Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Julian Boyd, LIU Brooklyn
6-7, 230lbs
Jr., F, San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft
What a week for Julian Boyd and the defending NEC Champion Blackbirds. The 6-7 junior forward out of San Antonio, TX, scored his 1,000th career point and averaged 21 points per game as LIU Brooklyn took over sole possession of first place in the league standings with a perfect 6-0 record. In an 82-64 decision over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, the 2011-12 Preseason All-NEC selection became the 30th player in LIU history to score 1,000 points as part of his 14-point, eight-rebound performance against the Knights. Additionally, he became 176th player in NEC history to accomplish the feat. Following a day off, Boyd returned to the hardwood and doubled his Thursday effort by scoring 28 points in a 106-86 victory over Monmouth. He hit 11-13 shots from the floor and added eight boards, two assists and a block against the Hawks. Boyd ranks in the NEC top-10 in scoring (16.8 PPG, sixth in league), rebounding (9.4 RPG, second), field goal percentage (.518, eighth) and double-doubles (7, second).
Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart
6-2, 180lbs
Jr., G, Killingly, CT/Killingly
Sacred Heart junior guard Shane Gibson might have the hottest hand in the NEC right now. The league’s leading scorer in conference play with 25.2 points per game through six contests, Gibson kept that average nearly four points better than the next player by scoring 27.5 PPG and helping the Pioneers to a 1-1 record this past weekend on the road. In SHU’s 71-68 win at Saint Francis (PA), the Killingly, CT native dropped 26 points and showed off his defensive skills, stealing the ball a career-high five times and grabbing five rebounds. He then exploded for 29 points and led a late comeback attempt at Robert Morris, falling just short, 70-67, in the final minutes. Trailing 60-50, Gibson keyed a 17-7 Pioneer run with three of his seven treys to help knot the game at 67-all with 2:37 to play. For the game, he shot 7-of-11 from distance and added four assists and a pair of steals. Gibson has assumed the overall NEC scoring lead at 20.3 PPG, and ranks third in three-point percentage (.450), fourth in made three-pointers (2.6 per game) and free-throw percentage (.836), and ninth in field goal percentage (.513) and steals (1.3 per game).
Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week
Jalen Cannon, St. Francis (NY)
6-6
Fr., F, Allentown, PA/William Allen
Cannon recorded back-to-back double doubles as the St. Francis (NY) Terriers continued to turn heads, going 2-0 over the weekend and improving to 5-1 in league play. Currently sitting in a three-way tie for second place, the Terriers were picked to finish 11th this season in the preseason NEC poll. Cannon averaged 11.5 points and 12 rebounds over the weekend, beginning with a 13-point, 12-rebound performance in an 81-64 win over Monmouth on Thursday. The Allentown, PA native then scored 10 points and brought down 12 boards again in a 62-51 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday. Since he entered the starting lineup five games ago, the Terriers are 4-1 and Cannon has averaged 10.6 PPG and 9.4 RPG at the power forward position. On the year, he is the top-ranked freshman rebounder in the NEC and the 10th best first year glass sweeper in the nation with 7.5 per outing. Cannon also contributes 7.8 PPG and has converted 56.3 percent of his field goal attempts.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
BIG LIGHTS WILL INSPIRE YOU, LET’S HEAR IT FOR NEW YORK: We are now six games into the 18-game league schedule and there is already a buzz forming about the three New York City teams in the Conference, each off to their best NEC starts in quite some time. In fact, the three Big Apple teams have combined for a 16-2 league record thus far in 2011-12.
With a pair of home wins last week, defending NEC champion LIU Brooklyn stretched its win streak to seven and is the last remaining unbeaten in conference play with a 6-0 record. This marks the first 6-0 start for the Blackbirds in the 31-year history of the NEC. LIU’s neighborhood rival St. Francis (NY) has also made some waves with its 5-1 record to open league play. The surprising Terriers, who were picked 11th in the preseason coaches poll, have won four straight games and are now off to their best NEC start since going 12-1 to begin the 2000-01 conference season. Across the river, Wagner beat previously unbeaten Central Connecticut, 67-58, on Saturday to extend its win streak to seven games, the longest for the program since the 1979-80 season. The Seahawks are now tied with CCSU and St. Francis (NY) for second place with a 5-1 league record. The Green & White last jumped out to a 5-1 mark in 2007-08 when they won eight of their first nine league games. Overall, Wagner’s 14-3 start is its best since opening the 1955-56 season with a 20-2 record.
TWO BLACKBIRD STREAKS LIVE ON: Following a home sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth last week, LIU Brooklyn has now won 16 consecutive NEC regular season games dating back to last season, four shy of the NEC record established by Central Connecticut State from 2001-03. Including the postseason, the Blackbirds have taken down 19 straight league opponents. LIU Brooklyn last fell to a league rival on January 22, 2011 when Saint Francis (PA) beat the Blackbirds, 86-71, in Loretto, which itself snapped a six-game conference win streak for LIU. In total, the Blackbirds are 22-1 in their last 23 NEC regular season games.
Likewise, LIU extended its home win streak to 18 games last week. The 18 straight wins at the WRAC is the sixth longest in the nation at this time. LIU was last tripped up at home on December 8, 2010 in an 88-82 setback to Iona.
Nation’s Longest Home Win Streaks
1. Kentucky 45
2. Duke 44
3. Ohio State 36
4. North Carolina 28
5. Harvard 23
6. LIU Brooklyn 18
GOING NATIONAL: MARQUEE MATCHUP TO AIR ON ESPNU: NEC-TV kicks into high gear over the next several weeks with three consecutive Game of the Year candidates on tap. This Saturday, the NEC goes national as ESPNU invades the Spiro Center for a matchup between red-hot Wagner and defending champion LIU Brooklyn. The two teams met on December 1 in Brooklyn with the Blackbirds coming away with a 78-73 victory. Tipoff is at 7:00 pm with Adam Amin and Brooke Weisbrod in the booth. This marks the first NEC regular season game to air on the ESPN family of networks since Sacred Heart hosted Central Connecticut on March 2, 2008.
On January 26 we get a rematch of the classic 2011 NEC title game that saw LIU edge Robert Morris, 85-82, in overtime. The Colonials will attempt to exact some revenge on their home court in the only meeting between the two teams this season. Tip is at 7:00 pm. Dave Popkin (play-by-play), Joe DeSantis (color) and Paul Dottino (sideline) have the call. February 2nd brings yet another battle of NEC behemoths with Robert Morris visiting Wagner for a 7:00 pm start. Popkin (play-by-play), Tim Capstraw (color) and Dottino (sideline) comprise the announce crew. This too will be the only matchup between the Colonials and Seahawks in 2011-12.
CCSU’S KEN HORTON BREAKS SCHOOL SCORING RECORD, MOVES UP NEC ALL-TIME SCORING LIST: Central Connecticut State senior forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) broke the Blue Devil career scoring record at Wagner on Saturday, and at the same time continued his march up the NEC career list. With 1,738 points, Horton passed Blue Devil great Damian Johnson, who had 1,734 points from 1989-93. He also jumped four spots on the NEC scoring chart last week to move into 16th place. Horton is 72 points away from moving into top-10 all-time in the Conference.
NEC Career Scoring Chart
10. Jeff Hamilton SFPA 1,810 1981-85
11. Charles Jones LIU 1,772 1996-98
12. Gregory Harris MSM 1,760 1996-00
13. Alex Blackwell MU 1,749 1989-92
14. John Giraldo MU 1,749 1992-96
15. Kevin Booth MSM 1,742 1989-93
16. Ken Horton CCSU 1,738 2007-11
LIU’S JULIAN BOYD IS NEC’S LATEST’S GRAND MAN; TEAMMATE JAMAL OLASEWERE NEXT UP?: LIU Brooklyn junior forward Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) became the fourth NEC player this season to join the 1,000-point club last week, reaching the milestone last Thursday in an 82-64 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. The Choice Hotels NEC Co-Player of the Week reached the plateau on a free throw with 11:15 to play. Boyd, who finished with 14 in the contest, became the 30th player in LIU history to crack the 1,000-point barrier. He enters play this week with 1,031 points.
There are 176 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 1,738 points. Quinnipiac senior guard James Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) is next with 1,497 and CCSU senior guard Robby Ptacek (Bayport, NY/Blue Point) has accumulated 1,335 points. This year, Sacred Heart junior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) (1,134), Wagner senior guard Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) (1,052) and St. Francis (NY) senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Srednja Turisticka Skola) (1,051) have also made it to 1,000 points.
The next line of players closing in on 1,000 this season include LIU Brooklyn junior forward Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) (980), Robert Morris junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) (967) and Wagner senior guard Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township (Apex Academies)) (942).
RED FLASH’S SCOTT EATHERTON LEADS NEC “DOUBLERS”: When the NEC hands out its Most Improved Player award at year’s end, there will be no shortage of deserving players from which to choose. Glancing at scoring alone, there are three players who have at this point in the season have at least doubled their average from 2010-11 (minimum of 10.0 ppg). At the top of that list is Saint Francis (PA) sophomore forward Scott Eatherton (Hershey, PA/Hershey). Eatherton contributed 3.9 ppg off the bench a year ago for the Red Flash, but has improved that figure by 269 percent to a team-best 14.4 ppg in 2011-12.
NEC Players Who Have Doubled Their Scoring Average (min. 10.0 ppg)
Name 2010-11 2011-12 Percent Increase
Scott Eatherton, SFPA 3.9 ppg 14.4 ppg 269
Ike Azotam, QU 5.1 ppg 16.1 ppg 216
Corey Maynard, BRY 4.7 ppg 13.0 ppg 177
WHITE-HOT GIBSON TAKES OVER NEC SCORING LEAD: Central Connecticut’s lethal offensive trio of Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining), Robby Ptacek (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point) and Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) have dominated the headlines and combined for nearly 60 points per game, but it was Sacred Heart junior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) who quietly assumed the NEC scoring mantle last week after averaging 27.5 points in the Pioneers’ split in Western Pennsylvania. The Choice Hotels NEC Co-Player of the Week shot 10-15 from outside the arc in the two games, finishing with 26 in a 71-68 win at Saint Francis (PA) and 29 more in a 70-67 setback at Robert Morris. Gibson now leads the league with 20.3 ppg, including a league-best 11 games of 20+ points on the year. He has reached the 20-point mark in seven of his last eight outings and is averaging an NEC-best 25.2 ppg in conference play. The Killingly, CT native is also third on the circuit in three-point percentage (.450), fourth in made three-pointers (2.6/game) and ninth in field goal percentage (.513).
NUMBERS DON’T LIE FOR TERRIERS: St. Francis (NY) has averaged 78.7 points during its four-game win streak, a stark contrast to the 65.7 ppg average over the team’s first 13 games of the season. The Terriers are also shooting 50.2 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 82.8 percent from the line during the stretch. Likewise, St. Francis has outrebounded its opponents by 8.3 per game over the course of the streak.
Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen), a freshman forward, has served as one of the catalysts over the four wins, averaging 11.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg, including a pair of double-doubles last week. Cannon recorded 13 points and 12 boards in an 81-64 win over Monmouth on Thursday and followed with 10 points and 12 rebounds two days later in a 62-51 conquest of Fairleigh Dickinson. He is the first NEC freshman to post back-to-back double-doubles since Bryant’s Alex Francis (Halrlem, NY/Holderness Prep (NH)) turned the trick during NEC Rivalry Week against Central Connecticut last February.
SMITS, GREEN INDUCTED INTO 2011-12 NORTHEAST CONFERENCE HALL OF FAME CLASS: The second Northeast Conference Hall of Fame induction class announced last week included a pair of NEC men’s hoops legends in Marist’s Rik Smits and former Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Tom Green.
Nicknamed the “Dunking Dutchman,” Smits was both the tallest (7’4”) and most decorated player in NEC history. The Eindhoven, Holland native was selected as the NEC Player of the Decade and 20th Anniversary Most Valuable Player, and was tabbed to the NEC 25th Anniversary All-Time team. He earned NEC Player of the Year honors after the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons and was a three-time first team all-league selection. Smits is one of just two competitors to win Player of the Year accolades twice (LIU’s Charles Jones is the other) and was the 1984-85 NEC Newcomer of the Year. Named an AP Honorable Mention All-American in 1988, he ranks sixth on the NEC all-time scoring list with 1,945 points and 15th on the rebounding chart with 811 boards. He led the NEC in blocked shots and field goal percentage three times in his career, and paced the Conference in scoring with 24.7 points per game in 1987-88. Smits established 25 school records at Marist and helped lead the Red Foxes to back-to-back NEC titles in 1986 and 1987. He was voted MVP of the 1986 NEC Tournament and was a three-time All-Tournament pick. In his final game in a Marist uniform, Smits scored a then school-record 45 points. While in Poughkeepsie, he represented Holland as a member of the Dutch National Team following his sophomore and junior seasons. Smits is one of three Marist men’s basketball players in school history to have his uniform number retired. Following his collegiate career, Smits was tabbed by the Indiana Pacers as the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft. He played his entire 12-year career for the Pacers and was selected to the NBA All-Star team in 1998. Smits averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and retired as the Pacers’ all-time blocked shots leader with 1,111 rejections. He competed for the NBA Championship in 2000 when Indiana fell to Los Angeles, 4-2.
The winningest coach in NEC men’s basketball history, Green’s tenure at Fairleigh Dickinson spanned 26 years from 1983-2009. He won a school record 407 games over that time and his 263 wins against NEC competition are over 100 more than any other coach in league annals. Green piloted the Knights to a four NEC championships - also the most in conference history - in 1985, 1988, 1998 and 2005, and Postseason NIT berths in 1991 and 2006. He presided over three NEC regular season championship teams (1985-86, 1987-88 and 2005-06) and led seven teams to 20+ win seasons. Green is also the NEC’s all-time leader with 26 tournament victories as FDU appeared in nine NEC Championship games and reached the NEC semifinals in 16 of his 26 seasons. The 2004-05 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association/NIT Coach of the Year, Green was also a two-time NEC Coach of the Year, a two-time New Jersey Sports Writers Coach of the Year and a three-time New Jersey Coaches Association Coach of the Year award recipient. Green has since continued his coaching career at the City College of New York (CCNY), where he is in his first year as head coach.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPARK QU ROAD WIN: Quinnipiac scored an impressive road win at league power Robert Morris last week after starting the season 1-3 in conference play. The Bobcats, who posted a 28-8 record against NEC opposition the last two years, were sparked by a terrific effort from the backcourt tandem of James Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) (22 points) and Dave Johnson (Jackson, NJ/St. Mark’s (MA)) (18 points), Quinnipiac shot 58.5 percent from the field and snapped RMU’s five-game win home win streak against NEC opposition with a 78-76 victory at the Sewall Center. By week’s end, James Johnson had lifted his career scoring total to 1,497 points. The Brooklyn native is set to become the 58th player in NEC history to reach the 1,500-point mark.
WAGNER: BEHIND THE NUMBERS: With a 14-3 record, it’s no surprise Wagner ranks at or near the top of the NEC in a host of statistical categories. Much has been made about the team’s defensive and rebounding improvements - the Seahawks have held opponents to 64.4 ppg (down from 70.5 ppg in 2010-11) and 40.5 percent shooting from the field (best in NEC, down from .427 a year ago), and have posted a +1.9 rebound margin compared to -6.2 a year ago - but often overlooked is Wagner’s ability to take care of the ball and force turnovers.
The Seahawks have turned the ball over just 12.9 times per game in 2011-12, the lowest figure in the conference. Only two times since the 2003-04 campaign has an NEC team finished with a lower rate (Quinnipiac, 12.5 per game in 2010-11; CCSU, 12.8 per game in 2005-06). Similarly, Wagner has created extra possessions for itself by forcing 16.8 turnovers per game and maintaining a league-leading +3.94 turnover margin. That turnover margin is the best by an NEC program since Wagner finished at +5.00 during the 2000-01 season.
WAGNER, ROBERT MORRIS AT HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Winning on the road isn’t easy, but over the last two years, a trio of NEC programs have excelled in that regard. In 2010-11, LIU Brooklyn led the nation with 13 road wins en-route to a 27-6 record. This season, it is Wagner and Robert Morris that have found the magic formula away from home. Wagner is tied for second in the country with seven road wins (against just two defeats), joining a select group that includes Iona, Middle Tennessee, Oral Roberts and Loyola (MD). Robert Morris is right behind with six road victories to date. Cleveland State ranks first in the category with eight road wins in 2011-12.
WAGNER CLIMBS MID-MAJOR POLL: Riding a seven-game win streak, Wagner has now been ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll three straight weeks. In the January 9th edition, the Seahawks jumped three spots to #22 in the poll. Robert Morris, which had earned a spot in the rankings three consecutive weeks, dropped out, but continued to earn votes.
WAGNER AGAIN RECEIVES VOTE IN AP POLL: For the fourth week in a row, Wagner received a single vote in the Associated Press (AP) poll announced on January 9. LIU Brooklyn was the last NEC team prior to Wagner to earn votes in the AP rankings, twice claiming a single vote in late February and mid-March of the 2010-11 season.
NEC’S RPI LEADERS: The NEC currently sports three teams ranked in the top-150 in the RPI. Wagner is currently 79th, while Robert Morris ranks 109th and LIU Brooklyn 133rd.
CCSU’S PTACEK: BEST EVER AT THE LINE?: Central Connecticut State senior guard Robby Ptacek’s (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point) near perfection at the charity stripe is not a one-year phenomenon. In fact, Ptacek has a chance to close out his career as the top-ranked free throw shooter in the history of the conference. The Bay Shore, NY native has hit 88.1 percent of his attempts over the course of his career, including a league-leading 92.6 percent this season. The only player in league annals with a higher percentage is former CCSU star Tristan Blackwood, who shot 89.1 percent from the line from 2004-08.
LIU’S JASON BRICKMAN: PICK YOUR POISON: He may been known for his playmaking, but LIU Brooklyn sophomore Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) is no one dimensional point guard. The NEC assist leader (6.2 apg) has proved lethal from long range in recent weeks, hitting 15 of his last 22 shots from beyond the arc to raise his season percentage from 29.7 percent to 44.1 percent, the fourth-best mark in the Conference. Coinciding with Brickman’s hot streak, LIU has won seven straight and is the lone remaining unbeaten team in NEC play with a 6-0 record. The San Antonio, TX native has also posted a pair of double-doubles in points and assists over this stretch.
STREAKBUSTER: RED FLASH RIDE RITTER TO NEEDED WIN: Saint Francis (PA) earned a much-needed win on Saturday by slipping past Quinnipiac, 74-71, at DeGol Arena. The victory, which snapped a six-game losing streak and improved the Red Flash to 3-3 in NEC play, was sparked by sophomore forward Kameron Ritter (Niskayuana, NY/Christian Boys Academy). Ritter, who came into the game averaging just 3.4 ppg, exploded for a career-high 24 points and matched a personal best with five assists. He hit 7-9 from the floor, and after entering the game with just one three-pointer on the year, drilled 3-5 from long range. Most impressively, the Red Flash became just the third team this season to win the battle of the boards against the Bobcats, who rank among national leaders in rebound margin.
INJURY UPDATE: Fairleigh Dickinson junior guard Lonnie Hayes (Cincinnati, OH/Harmony Prep (Missouri State-West Plains)) has missed five straight games. The Knights’ leading scorer (13.0 ppg) is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot...St. Francis (NY) junior forward Akeem Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Susan S. McKinney), the Terriers’ third-leading scorer at 10.0 ppg., sat out both games last week with a shoulder injury and is out indefinitely… Robert Morris junior forward Russell Johnson (Chester, PA/Chester) did not play in his team’s 70-67 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday due to a thumb injury, snapping a streak of 85 consecutive games played…Sacred Heart point guard Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) (8.4 ppg) has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, while junior center Justin Swidowski (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross (Holy Family)) (11.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) was limited to just four minutes at Saint Francis (PA) last Thursday after suffering a shoulder injury. He did not return to the game and was held out of Saturday’s game at Robert Morris.
TERRIERS’ PERUNICIC CLIMBING NEC THREE-POINT CHART: St. Francis (NY) senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Srednja Turisticka Skola) lifted his career three-point total to 254 last week, tops among active NEC players, second in St. Francis history and now 12th on the league’s all-time list. He needs 11 more trifectas to move into the NEC top-10 and 41 more to surpass the Terrier career mark of 294 set by Angel Santana from 1996-00.
NEC Career Leaders - Three-Pointers Made
1. Tristan Blackwood CCSU 328 2004-08
2. Joey Mundweiler Wagner 312 2004-09
3. Chris McGuthrie MSM 300 1993-96
4. Angel Santana SFNY 294 1996-00
5. James Williams LIU 277 2003-07
6. Justin Chiera CCSU 274 2002-06
7. Ryan Litke SHU 270 2006-10
Dedrick Dye Wagner 270 1999-03
9. Landy Thompson MSM 267 2002-06
10. Kevin Booth MSM 265 1989-93
11. Dave Calloway MU 260 1987-91
12. Stefan Perunicic SFNY 254 2008-12
CCSU’S HORTON LEADS 20/30 PACK: In the “stellar games” category, no NEC player is even close to Central Connecticut senior forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining). Horton has racked up 41 games of 20+ points over the course of his career, with his next closest competitors in the NEC being Sacred Heart’s Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) and teammate Robby Ptacek (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point), who have 24 and 23, respectively. He has also tallied eight games of 30+ points, also a league-leading mark and six more than any other NEC player. This season alone, Horton has put up three 30-point outings.
STAT OF THE WEEK: The 106 points scored by LIU Brooklyn in a 20-point win over Monmouth on Saturday were the most in an NEC game since St. Francis (NY) beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 110-103, on February 21, 2005. It was the highest point total in a regulation game for LIU since a 108-79 win over Monmouth in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals on February 26, 1998.
DID YOU KNOW?: Saint Francis (PA) has lost four home games this season by three points or fewer. In each of its home setbacks the Red Flash have had a shot tie or win the game at the buzzer.
BY THE NUMBERS
1st career double-double for Wagner freshman forward Mario Moody (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) on Thursday when he came off the bench to set career-highs in points (16) and rebounds (11). Those single-game totals exceeded his season-to-date figures (nine points, nine boards) entering the contest.
5 St. Francis (NY) players scored in double figures for the first time since November 22, 2008 (vs. Hartford) in the Terriers’ 81-64 win over Monmouth on Thursday.
5-0 record for LIU Brooklyn this season In games decided by five points or less.
6-0 record for home teams on Saturday.
6 straight double figure scoring efforts for Mount St. Mary’s sophomore guard Julian Norfleet (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown), who has averaged 14.7 ppg and shot 43.2 percent from beyond the arc over that span.
7.5 rebounds per game for St. Francis (NY) forward and Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen), a figure that leads all NEC freshman and is the 10th best freshman mark in the nation at this time.
9 double-doubles this season for Quinnipiac sophomore forward Ike Aztoam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep)), a league-high.
11 straight games Robert Morris had held opponents to under 70 points – a school record – before the Colonials allowed 78 in a two-point loss to Quinnipiac on Thursday.
14 wins for Wagner is one better than its win total for the entire 2010-11 season.
25 points, a career-best, for Fairleigh Dickinson junior guard Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach (Western Texas)), who also added 12 rebounds for his first career double-double against LIU Brooklyn last Thursday.
27 points, a career-high for Monmouth senior forward Mike Myers Keitt (Waterbury, CT/Fairfield Prep (Marianapolis Prep)) on Saturday against LIU Brooklyn. He hit 6-9 shots from three-point range and raised his career point total to 841, most among active Hawks.
37.6 minutes per game for Bryant junior point guard Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH/Saint Edward), which leads the NEC. He has played 639 of a possible 680 minutes on the year.
40 straight games in double-digits for Central Connecticut senior forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) before the streak was snapped on Saturday in the Blue Devils’ 67-58 loss to Wagner.
58.5 percent shooting from the field for Quinnipiac, including 70.0 percent (7-10) from three-point range, in a 78-76 win at Robert Morris on Thursday. The Colonials entered play as the NEC leader in field goal percentage defense.
63.9 percent field goal accuracy for LIU Brooklyn, an NEC single-game season-high, in its 106-86 win over Monmouth on Saturday.
76.6 percent field goal accuracy on two-point shots for LIU Brooklyn in that same game.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Bryant (2-15, 1-5 NEC, RPI: 319)
Last Week: Jan. 12 at Wagner L, 78-61; Jan. 14 at Mount St. Mary’s L, 64-60
This Week: Jan. 19 at Central Connecticut; Jan. 21 vs. Quinnipiac
• Sophomore Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep) recorded his fourth double-double of the season and 12th of his career Thursday night on the road against Wagner, scoring a team-high 16 points while pulling in a game-best 13 rebounds. Francis went on to collect another 16 points at Mount St. Mary’s Saturday afternoon and averaged 8.5 rebounds per outing with a 46.4 shooting percentage on the week.
• Ben Altit (Herzeliya, Israel/Rothberg) tied a pair of career high with 14 points (6-of-11 shooting) and three blocks against the Seahawks Thursday. He averaged 10.5 points per game on the two-game week and shot 60 percent from the field.
- Junior Raphael Jordan (Bel Air, MD) scored a game-high 17 points Saturday against the Mount, scoring 14 of those points in the second frame while going 7-of-8 from the floor in the contest with a 2-for-2 mark from 3-point range and four assists. Jordan now shoots 45.3 percent from beyond the arc on the season.
• Bryant was without second-leading scorer Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia) for both contests.
• Four Bulldogs averaged double-figure points on the week despite the pair of losses.
Central Connecticut (8-8, 5-1 NEC, RPI: 185)
Last Week: Jan. 12 at Mount St. Mary’s W, 71-66; Jan. 14 at Wagner L, 67-58
This Week: Jan. 19 vs. Bryant; Jan. 21 at Sacred Heart
• Senior Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) was held to a season-low seven points in the loss at Wagner on Saturday, but he became the school’s all-time scoring leader in the first half. With a basket in the lane at 15:13 in the first half, Horton became the school’s all-time leading scorer. His 1,735th career point pushed him pass former Blue Devil Damian Johnson on the school’s all-time. He ended the game with 1,738 points. Horton also moved to 16th on the all-time NEC scoring list.
• Senior Robby Ptacek (Bayport, NY/Blue Point) scored 42 points on the week, giving him 1,335 for his career, moving him into 13th place in CCSU history. He passed three players on Saturday night, including Bill Wendt (1,333). He also passed Javier Mojica, Ron Robinson and Shemik Thompson during the week.
• The conference loss on Saturday night was the first of the season for the Blue Devils. They had won three straight games before falling at Wagner.
• Central had been looking for its first 6-0 start since the 1999-00 season. They were 12-0 to start the year that season.
• Horton had his streak of 40 straight games with 10 or more points stopped on Saturday. He had just seven in the loss.
• Freshman Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School), a six-time NEC Rookie of the Week selection, struggled from the field, hitting just 7-of-30 from the field (4-of-15 and 3-of-15).
• Ptacek averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and averaged 36.5 minutes in a 1-1 week for the Blue Devils last week. He opened up the week scoring 14 points and dishing out a pair of assists in a 71-66 win at Mount St. Mary’s. Ptacek hit 3-of-3 from the line in the victory. He followed that up with a game-high 28 points, while grabbing a season-best six rebounds, in a 67-58 setback on the road at Wagner on Saturday. Ptacek hit a pair of threes and was 12-of-13 from the line in the loss. Ptacek hit 15-of-16 from the line for the week, and is now shooting 92.6 percent from the line this season, tied for third in the country. He is 63-of-68 on the year.
Fairleigh Dickinson (1-15, 0-6 NEC, RPI: 331)
Last Week: Jan. 12 at LIU Brooklyn L, 82-64; Jan. 14 at St. Francis (NY) L, 62-51
This Week: Jan. 16 vs. Longwood; Jan. 19 vs. Robert Morris; Jan. 21 vs. Saint Francis (PA)
• Junior Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach) exploded for a career-high 25 points, also setting new career marks in both field goals (10) and three-point field goals (5) against LIU Brooklyn. He also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds for his first career double-double.
• Graduate student George Goode (Raytown, MO/Raytown South) also added a double double with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against LIU Brooklyn.
• Junior Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, NY/Bishop Stepinac) added 14 points for the Knights against LIU Brooklyn.
• Robinson, Goode and Bolding each played all 40 minutes against LIU Brooklyn.
• As a team, the Knights grabbed a season-best 48 rebounds against the Blackbirds.
• Senior Sam Fernley (Sheffield, England/Silverdale) earned his sixth career start against LIU Brooklyn and turned the ball over only once in 25 minutes. With Fernly in the starting lineup, it gave FDU its 10th different starting lineup of the season.
• FDU was whistled for a season-high 27 fouls against the Blackbirds with three players fouling out.
• Bolding led the Knights with 15 points (14 in the first half) to lead the Knights in scoring at SFNY.
• Goode and junior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) each added 12 points and nine rebounds against the Terriers.
• FDU went on an 18-3 run to take a seven-point lead in the first half against SFNY and eventually led by two at the half; FDU scored only one point over the first eight minutes of the second half and had a scoring drought of seven minutes as well, which allowed the Terriers to go on a 14-3 run to start the second half and take control of the game.
• Rochford ranks No. 18 in the nation in offensive rebounding. 30.7% of his points in the last seven games have come on offensive rebounds.
• FDU is 0-6 in the NEC for the first time ever
LIU Brooklyn (12-6, 6-0 NEC, RPI: 133)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson W, 82-64; Jan. 14 vs. Monmouth W, 106-86
This Week: Jan. 19 vs. Mount St. Mary’s; Jan. 21 at Wagner (ESPNU)
• LIU Brooklyn defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 82-64, and Monmouth, 106-86, to improve to 6-0 in conference play for the first time in program history. The Blackbirds are 12-6 overall and have won seven straight and 10 of their last 12.
• The Blackbirds have won 16 consecutive Northeast Conference games dating back to last season. That streak stretches to 19 if you include the NEC Tournament. After dropping the conference opener last season, LIU has gone 22-1 in NEC regular-season contests.
• Dating back to last season LIU Brooklyn has won 18 consecutive home games.
• Against Fairleigh Dickinson, junior Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) became the 30th player in LIU Brooklyn history to score 1,000 points. He finished the game with 14 and added 28 in the win over Monmouth.
• Junior C.J. Garner (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) swept a career-high nine rebounds against the Knights and dished out a career-best eight assists against the Hawks.
• The 106-point outburst against Monmouth marked the second time this season that the Blackbirds have reached triple digits and the highest point total in a regulation game since a 108-79 win over Monmouth in the NEC Tournament on Feb. 26, 1998.
• LIU shot a season-high 64 percent (39-for-61) from the floor and a season-best 83 percent (25-for-30) at the charity stripe in the win over Monmouth.
Monmouth (3-16, 1-5 NEC, RPI: 293)
Last Week: Jan. 10 vs. #25 Harvard L, 70-61; Jan. 12 at St. Francis (NY) L, 81-64; Jan. 14 at LIU Brooklyn L, 106-86
This Week: Jan. 19 vs. Saint Francis (PA); Jan. 21 vs. Robert Morris
• Monmouth is now 3-16 overall, and 1-5 in the NEC after going 0-2 this week.
• The Hawks are now 0-6 all-time at LIU Brooklyn’s Wellness Center. The Hawks have not been victorious in Brooklyn since a 69-57 win on January 15, 2005, when Marques Alston (18 pts) led four Hawks in double-figures.
• Monmouth just finished a stretch of playing five games in 10 days. The Hawks went 1-4.
• Monmouth surrendered a season-high 106 points for the second time this season on Saturday. MU allowed 106 points in the season-opener at Villanova (11/11). The 106 points allowed was the highest total allowed since giving up 108 points to Long Island (2/26/98) in the NEC Quarterfinals. The program-record for points allowed is 112, to the same LIU team in 1998, in the regular season finale.
• Monmouth allowed 100 points to a third opponent this year. That marks the first time in program history the Hawks allowed 100 points three times. Entering this season, the Hawks had allowed 100+ points to opponents as a DI school just seven times.
• Senior Mike Myers Keitt (Waterbury, CT/Fairfield Prep (Marianapolis Prep)) notched a career-high 27 points on Saturday at LIU Brooklyn, hitting 6-of-9 from three-point range. Myers Keitt matched Andrew Nicholas’ (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York) six three-pointers at North Carolina (1/1) for the team’s season-best effort from beyond the arc.
• Myers Keitt, who has played in 104 career games, upped his career-point total to 841 with his 27-point effort at LIU. Myers Keitt is still the team’s leading scorer in career points.
• Monmouth’s pressure defense forced a season-high 24 turnovers by St. Francis (1/12), including 15 in the second half. MU’s opponents are averaging 17.0 turnovers/game and Monmouth has a +2.2 turnover margin, which ranks third in the NEC.
Mount St. Mary's (4-13, 2-4 NEC, RPI: 304)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Central Connecticut L, 71-66; Jan. 14 vs. Bryant W, 64-60
This Week: Jan. 19 at LIU Brooklyn; Jan. 21 at St. Francis (NY)
• The Mount went 1-1 this week, following a narrow 71-66 loss to NEC Co-Leader CCSU with a 64-60 victory against Bryant.
• Julian Norfleet (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds on the week for the Mountaineers. He had 13 points and seven assists against CCSU and then added 16 points and five rebounds in the win over Bryant.
• Norfleet has scored in double figures in each of the past six games, averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 16-of-37 (.432) from three-point range.
• Raven Barber (Edgewood, MD/Paul VI (VA)) returned to the lineup after missing a pair of games due to injury by averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds on the week. He recorded 12 points and seven boards off the bench in the win over Bryant, including the go-ahead bucket with just under four minutes remaining.
• The Mount has been better of late, averaging 65.3 points per game while hitting 48.7 percent from the field over the past three games.
• The Mount is on the road for the next four games before opening February with five out of six games at Knott Arena.
Quinnipiac (9-8, 2-4 NEC, RPI: 193)
Last Week: Jan. 12 at Robert Morris W, 78-76; Jan. 14 at Saint Francis (Pa) L, 74-71
This Week: Jan. 19 at Sacred Heart; Jan. 21 at Bryant
• Quinnipiac went 1-1 on a two-game road trip to Pennsylvania last week. The Bobcats defeated Robert Morris, 78-76, before losing at Saint Francis on, 74-71.
• James Johnson (Queens, NY/Bishop Loughlin), Dave Johnson (Jackson, NJ/St. Mark’s (MA)) and Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep)) led a potent attack on Thursday night, as QU overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Robert Morris at the Charles L. Sewall Center. Trailing by eight points at the break, the Bobcats connected on 66.7 percent of their second-half field goal attempts to complete the comeback bid.
• James Johnson led all scorers with 22 points, as the senior guard went 7-of-12 from the floor, dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds. Dave Johnson, in his strongest performance to date, added a career-high 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He pulled down six boards and handed out five dimes in 33 minutes on the hardwood. Azotam finished with 17 points and six rebounds, even with his minutes limited due to foul trouble in the first half.
• Azotam put together another strong outing and finished with a game-high 28 points on Saturday afternoon, but the Bobcats fell short on the road to Saint Francis (Pa.), 74-71, at DeGol Arena. For the contest, SFU outshot QU, 52.8 percent to 46.6 percent, from the floor, 50 percent to 27.3 percent, from long range and controlled the boards, 30-29. The Bobcats turned nine offensive rebounds into nine second-chance points.
• Azotam went 13-of-18 from the floor, grabbed four rebounds and snatched two steals against the Red Flash. Dave Johnson poured in 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go along with a game-high seven assists and a team-high 6 rebounds. James Johnson scratched out eight points and remains three shy of 1,500 for his career. Justin Harris (Paterson, NJ/Paramus Catholic) finished with six points and five rebounds and Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, MD/Salisbury (CT)) added five.
• QU returns to the hardwood for a pair of games in New England this week. The Bobcats will remain on the road and travel to Sacred Heart on Thursday, followed by a trip to Bryant on Saturday.
Robert Morris (13-6, 4-2 NEC, RPI: 109)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Quinnipiac L, 78-76; Jan. 14 vs. Sacred Heart W, 70-67
This Week: Jan. 19 at Fairleigh Dickinson; Jan. 21 at Monmouth
• Robert Morris split a pair of league home games last week, suffering a 78-76 setback to Quinnipiac (1/12/12) before rebounding with a 70-67 victory over Sacred Heart (1/14/12).
• The loss to the Bobcats, coupled with a 68-53 loss @ Central Connecticut State (1/7/12), marked the first time the Colonials have dropped back-to-back games since falling on the road at Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart in January of 2011.
• Three of RMU’s five games so far in 2012 have been decided by five points or less, with the Colonials 2-1 (.667) in those contests … Overall on the 2011-12 campaign Robert Morris is 5-2 (.714) in games decided by five points or less.
• Redshirt junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) averaged 20 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals last week, scoring all of his game-high 22 points against Quinnipiac before supplying 18 points, five assists and three steals off the bench in the win over Sacred Heart.
• Jones had his streak of consecutive starts snapped at 70 by coming off the pine against the Pioneers … Jones is RMU’s active leader in career starts with 80 … The longest streak of consecutive starts by a Colonial now belongs to senior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, MI/Columbus State Community College), who has started 30 straight games … Robert Morris is 22-8 (.733) with Bridges in the starting lineup.
• Jones finished a perfect 10-for-10 at the chalk against Quinnipiac, becoming the fourth player in school history to convert all 10 of his attempts at the free-throw line at the Charles L. Sewall Center and the first since Mezie Nwigwe in 2008.
• Jones is RMU’s active leader in scoring with 967 points and is 33 points shy of becoming the 20th player in school history to join the Robert Morris 1,000-point club.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, VA/Christchurch School) was held to a season-low two points against Quinnipiac but rebounded to lead Robert Morris in the win over the Pioneers with 20 points.
• Sophomore forward Mike McFadden (Newark, NJ/Technology) averaged 10.0 points in two games last week, supplying 11 points against Quinnipiac and nine points vs. Sacred Heart … McFadden converted eight of his 11 attempts from the field (72.7 percent) and in four home games since becoming eligible in December is shooting 53.3 percent (16-for-30) at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
• The 78 points allowed by Robert Morris in its loss snapped a streak of 11 straight games in which the Colonials held their opponents to under 70 points or less, a school record.
• RMU held an eight-point lead over the Bobcats at halftime but dropped a 78-76 decision, marking the only loss in 10 games this season in which the Colonials have held an advantage at the break and lost.
• Redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson (Chester, PA/Chester) did not play in RMU’s victory over Sacred Heart due to a thumb injury, snapping a streak of 85 consecutive games played … Jones is now RMU’s active leading in games played, having never missed a game in his three seasons, a stretch of 86 contests.
• Johnson is RMU’s active career leader in rebounds with 485 caroms and needs 15 boards to become the 16th player in school history to eclipse 500 career rebounds.
• Freshman forward Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) finished with 10 points against Quinnipiac and grabbed a game-high nine boards in the win over Sacred Heart … Jones is RMU’s leading rebounder with 117, an average of 6.2 per game, and has converted 13 straight free throws over his last six games.
• Robert Morris makes its swing annual swing through New Jersey this week, visiting Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday, Jan. 19, before traveling to Monmouth Saturday, Jan. 21.
Sacred Heart (8-11, 2-4 NEC, RPI: 237)
Last Week: Jan. 12 at Saint Francis (PA) W, 71-68; Jan. 14 at Robert Morris L, 70-67
This Week: Jan. 19 vs. Quinnipiac; Jan. 21 vs. Central Connecticut
• Sacred Heart has shot 50.0% or better seven times this season but is just 3-4 in those games. SHU had their top-shooting effort of the season in Thursday’s win at Saint Francis (PA), burying 56.1% (23-41) on a season-low 41 shots. The Pioneers have shot 50.0% or better in four of their last six games.
• The Pioneers tied their season-high with 22 turnovers vs. the Red Flash. SHU turned it over 22 times in a loss at Rutgers.
• Offensively, the Pioneers have scored 80 or more points four times this season but are just 1-3 in those games (L 82-80 OT at CCSU; W 84-79 vs. Lafayette; L vs. LIU Brooklyn 87-81; L vs. St. Francis (NY) 99-84).
• Defensively, the Pioneers gave up their most points in an NEC game for the first time since the 2007-08 season in the 99-84 loss to St. Francis (NY). SHU lost 100-87 at home to Central Connecticut State in the season finale on March 2, 2008. On the year, SHU has allowed 80 or more points seven times and on three occasions given up 90 or more points.
• Junior Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) hit for 26 points at SFPA and 29 at RMU, his ninth and tenth 20-point games this year. He has hit the 20-point mark in seven of the last eight games. Gibson has taken over the NEC scoring lead race at 20.3 ppg, just in front of CCSU’s Ken Horton (20.2 ppg). In six NEC games this year, the junior guard is scoring at a 25.2 per game clip.
• Gibson has found his stroke from behind the three-point line and ranks third in the NEC making 45.0% (50-111) from downtown on the season. He eclipsed his previous career-high with a 7-of-11 effort from behind the arc in the three-point loss to Robert Morris
• Gibson ranks ninth in the NEC in field goal percentage, creeping over the 50.0% mark on the year. He is shooting 51.3% (140-273).
• Freshman point guard Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) had a nine point, nine assist effort at Saint Francis (PA), both career-high marks. Gaetano leads the team with 78 assists, ranking fifth among NEC leaders (4.11 apg). As a team, SHU leads the league dishing 14.84 assists per game.
• Freshman guard Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain) came off the bench for an 11 point night at SFPA and then tied his career-high with 16 at Robert Morris. Glowiak made four-of-eight and two-of-five from three against the Red Flash and hit five-of-10 and four-of-nine from three against the Colonials. He has four double digit games this season, all off the bench.
St. Francis (NY) (8-9, 5-1 NEC, RPI: 248)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Monmouth W, 81-64; Jan. 14 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson W, 62-51
This Week: Jan. 19 vs. Wagner; Jan. 21 vs. Mount St. Mary’s
• St. Francis (NY) has won four straight after defeating Monmouth (81-64) and Fairleigh Dickinson (62-51) last week to improve to 5-1 in the Northeast Conference for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. The Terriers also improved to 4-2 at the Pope Physical Education Center.
• SFNY placed five-players in double-figures for the first time since 11/22/08 (vs. Hartford) in the win against Monmouth on January 12th. The Terriers, who are now a perfect 4-0 on Thursday night’s, outboarded the Hawks by a 49-22 margin in the contest.
• The Terriers have now won eight of their last nine meetings against FDU after defeating the Knights on January 14th.
• SFNY is averaging 77 ppg. over their last five contests and are shooing 47 percent overall and 80 percent from the charity-stripe during the stretch. They have also outrebounded their opponents by an average of 8.0 caroms per game during the stretch.
• Freshman power forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) produced double-doubles in both contests last week and now has three on the season. Cannon is now 6th on the circuit in rebounding (7.5 pg.)and is fourth in offensive boards per game (3.41). The power forward is averaging 10.6 points and 9.4 rebounds since being inserted into the starting lineup on New Year’s Eve against Army and St. Francis (N.Y.) is 4-1 since his promotion.
• Senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Dimitrije Tucovic High School) is averaging 16.8 points over the last five contests and is shooting 49 percent (19-of-39) from behind the arc during the stretch. Perunicic has climbed to 14th in he league in scoring (13.2 ppg.) and he’s now second behind teammate Ben Mockford (Shoreham-by-Sea, England/Oak Hill Academy (VA)) in 3-point field goals per game. Mockford is averaging 2.88 treys and Perunicic is connecting on 2.76 per contest. Perunicic is the NEC’s active leader with 254 long-range bombs.
• Sophomore point guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) came up big for the Terriers against FDU after starting lead guard senior Justin Newton (Queens, NY/Poly Prep Country Day School) left the game in the first half with an ankle injury. Jones scored a career-high 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting and converted all six of his free-throw attempts. Jones is averaging 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over his last five contests.
• Sophomore center Matt Milk (Wantagh, NY/Pine Crest High School (FL)) got off to a slow start this season but is beginning to look like he did last season when he was a solid freshman. Milk scored a career-high 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting against Monmouth and then added 6 points against FDU. He’s averaging 6.8 points and is 16-of-23 (.696) from the floor over the last five contests.
• Junior forward Akeem Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Susan S. McKinney), the Terriers’ third-leading scorer at 10.0 ppg., sat out both games last week with a shoulder injury and is out indefinitely.
• The Terriers will host Wagner (1/19) and Mount St. Mary’s (1/21) this week.
Saint Francis (PA) (4-13, 3-3 NEC, RPI: 318)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Sacred Heart L, 71-68; Jan. 14 vs. Quinnipiac W, 74-71
This Week: Jan. 19 at Monmouth; Jan. 21 at Fairleigh Dickinson
• SFU posted a 12-4 assist-to-turnover ratio in the first half Saturday against Quinnipiac with Kameron Ritter (Niskayuana, NY/Christian Boys Academy), Ollie Jackson (Dallas, TX/Pinkston) and Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) all dishing out three first-half helpers apiece. SFU finished the game with a 21-15 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Ritter tied a career-high with five assists against the Bobcats while also posting a career-high 24 points. The junior guard scored or assisted on 12 of SFU’s 28 baskets.
• Ritter ranks second in steals in NEC contests. The junior has 14 in his last three games.
• Scott Eatherton (Hershey, PA/Hershey) continues to impress in his second season as he and CCSU’s Ken Horton rank as the only players in the Top 5 in NEC games in points, rebounds and blocks.
• The Red Flash became just the second team this season to hold the Bobcats to fewer than 30 rebounds and just the fourth to hold them under 40.
• SFPA outrebounded a Quinnipiac team that ranked fourth nationally.
• SFU held Quinnipiac's leading scorer James Johnson (17.4 ppg) to just eight points in the game a just 3-of-11 shooting.
• The Red Flash shot over 50-percent from the field (52.8-percent) against Quinnipiac for the first time in a game since Dec. 3 against conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson.
• The Red Flash have just four losses this season at home with all coming by three points or fewer. In each of its home losses the Flash have had a shot to tie or win the game at the buzzer.
Wagner (14-3, 5-1 NEC, RPI: 79)
Last Week: Jan. 12 vs. Bryant W, 78-61; Jan. 14 vs. Central Connecticut W, 67-58
This Week: Jan. 19 at St. Francis (NY); Jan. 21 vs. Long Island (ESPNU)
• Wagner improved to 14-3 and 5-1 in the NEC with a pair of wins over Bryant (1/12) and Central Connecticut State (1/14)
• The 14 wins top last year’s total of 13 with 12 games left to play.
• The Seahawks have now won seven-straight games for the first time since the start of the 1979-1980 season and are off to their best start since opening 20-2 in the 1955-1956 season.
• The victory over the Blue Devils was the first by the Green & White since January 3, 2008 while snapping a five-game losing skid to the Nutmeg State based institution
• Wagner’s 5-1 NEC start matches the program standard set on three previous occasions
• In the victory over Bryant, freshman Mario Moody (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) recorded career-highs in points (16) and rebounds (11) while notching his first career double-double. The totals superseded his scoring (9) and rebounding (9) numbers from his first seven games.
• Also recording a career-high in scoring was classmate Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler), who notched 10 points while also notching four assists.
• Junior Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ/Avon Old Farms) recorded a game-high 20 points while knocking down 8-of-17 from the floor. The sleek shooting Garden State native has now notched at least 20 points on nine occasions over his career with the Seahawks going 8-1 in those games - including 3-0 this season.
• In the win over CCSU, junior Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA/Kennedy (CC of San Francisco)) scored 15 of his team-best 18 points in the first half while adding six rebounds.
• Senior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) added 12 points while converting all four of his three-point attempts - including three over the final six-plus minutes of the game to put the victory on ice.
• The Seahawks did not trail after halftime for the 11th time in their 14 wins while improving to 14-1 when leading with five minutes to play.
• The Green & White is also now 7-2 in games decided by 10 points or less.
• Wagner will now head to St. Francis (NY) for a key tilt with the Terriers, who reside in a three-way tie with the Seahawks and CCSU for second place in the NEC.
• The Green & White will then return home to host Long Island on Saturday, January 21 at 7:00 pm in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. The match-up will be Wagner’s first-ever regular season home game to appear on the ESPN family of networks.