Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Coron Williams, Robert Morris
6-2, 170lbs
R-So., G, Midlothian, VA/Christchurch School

Williams picked up right where left off last season as he led the Colonials to an 83-57 victory over Rider on Friday in the season-opener for both teams at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The second-year guard scored a career-high 28 points, with 14 in each half, to mark his fifth straight game of 10 or more points dating back to the 2010-11 campaign. He seemed automatic for RMU, hitting 11 of his 20 shots from the field and five of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc. Adding to his career night that surpassed his previous high of 26 points set against Wagner in 2010-11’s season finale, he contributed four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Travis Nichols, St. Francis (NY)
6-4, 190lbs
Jr., F, Brooklyn, NY/Food & Finance

Nichols came out of gates firing on all cylinders in the Terriers’ heart-breaking loss to Seton Hall, 75-71, in overtime on Saturday. The Brooklyn, NY native scored a career-high 25 points while adding 14 rebounds and three steals, with a bulk of those stats coming in the first half. Helping the his hometown team to a 33-25 lead at the break, Nichols knocked down 11 points and had eight caroms, almost achiving his third career double-double in the opening 20. After a Seton Hall run in the second, Nichols shined in overtime, scoring all nine of the Terriers points, including hitting a three-pointer that brought the SFNY within two, at 71-69, with 15 seconds remaining. For the 6-4 forward, it was his second career start in an SFNY uniform.

Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week
Kyle Vinales, Central Connecticut State
6-4, 180lbs
Fr., G, Farmington Hill, MI/Phelps School

Vinales could not of asked for a better performance in his first game under head coach Howie Dickenman. Debuting for the Blue Devils this past Friday, Vinales led all scorers with 24 points in a 73-69 setback to Yale in the Connecticut 6 Classic. This week’s Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week selection opened the game with his team’s first seven points, with three of them coming via his first career shot beyond the arc. He finished his night shooting 6 of 13 from the field and 2 of 4 from distance while adding five steals and two assists.  The 24 points are the most by an NEC freshman making his debut since the Mount’s Landy Thompson erupted for 28 points againt North Carolina State on November 22, 2002.

Around The League:

NOTABLE NEWCOMERS: A number of newcomers to the NEC made good first impressions last week, none more than CCSU freshman guard Kyle Vinales (Farmington Hill, MI/Phelps School), the NEC Rookie of the Week, Farleigh Dickinson junior guard Lonnie Hayes (Cincinnati, OH/Harmony Prep (Missouri State-West Plains JC)) and Sacred Heart junior center Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross (Holy Family)).  Vinales scored a gamed-high 24 points and tallied five steals in his Blue Devil debut against Yale on Friday.  He hit 10-11 from the line and 2-4 from three-point range.  Hayes, a JUCO All-American a year ago, dropped 26 points and dished for four assists against Providence on Saturday.  Swidowski, a transfer from Division II Holy Family, gave the Pioneers a true post presence in a 73-57 win over Hartford. He finished with 18 points and seven boards, and hit 7-10 shots from the floor.

Here are a host of NEC newcomers who made impressive debuts:

Kyle Vinales (CCSU, Fr, G): 24 points, 5 steals, 10-11 FT vs. Yale
Lonnie Hayes (FDU, Jr, G): 26 points, 4 assists 9-11 FT vs. Providence
Kinu Rochford (FDU, Jr, F): 15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks vs. Providence
Dion Nesmith (MU, So, G): 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals vs. Villanova
Nate Gause (QU, Fr, G): 12 points, 2-4 3PFG vs. Fairfield
Brandon Herman (RMU, Fr, G): 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3-4 3PFG vs. Rider
Lucky Jones (RMU, Fr, G): 6 points, 13 rebounds vs. Rider
Justin Swidowski (SHU, Jr, C): 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 7-10 FG vs. Hartford
Ben Mockford (SFNY, So, G): 13 points, 4-10 3PFG vs. Seton Hall

KING RICE MAKES MU COACHING DEBUT: The NEC’s lone first-year head coach this season is Monmouth’s King Rice.  The former UNC guard made his on-court debut on Friday in the Hawks’ 106-70 setback at Villanova.  Monmouth hung around for much of the first half, before a late spurt gave the Wildcats a 19-point edge at the break.  Things won’t get much easier for Rice and the Hawks with games on tap this week against Virginia Tech and either George Mason or FIU as part of the NIT Season Tipoff.

CONNECTICUT 6 WRAPUP: The NEC made a strong showing at the third annual Connecticut 6 Classic last Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The tripleheader featured six of the seven Division I playing institutions in Connecticut.  Sacred Heart started things out with a 70-50 triumph over Hartford in the opener behind an 18-point, seven-rebound performance from junior center Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross (Holy Family)).  The newcomer hit 7-10 shots from the field and finished with two blocks and two steals.  Playing without All-NEC guard James Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin), Quinnipiac rallied from 15 down to tie the score at 57 against MAAC power Fairfield, but the Stags pulled away down the stretch to secure a 72-60 win.  Sophomore forward Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/O’Bryant (Marianapols Prep)) recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards for the Bobcats.  In the final game of the day, Central Connecticut State received a game-high 24 points from freshman guard Kyle Vinales (Farmington Hill, MI/Phelps School), but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils dropped a 73-69 decision to a Yale team picked to finish second in the Ivy League.  Reigning NEC Player of the Year Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) added 21 points and nine boards for CCSU, which sliced a 14-point Bulldog lead down to one with 1:31 to play, but could draw no closer.

DID YOU KNOW?:The 24 points scored by Central Connecticut State freshman guard Kyle Vinales (Farmington Hill, MI/Phelps School) in his first game in a Blue Devil uniform is the most by an NEC freshman making his collegiate debut since the Mount’s Landy Thompson racked up 28 points against North Carolina State on November 22, 2002.

CLOSE BUT...:There were a couple of near-misses for NEC teams against top-level competition over the weekend. St. Francis (NY) had Seton Hall on the ropes at the Prudential Center on Saturday, building a 13-point second half lead, but late turnovers and missed free throws were the Terriers’ undoing in a 75-71 overtime loss.  Junior forward Travis Nichols (Brooklyn, NY/Food & Finance), the NEC Co-Player of the Week, was the best player on the floor, with 25 points and 14 rebounds.  Saint Francis (PA) junior guard Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) also put on a show in a 63-57 setback at VCU on Friday.  On the night the Rams unveiled their Final Four banner, Shannon exploded for a game-high 26 points and hit a number of big shots down the stretch to keep the Red Flash within striking distance until the game’s final moments.

CCSU’S KEN HORTON TOPS ACTIVE SCORING LIST: The NEC begins the 2011-12 campaign with three returning players already members of the 1,000-point scoring club,and a host of others set to join the ranks as the season progresses.  There are 172 players in NEC history who have reached the 1,000-point plateau since the league began sponsoring basketball in 1981.  CCSU senior forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) is the leading active scorer with 1,456 points.  Quinnipiac senior guard James Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) is next with 1,218 and CCSU senior guard Robby Ptacek (Bayport, NY/Blue Point) has accumulated 1,035 points.  The next line of players on pace to reach 1,000 this season include Wagner senior guard Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) (859), St. Francis (NY) senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Srednja Turisticka Skola) (838) and Wagner senior guard Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township (Apex Academies)) (822).

RMU’S BACKCOURT BONANZA: Robert Morris has sported some of the league’s best guards in recent years, including NEC Player of the Year award winners Tony Lee and Jeremy Chappell to name two.  If Friday’s 83-57 demolition of Rider is any indication, the Colonial backcourt will give teams fits once again this season.  RMU guards accounted for 69 of the team’s 83 points and combined for 11 three-point field goals.  Sophomore Coron Williams (Midlothian, VA/Christchurch School), the NEC Co-Player of the Week, led the charge with 28 points on 11-20 shooting from the floor.  Classmate Anthony Myers (Washington, DC/Charis Prep) came off the bench to finish with 14 points and six assists, while freshmen Brandon Herman (Chattanooga, TN/Charis Prep) (11 points, 3-4 3PFG) and Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) (six points, game-high 13 rebounds) also excelled in reserve roles.  Junior point guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) rounded out the high-powered attack with 10 points and five assists.

Team-By-Team Notes:

Bryant (1-2, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 vs. San Diego State L 75-63; Nov. 12 vs. UC-Davis W, 70-63; Nov. 13 vs. Southern Utah L, 95-78
This Week: Nov. 19 at Dartmouth

• Sophomore and reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Alex Francis (Harlem, NY./Holderness Prep) led the Bulldogs in their three games in three days stretch, averaging 21.7 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per outing to be named to the Basketball Travelers Classic All-Tournament Team. Francis posted a double-double (16 Pts, 10 Rebs) in a win over UC Davis, also collecting a game-high 20 points vs. San Diego State and 29 points (8 Rebs.) Sunday against Southern Utah, shooting 54.2 percent on the weekend.
• Junior point guard Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH/St Edward) averaged 17.7 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 14 assists, while connecting on 55.2 percent from the field and 54.2 percent from downtown, making 13 treys in three games, including a perfect 5-for-5 mark from long distance Sunday against the Thunderbirds.
- Sophomore Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia/Sacred Heart) averaged 11.3 points per game and recorded 14 assists on the three-game weekend. The starter posted a career-high 19 points Saturday in a win over UC Davis and averaged 36.3 minutes per outing with four steals.
• Reshirt sophomore Claybrin McMath (Adelaide, Australia/AIS) earned three starts and shot a shade under 41 percent on the week, but had a big day Saturday against the Aggies, setting new career highs in points (10), rebounds (7), minutes (31) and blocks (2).
• As a team, the Bulldogs shot 44.3 percent (78-176) from the field and 36.9 percent from 3-point range, making 31 treys while averaging 30.3 boards per game.
• The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, Nov. 19 against Dartmouth on the road.

CCSU (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week’s Opponent: Nov. 11 vs. Yale L, 73-69
This Week’s Opponents: Nov. 14 at Niagara; Nov. 19 vs. Army

• The Blue Devils opened the season with a 73-69 loss to Yale in the Connecticut 6 Classic on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
• Senior Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) scored 21 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the loss, narrowly missing his 19th career double-double. He scored in double-figures for the 27th straight game.
• Freshman guard Kyle Vinales (Farmington Hill, MI/Phelps School) had as good of a start to his CCSU career as you could ask for on Friday night. In a loss to Yale in the Connecticut 6 Classic on Friday, Vinales led all scorers with 24 points, including 10-of-11 shots from the free-throw line in the game. He scored the first seven points of the game for the Blue Devils, including hitting the first three-point attempts of his career. Vinales was 6-of-13 from the floor, and 2-of-4 from three, and added five steals and a pair of assists in his CCSU debut.
• Central shot 22-of-29 from the free-throw line in the loss to Yale on Friday. They outrebounded the Bulldogs 43-36, including 17 offensive rebounds.

Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1, 0-1 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 12 at Providence L, 72-61
This Week:  Nov. 15 vs. Lehigh; Nov. 18 vs. Saint Peter’s

• George Goode (Raytown, MO/Raytown South), Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison), Lonnie Hayes (Cincinnati, OH/Harmony Prep), Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach) and Dylan Moody (Philadelphia, PA/Abington Friends) all made their Knights’ debut against Providence
• Hayes scored 26 points on 7-of-21 shooting, including 3-of-8 from downtown, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists
• Rochford recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds (eight offensive with six in the first half), while going 7-of-12 from the floor and recorded a game-high two blocks and two steals
• FDU lost its ninth-straight season opener last winning to start the 2002-03 season wiht a 76-54 victory over Army
• FDU opened its season against a Big East opponent for the fourth time in the last six years

Long Island (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 at Hofstra L, 89-71
This Week:  Nov. 14 at Old Dominion; Nov. 16 at Penn State; Nov. 19 vs. Radford; Nov. 20 vs. Marist/Vermont

• The Blackbirds opened up the season with an 89-71 loss at Hofstra on Nov. 11. Junior Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) led Long Island with 13 points while classmate Julian Boyd’s (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) six rebounds were a team high.
• Long Island struggled at the free-throw line at Hofstra, converting just 17 of 32 attempts (53.1 percent). Last season, the Blackbirds shot 64.6 percent from the charity stripe as a team.
• LIU has a busy week ahead with four games in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Blackbirds will head to Old Dominion on Nov. 14 before visiting Penn State on Nov. 16. After a brief stop back in Brooklyn, the team will trek to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for the final games of the tournament. The Blackbirds will meet Radford on Nov. 19 and take on either Marist or Vermont on Nov. 20.
• Long Island plays its first six games away from Brooklyn this season and will not play at home until Dec. 1 against Wagner. All told, the Blackbirds will play 10 of their first 11 games away from hope to start the season.
• Sophomore Robinson Odoch Opong (Quebec City, Quebec/Cegep de Sainte-Foy) had an interesting night at Hofstra. Though his stat line reads just 1-for-1 in the field goal and three-pointer categories, Odoch Opong launched a trifecta of treys and was fouled on each one. After sinking his first shot but failing to complete the four-point play, he was fouled twice more while shooting from deep. Odoch Opong made just two of his six resulting free throws and finished the night 5-for-9 from the line with eight points.
• Freshman Gerrell Martin (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) made his collegiate debut late in the game at Hofstra. Martin shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers, to finish with eight points.

Monmouth (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 at Villanova L, 106-70
This Week:  Nov. 14 at Virginia Tech; Nov. 15 vs. George Mason/Florida International

• Three Hawks scored in double-figures in Monmouth’s season-opening loss at Villanova, led by Jesse Steele’s (Milford, NJ/Oak Hill) 12 points. Phill Wait (Manchester, England/St. John’s) and Dion Nesmith (Union, NJ/Northeastern) each added 10 points. Nesmith, who also hit a pair of three-pointers, added four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in 28 minutes.
• Also making their collegiate debut on Friday night was sophomore Daniel James (Huddersfield, England/Canarias Academy), and freshmen Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson), Mykel Harris (Lexington Park, MD/Phelps Prep), and Austin Tillotson (York, PA/Eastern York).
• Monmouth surrendered 100+ points for the first time since December 2008, when Seton Hall dropped 101 on the Hawks in the first-ever collegiate game played at the Prudential Center in Newark.
• The 106 points allowed was the highest total since Long Island scored 108 in 1998 in the NEC Quarterfinals.
• Monmouth shot 45.2% from the floor in the first half at Villanova, and had eight blocked shots. On five occasions last year, the team high for blocked shots in a game was four.

Mount St. Mary's (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 at #22 Marquette L, 91-37
This Week:  Nov. 16 at Hartford; Nov. 19 vs. Siena

• The Mount lost its season opener at #22 Marquette, 91-37, on Friday night.
• The Mount is now 0-13 all-time against the Big East Conference and falls to 1-16 all-time against ranked opponents since moving to NCAA Division I in 1988-89.
• Sophomore Julian Norfleet (Virgina Beach, VA/Landstown) led the Mount with 12 points while Danny Thompson (Springdale, MD/C.H. Flowers) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
• The played shorthanded against the Golden Eagles, with just six scholarship players seeing action.
• Freshman Xavier Owens (Wesley Chapel, FL/Wharton) had a strong debut with seven boards off the bench.

Quinnipiac (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 vs. Fairfield L, 72-60
This Week:  Nov. 15 vs. Yale; Nov. 19 vs. Navy

• QU used a 24-9 run to erase a 15-point deficit in the second half against the Stags, but couldn’t complete the comeback bid as the Bobcats dropped their season-opener to Fairfield, 72-60, in the middle game of the Connecticut 6 Classic at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
• Quinnipiac continued its dominance on the boards, controlling a 43-35 advantage, including 19-9 on the offensive glass, but struggled to keep pace with Fairfield’s offense.
• The Stags knocked down 10-of-19 from downtown and shot 45 percent from the floor. The Bobcats connected for only 2-of-9 from behind the arc and 35 percent overall.
• Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/O’Bryant/Marianapolis Prep) posted a double-double for the Bobcats, as the sophomore forward powered his way to 17 points and 10 boards. Junior Jamee Jackson chimed in with 11 points and six rebounds, all on the offensive end, while newcomer Nate Gause (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) provided an impactful spark off the bench with 12 points and three rebounds.
• Freshman Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, MD/Salisbury (CT)) fared well along side of junior Dave Johnson, as the backcourt tandem combined for 13 points and six assists. They also connected on 5-of-6 from the free-throw line and had two steals.
• Following their season-opener, the Bobcats were granted just three days to prepare for their next non-conference affair. On Tuesday, November 15, Quinnipiac welcomes Yale to the TD Bank Sports Center for a 7 p.m. showdown. The New England Sports Network (NESN) and Sports New York TV (SNY) will air the night’s contest that features a promotional ‘Bobcat Hat’ giveaway at halftime.

Robert Morris (1-0, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 vs. Rider W, 83-57
This Week:  Nov. 15 at Saint Peter’s; Nov. 19 at Pennsylvania

• Robert Morris improved to 19-17 (.528) all-time in season openers with an 83-57 victory over Rider at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The victory improved the Colonials to 15-2 (.882) in season openers at home, including 9-2 (.818) in season lidlifters at the Charles L. Sewall Center
• The Colonials posted just their third win in 11 games against the Broncs, and the win also marked RMU’s first over Rider at the Sewall Center in six games
• Redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, VA/ Christchurch School) paced the Colonials with a career-high 28 points, one of four players to score in double figures for RMU
• Sophomore guard Anthony Myers (Washington, DC/Charis Prep) added a career-high 14 points and finished with three rebounds and a game-high six assists, while redshirt junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) added 10 points and five dimes
• Jones has scored in double figures seven straight games dating back to last season and also is also RMU’s active leader in consecutive starts with 53

Sacred Heart (1-0, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 vs. Hartford W, 70-50
This Week:  Nov. 15 vs. Stony Brook; Nov. 17 at Rutgers; Nov. 19 at Richmond

• The Pioneers opened up their season for the third-straight season participating in the Connecticut 6 Classic. The Pioneeer posted a 70-50 win over the University of Hartford at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Pioneers are now 2-1 in the CT 6.
• Before the Tournament tipped-off, junior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) was named to the All-CT 6 Preseason team.
• R-Junior Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Family) had an impressive Sacred Heart debut on Friday, leading the Pioneers in scoring en route to the lopsided win. Swidowski played 32 minutes in his SHU debut scoring 18 points with seven rebounds and chipped in on the defensive end wiht two steals and two blocks. Swidowski finished the game shooting seven-of-10 from the field and four of four at the line.
• The Pioneers preached defense under Head Coach Dave Bike all preseason and after one game things look to be on track. SHU forded 18 Hawk turnovers and held Hartford to just 27.3% shooting including a five-for 30 effort from behind the arc.
• On the glass SHU pulled down 53 caroms, eclipsing the 50-rebound mark for the first time since the 2004 season. SHU pulled down 50 boards in a loss at Quinnipiac on 1/21/04.
• The Pioneers are now 3-10 in season openers since making the move to Division I and 25-22 all-time. SHU has won two of their last three season openers . The Pioneers are now 38-27 against teams from the America East Conference and will take on their second-straight opponent from the league on Tuesday against Stony Brook. SHU also faces New Hampshire this year.
• This weekend starts the four-game Cancun Challenge as the Pioneers play at Rutgers and at Richmond before heading to Mexico for games against Hampton and either Southern Illinois Edwardsville or Lipscomb.

St. Francis (NY) (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 12 at Seton Hall L, 75-71 (Ot)
This Week:  Nov. 16 at Lafayette; Nov. 19 at Hofstra

• The Terriers nearly knocked off their first Big East opponent since 2004 (St. John’s, 11/20/04). The Terriers have dropped four consecutive season-openers.
• Junior forward Travis Nichols (Brooklyn, NY/Food & Finance) produced career-high’s of 25 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals against the Pirates in only his second career start. It was his third career double-double. The Food & Finance graduate hit 10-of-16 field goal attempts, including 3-of-4 three-point field goals. Nichols also produced a career-best five offensive rebounds and played a career-high 42 minutes.
• Sophomore shooting guard Ben Mockford (Shoreham-by-the-Sea, England/Oak Hill Acd. (VA)), a transfer from Iona,went 4-of-10 from behind the arc en route to 13 points in his Terrier debut.
• Senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade,Serbia/Dimitrise Tucovic) hit three treys against Seton Hall and now has 210 for his career. He needs eight more to move into fourth place on the all-time school list and 13 more to slide into second-place.
• Freshman power forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) pulled down seven boards and rejected two shots in 19 minutes off the bench in his debut.
• All 13 players on the roster received playing time against the Pirates on Saturday, the most a St. Francis squad has seen on the floor in over a decade on opening night.

Saint Francis (PA) (0-1, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 11 at Virginia Commonwealth L, 63-57
This Week:  Nov. 14 vs. Lafayette; Nov. 19 at Bucknell

• Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) scored his first college basket in the first half on a 3-point attempt. Ollie Jackson (Dallas, TX/Pinkston) and Whyatt each saw their first college action Friday against Virginia Commonwealth.
• The Red Flash have won their last two season openers and Don Friday holds a record of 2-1 in season openers at DeGol Arena.
• Last season SFU met Lafayette on the road with the Leporads winning 72-68, Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) had 24.
• Saint Francis opens its home schedule Monday night against Lafayette.
• Following its home opener Saint Francis returns to the road Saturday to take instate rival Bucknell.

Wagner (1-0, 0-0 NEC)

Last Week: Nov. 12 at Princeton W, 73-57
This Week:  Nov. 14 at Connecticut; Nov. 16 vs. NC Central; Nov. 19 at Lafayette

• Wagner collected its second-straight season-opening win with a 73-57 victory over Princeton, while spoiling the Tigers’ 26th Ivy League banner unveiling. The Seahawks also earned their first-ever win against the Tigers.
• The win snapped Princeton’s 16-game homecourt winning streak that dated back to the 2009-2010 season and was the 13th longest in the nation
• Wagner’s relentless defense forced Princeton into 28 turnovers - which is the most caused miscues by the Seahawks since the Green & White pressured Iona into 28 on December 4, 2001 - and was one of the main reasons Wagner spoiled the unveiling of Princeton’s 26th Ivy League Banner. Last season, the most turnovers committed by the Tigers was 27 at Duke.
• Junior Josh Thompson (Richland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep), who became a viral sensation on YouTube after dunking over his mother in the Seahawks’ Madness Before Midnight event, gave the Green & White a lift off the bench at Princeton with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds in 27 minutes.
• Wagner’s win snapped a five-game losing streak to Ivy League competition dating back to the 2008-2009 season as the Seahawks improved to 19-24, all-time, against the Ancient 8. Additionally, Princeton had been 9-2, all-time against NEC competition at Jadwin Gym.
• Senior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) led three double-digit scorers with 15 points and has now led the Seahawks in scoring in 18 of coach Dan Hurley’s 31 career games.
• The Seahawks won the battle of the offensive glass, leading to a 38-26 advantage in points in the paint against a team that finished fifth a year ago in offensive rebounding.
• Wagner used a 26-6 run - including notching 16-straight at one point - in breaking open what was a tie game against Princeton. All told, during the game-changing push the Tigers missed eight shots while turning the ball over four times and going 8:57 without a point and 9:47 without a field goal.
• The Seahawks also notched 14 steals, which is the team’s highest total since accruing 15 at NJIT back on December 28, 2009.