashir Mason after improving to 4-3 in NEC play with a win over SFU last Thursday
“The good news is that we finally got off to a great start. We guarded very well in the first half and had a healthy early second half lead, but we could not extend it. Our guard core of Mustafaa Jones, Darian Anderson and Matt MacDonald need to continue to score like they did tonight. There is zero quit in this team, but we just need to play better for all 40 minutes.” - FDU head coach Greg Herenda following a 78-77 overtime loss at Sacred Heart on Thursday
TWEET DECK
Kings/Isles/Raptors @maxl100
Great bounce back by @AnthonyLatina and the guys in OT, got a very well deserved win 78-77 over a good FDU club
Craig Meyer @CraigMeyerPG
Robert Morris’ Marcquise Reed is named NEC rookie of the week. Based on my rough count, it’s the 29th time he’s gotten the honor this season
Ryan Peters @pioneer_pride
Robert Morris’ Marcquise Reed has 9 straight games with a KenPom ORtg north of 100. That’s really special for a freshman, you guys.
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
With game on the line, SHU’s Cane Broome, RMU’s Marquise Reed & MSM’s Junior Robinson all w/ ball in their hands. All freshman. Cool.#NECMBB
Nelson Castillo @NelCastBHJ
How crazy has the last two weekends been in #NECMBB with those wild finishes and buzzer-beaters! We’re not even halfway thru season yet!
Elanna Rubenstein @RubensteinESPN
@CCSUBlueDevils just opened up the 10pm @SportsCenter with Brandon Peel’s game winning 3...not too shabby!
Vinny Simone @VTSimone
What a finish between FDU and Sacred Heart. FDU down one and the shot clock off, hesitates too much and gets the winning shot off late