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NEC Player of the Week: Greg Gordon, LIU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Roddy Jones, Central Connecticut

Previous NEC Releases: December 8 | December 1 | November 24 | November 17 | November 10 | Preseason Poll Release
 
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Greg Gordon, LIU
Guard, Senior, 6-5, 210 lbs., Chicago, IL/Lincoln Park (Iona/UAB)
Last Week’s Stats: 25 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 64.7 FG% (11-17), 75.0 3FG% (3-4)
Gordon scored early and often to lead LIU to a 70-60 wire-to-wire home win over La Salle on Saturday. He set the tone right out of the gates, scoring 12 of his team’s first 15 points inside the first five minutes to help the Sharks jump out to an early 10-point advantage. Gordon, who had a hot hand on the afternoon with 64.7 percent shooting from the field (11-of-17) and a sizzling 75.0 percent clip from three (3-of-4), led all scorers with 25 points in the triumph. In addition, the versatile senior guard added three rebounds, two dimes, a block and a season-best four assists to his stat line. The 25-point outing was the third time this season that the Chicago, IL native eclipsed the quarter-century mark in scoring, a figure that leads all NEC players. On the year, Gordon is averaging 15.5 points per game to rank sixth in the conference, while his 2.20 steals per contest are good for first on the circuit. He also ranks inside the league’s top-10 in assists per contest (3.0 – t-7th) and field goal percentage (.538 – 8th). With this week’s award, Gordon doubles his count to two, which ties teammate Malachi Davis and Central Connecticut’s Darin Smith, Jr. for the most in the conference this season.

NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Roddy Jones, Central Connecticut
Guard, Redshirt Freshman, 6-1, 195 lbs., North Babylon, NY/Cheshire Academy (CT)/St. John the Baptist
Last Week’s Stats: 9 points, 60.0 3FG% (3-5), 1 steal vs. Binghamton
Jones was a big contributor to Central Connecticut’s 17-point road win at Binghamton on Saturday. In just his fourth game as a Blue Devil, the redshirt freshman knocked down a trio of three-pointers on 60.0 percent shooting in the 84-67 triumph, which was the Blue Devils’ first of the month of December. Jones, who arrived at Central Connecticut by way of North Babylon, NY, erased an 18-16 deficit and put the Blue Devils up with 10:51 left in the first half with his first three-pointer of the day. After the Bearcats clawed back to take their third advantage of the game, the guard struck again and gave his team a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the contest with another triple at the 4:39 mark of the first stanza. His final bucket of the day — a transition three with 2:20 to go before halftime — made it a 38-32 Central Connecticut lead. Jones is the third Blue Devil to garner NEC Rookie of the Week distinction this season, joining classmates Elijah Parker (Nov. 17) and Ashton Reynolds (Dec. 1).


NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
 
Jay Rodgers, CCSU (G, Sr)
Rodgers became the first NEC player this season to put up a double-double on points and assists against a Division I squad on Saturday. Netting 14 points behind 50.0 percent shooting from the field (6-of-12), the senior guard matched a season-best performance in assists (10) to help lead Central Connecticut to an 84-67 road win at Binghamton.
 
Darin Smith, Jr., CCSU (F, So)
Smith was stellar in Central Connecticut’s 84-67 triumph at Binghamton on Saturday. Shooting 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17) and 50.0 percent from three (3-of-6) to eclipse the 20-point plateau for a league-leading sixth time with a game-high 23 points, the sophomore forward was one of two Blue Devils to compile a double-double in the win after he corralled a game- and season-high 10 rebounds.
 
CJ Ray, CSU (F, Sr)
Scoring in double figures for the fourth-straight outing, Ray helped lead Chicago State to an 84-75 win at crosstown rival Loyola Chicago on Sunday evening. The senior forward, who knocked down three three-pointers in the second half, racked up a season-high 19 points and approached double-double territory with nine rebounds.
 
Doyel Cockrill III, CSU (G, Jr)
Cockrill’s game- and season-high 22 points fueled Chicago State to an 84-75 victory at Loyola Chicago on Sunday. Converting on 12-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe, the junior guard added four boards, three assists and a steal to his stat line. 
 
Malachi Davis, LIU (G, R-Sr)
For the ninth-straight game, Davis netted double figures to lead LIU to a 70-60 win over La Salle on Saturday. The redshirt senior guard put up 19 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the field (6-of-12) and a 3-of-5 effort from distance while adding three rebounds and a game-best seven assists.
 
Greg Gordon, LIU (G, Sr)
Gordon poured in 20-or-more points for the second time in the past three games — and the third time this season – to guide LIU to a wire-to-wire 70-60 win over visiting La Salle on Saturday. Adding four steals, three boards, two assists and a block, the veteran guard turned in a sizzling 64.7 percent effort from the field (11-of-17) that included a 3-of-4 clip from long range. Gordon was also named the NEC Player of the Week.
 
Jabri Fitzpatrick, NHVN (G, Jr)
Fitzpatrick became the seventh NEC player this season to net a 20/10 double-double on Wednesday when he put up game-high numbers of 20 points and 10 rebounds against NJIT. The 10 boards marked a season-best effort for the junior guard, while his 20-point night was his second 20-point outing of the year.
 
Skylar Wicks, SFU (G/F, R-Sr)
Behind a torrid scoring spree in the second half, Wicks eclipsed the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season in Saint Francis’ defeat to American opponent Temple on Sunday. The redshirt senior, who ranks second in the league in scoring at 18.8 points per game, scored 19 of his team-best 22 points in the final stanza after going 7-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three during that stretch.
 
Hermann Koffi, STO (G, So)
Sophomore Hermann Koffi led five Skyhawks in double figures in Friday’s 101-60 win over VTSU-Johnson with 19 points. Turning in a 63.6 percent effort from the field (7-of-11), the guard was nearly as efficient from behind the arc after he knocked down 5-of-8 for a 62.5 percent clip.
 
Bryan Akanmu, WC (F, Jr)
Sparking a game-clinching 8-0 run with a layup at the 1:34 mark of overtime, Akanmu knocked down two free throws with two seconds left to lead Wagner past Bloomfield by a 95-93 final on Tuesday. The junior forward shot 8-of-12 from the field to lead five Seahawks in double figures with a career-high 18 points.


#NECMBB BY THE NUMBERS

4 - LIU’s four true road victories are tied with Northern Colorado, Hofstra and Troy for the most in the NCAA Division I this season.

30 - CCSU guard Jay Rodgers became the first NEC player this year to achieve a double-double on points & assists vs. Binghamton (14p, 10a).

3 - Three NEC players rank inside the nation’s top-50 in blocks per game: Shilo Jackson (LEM, t-27th), Qadir Martin (MU, t-28th) & Max Frazier (CCSU, t-33rd).


#NECMBB FAST BREAK

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT: Darin Smith, Jr. is one of two NEC players to score in twin figures in every game this season as he has turned the trick 10 times.

CHICAGO STATE: Chicago State became the second NEC squad to knock off Loyola Chicago on Sunday with an 84-75 road win, joining Mercyhurst.

FDU: FDU has drilled 96 three-pointers this season and leads the circuit with 9.6 long-range makes per game.

LE MOYNE: Le Moyne, which was idle last week, is the most efficient squad in the NEC with a 48.9 shooting percentage from the field.

LIU: Three of the league’s top-10 scorers — Malachi Davis (15.8 ppg), Greg Gordon (15.5 ppg) & Jamal Fuller (14.7 ppg) hail from LIU. 

MERCYHURST: Graduate guard Bernie Blunt III extended his double-digit scoring streak to 10 games, an NEC-best rally, after scoring 15 at Davidson.

NEW HAVEN: New Haven committed a season-low seven miscues in Wednesday’s defeat to NJIT.

SAINT FRANCIS: Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks, who ranks second in the NEC in scoring, has netted twin figures in each of his nine games this season.

STONEHILL: Stonehill knocked down a season-best 12 threes in Friday’s win vs. VTSU-Johnson on 41.4 percent shooting, also a season-best mark.

WAGNER: Wagner’s three overtime games this season are tied for the second-most in the nation.


#NECMBB NEWS & NOTES

WHAT’S ON TAP?
Nine of the NEC’s 10 squads will take the hardwood for at least one game before it is time to break for the holidays. Some challenging tests are on the horizon for several teams, as five of the 14 games on the slate are against Power Four members. LIU and Le Moyne tip off that stretch on Tuesday with road games at SEC member Mississippi State and Texas, respectively. 

Saint Francis also gets in on the SEC action on Wednesday with a road tilt at defending national champ Florida.

Mercyhurst and Chicago State are also set to take on Power Four foes this week when the Lakers head to Syracuse on Wednesday and the Cougars take on Indiana in the Hoosier State on Saturday.

Central Connecticut’s lone matchup serves as an in-state rival against Fairfield in New Britain. The Blue Devils will look to make it a 2-1 record against fellow Nutmeg State opponents on Thursday.

ROAD WARRIORS
LIU’s four true road wins tie the Sharks with two other squads for the most in NCAA Division I this season.

Northern Colorado, Hofstra and Troy join LIU with four road victories in 2025-26.

The Sharks have knocked off IU Indy, Air Force, Missouri State and Lehigh on the road in 2025-26.

WORKING OVERTIME
Wagner has taken three opponents to overtime, and in those games, the Seahawks have come out on top twice. Most recently, the Staten Island squad defeated Bloomfield in extra time by a 95-93 final.

Wagner’s three overtime contests are tied with Northern Colorado for the second-most in the nation. Troy currently leads all NCAA Division I teams with four overtime games. With one-third of their games needing an extra session to decide a winner, though, the Seahawks has seen overtime more than any other team in the nation based on percentage. The Bears have gone into overtime in three of 10 contests (30.0 percent of their games), while 25.0 percent of the Trojans’ 12 games have featured at least one overtime session. 

WINDY CITY WINNERS
Chicago State became the second NEC squad this season to knock off A-10 opponent Loyola Chicago on Sunday.

The Cougars did so in impressive fashion with an 84-75 win inside Joseph J. Gentile Arena, the home of their crosstown rival.

Senior forward CJ Ray (Four Oaks, NC/South Johnston (Southern Arkansas)) and Doyel Cockrill III (Nashville, TN/Pearl Cohn (Fisk University)) teamed up to deliver two powerful performances in the victory. Cockrill, who contributed 12 free throws to a Cougars’ 22-of-24 effort from the free throw line, helped steer Chicago State to the win with his season-best performance of 22 points, while Ray hit a trio of crucial three-pointers in the second half to finish with 19 points and nine boards.

Chicago State led by as many as 17 points with 15:30 left in the second half. 

SCORING STREAKS
Several NEC ballers enter the new week looking to keep double-digit scoring streaks intact.

Two players — Central Connecticut sophomore Darin Smith, Jr. (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central/Vermont Academy) and Saint Francis redshirt senior Skylar Wicks (Jersey City, NJ/Surge Christian Academy (Missouri State)) ­— have scored in twin figures in every game they have played in this season. Smith has turned the trick in each of Central Connecticut’s 10 games this year, while Wicks has netted double figures in each of his nine games in his Red Flash debut.

Smith’s current 10-game double-figure scoring streak is tied with Mercyhurst grad student Bernie Blunt III (Morgantown, PA/Peddie School (Quinnipiac)) for the longest active rally in the NEC. After opening the campaign with an eight-point game against Northwestern, Blunt has strung together 10-straight games with double digits in points.

LIU redshirt senior Malachi Davis (Scarborough, Ontario/Central Tech (Arizona State)) also rides an impressive double-digit streak into the week, as he has accomplished the feat in each of his last nine outings.

SOPHOMORE SENSATION
Central Connecticut sophomore Darin Smith, Jr. (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central/Vermont Academy) has burst onto the scene in a big way for the Blue Devils in 2025-26.

The Springfield, MA native averaged 6.9 ppg in his Central Connecticut debut a year ago to earn NEC All-Rookie Team distinction at season’s end. This year, he has more than doubled his scoring average as his 20.0 ppg clip currently leads all NEC players. In addition, Smith, who is 36th in the nation in scoring, is currently the 10th-best underclassman scorer in all of NCAA Division I.

SKYLAR’S SCORING
Landing in Loretto following stints at UTSA, Incarnate Word, State College of Florida and Missouri State, redshirt senior Skylar Wicks (Jersey City, NJ/Surge Christian Academy (Missouri State)) has provided a major boost to the Red Flash offense this season.

One of two NEC players to score in double figures in every game he has appeared in this season, the combo 6-foot-6 guard/forward is averaging 18.8 points per game to rank second in the league. That scoring average is the highest by a Red Flash player since Josh Cohen put up 21.8 per night in 2022-23.

Wicks is in elite company in the NEC statistics this season. Adding 2.78 dimes and 7.8 boards per contest, he is the lone player in the league to rank in the top-10 in scoring, assists and rebounding. His assist average is the ninth-best in the conference while his rebounding clip is third-best.

RODGERS CAN ASSIST
Central Connecticut senior Jay Rodgers (Pickerington, OH/Cochise College (University of New Orleans)) has been dropping dimes like they are going out of style this season.

The 6-foot-6 guard is handing out assists at a 7.0-per-game clip, an average that leads all NEC players and is the seventh-best among all NCAA Division I players.

In his last time out, Rodgers compiled his first double-double in a Blue Devil uniform when he scored 14 points and recorded 10 assists in Saturday’s 84-67 road win at Binghamton. 

In addition to turning the double-double trick for the first time, the Buckeye State native also became the first NEC player to notch a double-double on points and assists this year. Furthermore, Rodgers, who also dropped 10 assists in his team’s overtime win over Sacred Heart last month, became the first league player since 2019-20 to have multiple double-digit assist performances (against DI opponents) in the same season. 

That year, Merrimack’s Juvaris Hayes turned the trick three times, while Sacred Heart’s Cameron Parker had 10-or-more dimes in four games. 

SEEING DOUBLE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Le Moyne graduate forward Shilo Jackson (Indianapolis, IN/North Central/Vincennes (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)) enters the week riding a four-game double-double streak. His current double-double spree is the longest by an NEC player since Merrimack’s Jordan Minor, the 2023 Co-Player of the Year, registered four-in-a-row against Hartford (Feb. 16), Sacred Heart (Feb. 18), Central Connecticut (Feb. 23) and LIU (Feb. 25) in the 2022-23 campaign.

He enters the week with six total double-doubles, which are tied for sixth-most in the nation.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES, PART II
Le Moyne’s Shilo Jackson’s (Indianapolis, IN/North Central/Vincennes (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)) current four-game double-double rally is the nation’s second longest, behind St. Bonaventure’s Frank Mitchell, who has turned the trick in six consecutive games.

His four-game rally is tied for the fifth-longest in NCAA Division I this season.

Longest Double-Double Streaks in 2025-26
9: Delrecco Gillespie - Kent State
6: Michael Ajayi - Butler
6: Frank Mitchell - St. Bonaventure
5: Thomas Dowd - Troy
4: Mohammad Habhab - Eastern Michigan
4: Shilo Jackson - Le Moyne
4: Charles Johnston - Furman
4: Caleb Wilson - UNC

THE THREE MUSKETEERS
LIU’s offense packs a potent punch with the trio of redshirt senior Malachi Davis (Scarborough, Ontario/Central Tech (Arizona State)), graduate guard/forward Jamal Fuller (Toronto, Ontario/Central Technical/Academy of Art) and senior guard Greg Gordon (Chicago, IL/Lincoln Park (UAB)).

Combining for 445 points, the threesome accounts for 58.6 percent of the Sharks’ scoring this season. 

All three players are ranked inside the league’s top-10 in scoring, led by Fuller, who is tied for fifth with 15.8 ppg. 

LIU is the lone squad to have three scorers ranked inside the NEC’s top 10 this year.

DAVIS, FULLER & GORDON
The aforementioned LIU trio of Davis, Fuller and Gordon took over in Saturday’s 70-60 win over La Salle. 

Combining to net LIU’s first 16 points, with Gordon accounting for three-fourths of the scoring, they opened the second half with 20-straight points and accounted for all but seven of the Sharks’ 36 points during that final stretch.  

DIRTY 30
LIU redshirt senior guard Malachi Davis (Scarborough, Ontario/Central Tech (Arizona State)) became the NEC’s first 30-point scorer to achieve a double-double this season. Dropping 30 on Lehigh in the Shark’s 87-82 win earlier this month (Dec. 6), he pulled down 10 boards for his first double-double of the season.

Davis’ 30/10 double-double marked the NEC’s first since Bryant’s Charles Pride had 44 points and 12 rebounds against Saint Francis on Feb. 3, 2022.

SHARP-SHOOTING SHILO
Le Moyne graduate forward Shilo Jackson (Indianapolis, IN/North Central/Vincennes (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) has torched the nets this season. 

Hitting at least 50.0 percent of his shots from the field in each of his 10 games in a Dolphins’ uniform — including a 90.0 percent clip (9-of-10) in last month’s overtime win vs. Monmouth — the Hoosier State product is converting at a 67.9 percent clip. That percentage ranks him first in the conference and eighth nationally in field goal accuracy.

Jackson also leads the NEC and is 30th in the nation in rebounds per game (9.3), while his 2.2 blocks per game and six double-doubles are also conference-best marks.


2025-26 NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 10: Greg Gordon (LIU)
Nov. 17: Darin Smith, Jr. (Central Connecticut) & Malachi Davis (LIU) 
Nov. 24: Jay Rodgers (CCSU)
Dec. 1: Darin Smith, Jr. (Central Connecticut) & Nick Jones (Wagner)
Dec. 8: Malachi Davis (LIU)
Dec. 15: Greg Gordon (LIU)
Dec. 22: 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 10: David Jevtic (FDU)
Nov. 17: Elijah Parker (Central Connecticut)
Nov. 24: Tristan Burth (New Haven)
Dec. 1: Ashton Reynolds (Central Connecticut)
Dec. 8: Paris Papadatos (Saint Francis)
Dec. 15: Roddy Jones (Central Connecticut)
Dec. 22: