Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Latif Rivers, Wagner
6-1, 175lbs
So., G, Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth (Avon Old Farms (CT))
Rivers averaged a team-best 18.7 points per game and led the Seahawks to a perfect 3-0 record over the holiday break, including a stunning 59-54 victory over then-No. 13 Pittsburgh on the road, to earn a share of this week’s Choice Hotels/NEC Player of the Week award. The second-year guard totaled 56 points over that three-game stretch, shooting 50% from the field (18-36) while knocking down nearly 48% of his shots taken from beyond the arc (10-21). He was also a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity stripe. In the Seahawks’ biggest win since knocking off #15 Alabama 33 years ago, Rivers played a crucial role in subduing the Panthers, scoring all 18 of his points after the break and sinking six straight free throws in the closing seconds. He then followed that performance by earning Cable Car Classic MVP honors, averaging 19.0 points per game in a 72-61 win against Air Force and a thrilling 64-62 victory over Santa Clara in the title game of the Broncos’ tournament. The team-title was the first in-season tournament title for Wagner since the 1997 Pepsi Marist Classic. On the year, Rivers is averaging a team-best 14.2 points per game while shooting 90.4 percent (47-52) from the line, the second-best mark in the NEC and 17th nationally.
Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week
Julian Boyd, Long Island
6-7, 230 lbs
Jr., F, San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft
Boyd recorded a pair of double-doubles as the Long Island Blackbirds stretched their winning streak to three games, defeating Texas State 100-84 and NJIT 84-74 at home over the break. The Preseason All-NEC Selection led the league’s highest-scoring offense (77.1 PPG) with 22 points and 12 rebounds in its win over Texas State, also adding two assists and a block. Then, after a 10-day break, the San Antonio, TX, native picked up where he left off, emerging in the second half of an 84-74 win over NJIT. He scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the stanza, including 12 during a personal 12-7 run that eventually turned aside the pesky Highlanders. Boyd finished the game with 11 boards, stretching his double-double streak to three games. Boyd currently ranks in the NEC top-10 in scoring (16.5 ppg, seventh), rebounding (9.4 rpg, third), field goal percentage (.517, seventh) and double-doubles (6, second).
Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week
Ousmane Drame, Quinnipiac
6-9, 240lbs
Fr., F, Boston, MA/New Mission (Marianapolis Prep)
Drame put together three solid performances that lifted the Bobcats to three straight wins and earned the 6-9 forward the first rookie of the week award of 2012. Posting nearly a double-double per game during the stretch, he averaged 9.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in wins over Niagara (85-81), Colgate (80-70) and Boston University (59-53), boosting Quinnipiac’s record to 8-5 and stretching their winning streak to three games. Speaking of double-doubles, the Boston, MA, product earned his first in a QU uniform against Niagara with 13 points and 10 boards. In that game, he hit a key putback with 1:27 to play, then calmly sank a pair of free throws with four seconds on the clock to ice the victory. After a six-point, seven-rebound performance at Colgate, Drame doubled his career double-double figure by scoring 10 points and collecting 10 rebounds in a thrilling comeback win over the Terriers. Additionally, he added six blocks in the year-closing win over Boston University. Drame averages 5.7 points and ranks tenth in the NEC with 6.6 rebounds per outing.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
WAGNER CELEBRATES HOLIDAY SEASON WITH WIN OVER #13 PITT: It was a landmark victory for the Wagner men’s basketball program and one of the best in the history of the Northeast Conference. Even better, it was witnessed by a national viewing audience on ESPNU as everyone was settling in for the long holiday weekend.
On December 23, the Seahawks marched into the Peterson Events Center to face #13/#15 Pittsburgh, a team that had never lost to an NEC opponent. Buoyed by a tremendous defensive performance and clutch second half shooting by sophomore guard Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ/Avon Old Farms (CT)), Wagner became a household name overnight, pulling off the 59-54 upset.
Following a 13-day break, the Seahawks held Pitt to 54 points and 39.6 percent shooting from the floor, both season-lows for the Panthers. Pitt was just 2-15 from beyond the arc for the game, including 1-10 in the second half. Preseason All-American Ashton Gibbs was held scoreless in the first half – he misfired on all seven of his field goal attempts – and was harassed into 5-16 shooting and four turnovers in the game.
After Wagner took a 29-25 lead into the break, Rivers scored 10 of his team’s first 12 points in the second stanza and helped the Seahawks build a 12-point lead at 44-32 with under 12 minutes to play. While Pitt was able to cut into the lead, the Panthers drew no closer than three points the rest of the way out. Rivers netted all 18 of his points in the second half, including a 6-6 showing from the line in the game’s final minute to seal the win.
WC-PITT AFTERMATH: The win was the first by an NEC school over a ranked team since Mount St. Mary’s knocked off #21 Georgia Tech, 71-69, on December 18, 1995. For Wagner, it was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since taking down #15 Alabama, 86-74, in the pre-NEC era on November 24, 1978, and the first over a Big East team since beating Rutgers, 80-78, on December 16, 1995.
The win was just the third ever by a non-conference team over Pitt in the Peterson Events Center since it opened in the 2002-2003 season. All-time, the Panthers are now 156-14 overall and 91-3 against non-conference opponents in the venue. Additionally, it was just the third loss for Pitt in their past 115 non-league home games.
Following the victory, head coach Dan Hurley became an in-demand radio guest around the country, including spots on WFAN in New York City, Sirius Satellite Mad Dog Radio and the Tim Brando Show on the Yahoo Sports Radio Network.
OTHER NOTABLE VICTORIES AGAINST BCS CONFERENCES
Robert Morris 57, Boston College 51 (1/7/08)
Fairleigh Dickinson 76, Seton Hall 71 (11/18/06)
St. Francis (NY) 53, St. John’s 52 (11/23/04)
Monmouth 81, Vanderbilt 67 (11/24/01)
CCSU 54, Providence 50 (12/21/99)
Long Island 76, St. John’s 73 (11/23/96)
Mount St. Mary’s 71, #21 Georgia Tech 69 (12/18/95)
Fairleigh Dickinson 55, Providence 53 (12/19/84)
Long Island 72, Providence 65 (12/23/83)
WHY STOP WITH PITT WIN? SEAHAWKS CAPTURE CABLE CAR CLASSIC TITLE ON ORTIZ BUZZER-BEATER: Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better for Wagner, the Seahawks made headlines again last Friday by winning the Cable Car Classic with a dramatic 64-62 win over host Santa Clara. The finish of the game became an overnight sensation as sophomore guard Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ/Science Park (Southern Mississippi)) hauled in a Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) miss on the baseline and launched a high-arching shot as he was falling out of bounds. The ball hit the rim, kissed the backboard and dropped in at the buzzer. The shot was featured the following day on ESPN and various cable TV and news outlets.
The Seahawks, who had led by 13 points with under four minutes to play before the Broncos rallied to tie the game with under a minute remaining, were led by sophomore guard Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ/Avon Old Farms (CT)), who scored 17 points against Santa Clara and 21 in a 72-61 win over Air Force on Thursday. Rivers, the NEC Co-Player of the Week as well, averaged 19.0 points and nailed eight three-pointers over the two wins to earn Tournament MVP honors. Ortiz tallied eight points, 12 rebounds and four assists in the title game and was named the event’s Most Inspirational Player. Junior forward Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA/Kennedy (CC of San Francisco)) averaged 11.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg, and was also tabbed to the All-Tourney team.
BIG SHOT CORON: Another early candidate for “Big Shot of the Year” has to go to Robert Morris sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, VA/Christchurch School), who drilled a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to give the Colonials a 59-56 come-from-behind win at Youngstown State on December 22. RMU trailed by seven points with under four minutes to play, but Williams drilled his third trifecta of the game at the 3:39 mark to trim the Penguins’ lead to 55-51. A pair of Anthony Meyers (Washington, D.C./Charis Prep) free throws with 3:14 remaining cut the lead in half, and after a YSU free throw, Myers drilled a trey to tie the game with 40 seconds on the clock. Following a Youngstown turnover, RMU called time out with nine seconds to go. Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) was bottled up driving the lane, but found a wide open Williams on the right wing, who let fly just before the final horn. Williams finished the game with 14 points as the Colonials picked up their sixth non-conference victory of the year.
TWO NEC TEAMS RANKED IN MID-MAJOR POLL: Fresh off its 59-54 win over #15 Pittsburgh, Wagner made its debut in the December 26th edition of the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll, while Robert Morris remained ranked for the second straight week. The Colonials moved up four spots to #20 in the poll, while the Seahawks entered at #25. The NEC is one of only seven conferences to have at least two teams ranked.
WAGNER RECEIVES VOTE IN AP POLL: Wagner was also recognized for its win over Pitt with a single vote in the Associated Press (AP) poll. It is believed to be the first time the Seahawks have ever received a vote in the AP poll. Long Island 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 a pair of teams ranked in the top-100 in the RPI. Wagner is currently 45th, while Robert Morris ranks 91st.
QU’S MARQUIS BENNETT: A LIFE ON THE REBOUND: The Christmas Day edition of the Hartford Courant featured a heartwarming story on Quinnipiac freshman Marquis Bennett (Bronx, NY/Cardozo). The story, penned by columnist Mike Anthony, highlights Barnett’s transition from a difficult childhood and homelessness during his teenage years to his new home at Quinnipiac. Bennett, a 6-8 forward, is averaging 1.2 ppg season.
CONFERENCE PLAY TO RESUME, NEC-TV MAKES 2012 DEBUT: The turn of the new year signals the resumption of league play following a two-game teaser in December. Only four teams went unscathed during the early-season NEC games as Central Connecticut, Long Island, Robert Morris and Saint Francis (PA) all jumped out to 2-0 starts. The two marquee matchups on tap this week take place on Saturday as Robert Morris visits CCSU and Long Island plays at Quinnipiac. All four teams reached the NEC semifinals a year ago.
This Saturday also marks the return of NEC-TV with Wagner set to pay a visit to Monmouth’s Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) for the first televised doubleheader of the 2011-12 season. The men square off at noon on MSG+ with Paul Dottino (play-by-play), Tim Capstraw (color) and Matt Harmon (sideline) on the call. At 3:00 pm the women take the court in a game to air on Fox College Sports (FCS) and ESPN3. Dottino and Harmon will be joined in the booth by former Seton Hall coach Phyllis Mangina, who makes her color analyst debut for the Conference.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES: Robert Morris and Wagner are the NEC’s two winningest teams, and in both cases, the blueprint for success has been through tenacious defensive effort. The two teams rank atop the NEC leaderboard in both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. Robert Morris currently allows a league-low 60.1 ppg and has limited opponents to 41.0 shooting from the field, the second-best mark on the circuit. Wagner is the leader in FG percentage defense (.404) and second in scoring defense (64.1 ppg).
The Colonials have held seven opponents to under 60 points, while the Seahawks have done the same on four occasions. All 11 games have resulted in victories. The last NEC team to finish a season with a sub-60 point scoring defensive average was Monmouth, which permitted 58.6 ppg in 1991-92.
WAGNER JOINS PANTHEON OF NEC GREATS: Three victories over the holiday break boosted Wagner’s non-conference record to 9-2, which now ranks as the second-best winning percentage in out-of-league play in NEC history. Robert Morris established the record in 2006-07 with an 8-1 mark. The nine non-conference wins also matched the NEC’s single-season record, currently shared by Saint Francis (PA) (1990-91, 9-5), Monmouth (1991-92, 9-3) and Robert Morris (2007-08, 9-5). With an 8-4 non-league slate, Robert Morris can also join this group with a win over Ohio on Monday.
BELOW ARE THE TEN BEST NON-CONFERENCE RECORDS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CONFERENCE
1. Robert Morris 8-1 .889 2006-07
2. Wagner 9-2 .818 2011-12
3. Wagner 7-2 .778 2005-06
Marist 7-2 .778 1995-96
5. Monmouth 9-3 .750 1991-92
6. Long Island 8-3 .727 2010-11
Quinnipiac* 8-3 .800 2010-11
Wagner 8-3 .727 2008-09
Long Island 8-3 .727 2007-08
Monmouth 8-3 .727 1990-91
Long Island 8-3 .727 1986-87
WC’S TYLER MURRAY, SHU’S SHANE GIBSON REACH 1,000-POINT MILESTONE: Sacred Heart junior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) and Wagner senior guard Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce) both crossed the 1,000-point mark for their careers over the holidays. Gibson reached the milestone with a 25-point performance in the Pioneers’ 83-73 setback at Boston College on December 21. He is the 33rd player in Sacred Heart history and ninth at the Division I level to crack the plateau. On December 30, Murray netted 10 points as Wagner stopped Santa Clara, 64-62, to win the Cable Car Classic championship. He is the 38th player in Wagner history to join the 1,000-point club. Gibson enters play this week with 1,036 points, while Murray has now amassed 1,009 points in his career.
There are 174 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 1,676 points. Quinnipiac senior guard James Johnson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) is next with 1,367 and CCSU senior guard Robby Ptacek (Bayport, NY/Blue Point) has accumulated 1,254 points.
The next line of players on pace to reach 1,000 this season include St. Francis (NY) senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Srednja Turisticka Skola) (984) and Wagner senior guard Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township (Apex Academies)) (926).
BOBCATS ON PROWL: Red-hot Quinnipiac has won six of its last seven games, and as always, it is the Bobcats’ complete domination of the boards that continues to propel the team. QU ranks second in the nation in rebound margin at +11.7 per game, trailing only Pittsburgh (+13.0). Over the holidays, the Bobcats posted a 3-0 mark, while at the same time, outrebounding the opposition by an average of 14.3 per contest. The Bobcats feature NEC leader Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/John D. O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep)), a sophomore forward who averages 10.8 per game, and freshman forward Ousmane Drame (Boston, MA/New Mission (Marianapolis Prep)), the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week who has come on strong as of late and ranks second on the team with 6.6 rpg in just 17.2 minutes per game.
MOVIN’ ON UP: SCORING SURGE FOR SHU’S GIBSON: Sacred Heart junior guard Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) not only reached 1,000 points for his career, but he also broke up CCSU’s stranglehold on the top of the NEC scoring chart. The trio of Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining), Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) and Robby Ptacek (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point) had occupied the top-three spots in scoring average for the last month until Gibson posted four straight games of 22+ points to raise his season average to 19.2 ppg. Gibson, who averaged 22.8 ppg over the four-game stretch, is now second in the league in scoring behind Horton’s 21.9 ppg. Vinales is third with 19.0 ppg and Ptacek is fourth with 18.8 ppg.
STILL ROLLIN’ AT THE WRAC: With wins over Texas State and NJIT over the last two weeks, defending NEC champion Long Island has now won 16 straight games at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. The Blackbirds’ last home setback came more than one year ago when they fell to Iona, 88-82, on December 8, 2010. The 16-game streak is currently tied for the 10th longest in the nation. For those curious, the school record for consecutive home wins is 47, set back in 1934-37 during the Clair Bee era.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, ANDREW NICHOLAS!: It was a New Year’s Day that Monmouth freshman swingman Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York) will never forget. Visiting Chapel Hill to play #6 North Carolina in a nationally televised game, the Wrightsville, PA native exploded for a career-high 22 points. He drilled 6-8 shots from beyond the arc and was 8-12 overall for the afternoon. Teammate Jesse Steele (Milford, NJ/Oak Hill Academy (Army)) also had a memorable game, finishing with 17 points and a career-high nine assists. Steele leads Monmouth with 11.6 ppg and Nicholas ranks second with 8.7 ppg.
CCSU’S KEN HORTON APPROACHING TOP-20 ON NEC ALL-TIME SCORING CHART: Central Connecticut State senior forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) continued his chart climb last week, moving up one spot to 27th on the NEC career scoring list. Horton, who is now fourth all-time at CCSU, has accumulated 1,676 points in his star-studded career. The 2010-11 NEC Player of the Year needs just 30 points to break into the top-20 and is 59 shy of becoming CCSU’s all-time leader.
NEC CAREER-SCORING CHART
20. David Gately LOY 1,706 1983-87
21. Damari Riddick FDU 1,701 1984-88
22. Darshan Luckey SFPA 1,699 2002-05
23. Mike Morrison LOY 1,697 1985-89
24. Jaytornah Wisseh LIU 1,693 2006-10
25. Charles Smith RID 1,693 1993-96
26. Rob Monroe QU 1,685 2001-05
27. Ken Horton CCSU 1,676 2007-11
IN THE BOARD ROOM WITH ST. FRANCIS (NY)’S JALEN CANNON: St. Francis (NY) freshman forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, Pennsylvania/William Alllen) has made an immediate impact for the Terriers with his work on the boards. Playing just under 20 minutes per game, Cannon has snared a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game, a figure that ranks him sixth in the NEC. His 3.6 offensive rebounds per game is the third-best mark in the Conference. The Allentown, PA native earned his first career start this past Saturday at Army, and responded with a career-best 13 boards, including eight off the offensive glass.
MOUNT ST. MARY’S TURNS UP DEFENSIVE PRESSURE: Over the holidays, Mount St. Mary’s limited Savannah State to 45 points and American to 42 points in consecutive games. It was the first time since the opening two games of the 1949-50 season that the Mount has held back-to-back opponents to 45 points or less. It also marked the first time an NEC team turned the trick since Robert Morris allowed 42 points to Bryant and 39 to Sacred Heart on February 13 and 18, 2010. The Mount has yielded just 57.8 ppg over the last five outings and now ranks third in the NEC in scoring defense at 66.9 ppg.
BRYANT FACED WITH TOUGH COMPETITION: Not only has Bryant played just two home games this year, but the last six opponents the Bulldogs have faced are a combined 53-29 on the year, including 11-win teams Providence and Lehigh, along with a 10-win Arizona club. It won’t get any easier for the Bulldogs, who have 10-4 Robert Morris coming to Smithfield on January 5th and a trip to 10-3 Wagner on January 12th.
FDU’S ROCHFORD FINDS GROOVE: Few players have been as hot from the field in recent weeks as Fairleigh Dickinson junior forward Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison (Globe Institute)). Rochford has shot 75.0 percent from the floor over his last five games, making 18-of-24 attempts. He now ranks second in the NEC in field goal percentage, hitting 61.9 percent of his shot attempts. On the year, Rochford is averaging 10.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg.
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 39 games of 20+ points over the course of his career, nearly double that of his next closest competitors in the NEC, teammate Robby Ptacek (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point), and Sacred Heart’s Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly), who have 21 apiece. 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 ranks first in the Conference with seven 20-point games and three 30-point outings.
NATION’S BEST: CCSU’S PTACEK NEAR-PERFECT FROM LINE: As we head into 2012, there a number of NEC players who rank among national leaders in various statistical categories, including CCSU senior guard Robby Ptacek (Bay Shore, NY/Blue Point), who is tied for first in the country in free throw shooting at 94.3 percent.
Name Category # Rank
Robby Ptacek (CCSU) FT% .943 1st
Scott Eatherton (SFPA) FG% .699 4th
Ken Horton (CCSU) Scoring 21.9 5th
Ben Mockford (SFNY) 3PFG 3.08 12th
Ike Azotam (QU) Reb. 10.8 13th
Jason Brickman (LIU) Asst. 6.3 17th
Latif Rivers (WC) FT% .904 17th
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Bryant (1-12, 0-2 NEC, RPI: 333)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 22 at Arizona L, 100-60; Dec. 31 vs. Lehigh, L 72-55
This Week: Jan. 5 vs. Robert Morris; Jan. 7 vs. Saint Francis (PA)
• Sophomore Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia/Sacred Hearts) scored a career-high and game-best 22 points off 9-of-14 shooting in the program’s first-ever matchup against a team out of the Pac-12, Dec. 22 at the University of Arizona. The 20-point outing was the second of his career and was the Bulldogs’ seventh such effort in 2011-12.
• Junior Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH/St. Edward) dished out 13 assists in two games, six coming at Arizona and seven coming in Bryant’s second home game of the season, Dec. 31 against Lehigh. Dobbs averaged 10 points per game, collected three steals and went 7-of-9 from the line.
• True freshman Ben Altit (Herzeliya, Israel/Rothberg) recorded back-to-back three-block games against both the University of Arizona and Lehigh and leads the team with 14 stuffs on the year. Altit earned starts in both contests.
• Sophomore Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep) shot 55 percent from the floor on the two-game stretch to average 13.5 points per game, including 17 against the Wildcats Dec. 22. Francis extended his double-digit scoring streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
• Junior Raphael Jordan (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) got the start for the Bulldogs against Lehigh, scoring a season-best 12 points in 37 minutes of action.
• Sophomore Claybrin McMath (Adelaide, Australia/AIS) recorded a new career high and paced Bryant against the Mountain Hawks, scoring 14 points, nine of them off three-straight treys from the top of the key in a span of under two minutes.
Central Connecticut (5-7, 2-0 NEC, RPI: 264)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 22 vs. La Salle L, 85-59; Dec. 30 at Massachusetts L, 97-65
This Week: Jan. 5 vs. Saint Francis (PA); Jan. 7 vs. Robert Morris
• The Blue Devils played only twice since the last reporting period, losing both games. They have now lost five straight.
• CCSU dropped a home decision to La Salle, and then on the road to Massachusetts. Once 5-2, Central is now 5-7 overall on the season.
• The Blue Devils return to action on Thursday night at home hosting St. Francis (PA) at 7 p.m. Central is 4-1 at home this season and 2-0 in league action on the year.
• Later this week, on Monday or Tuesday, the Blue Devils will announced a television package with CPTV Sports to televise five men’s and three women’s games in January and February.
• Senior Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) missed the La Salle game due to an injury. He returned to the lineup at UMass and posted 16 points and 12 rebounds, good for his fourth double-double of the season, and the 22nd of his career.
• Senior Robby Ptacek (Bayport, NY/Blue Point) had 14 points against La Salle and then a team-high 21 points in the loss at UMass.
• Freshman Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo) returned from injury and scored a career-high 11 points in the loss at UMass on Dec. 30. He had only 13 total points on the season prior to that game.
• Central’s streak of consecutive games with a three-point basket nearly came to an end at UMass. With under a minute to play freshman Adonis Burbage hit a three, the only one of the game for CCSU, to run the streak to 455 straight games.
Fairleigh Dickinson (1-10, 0-2 NEC, RPI: 336)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 21 vs. Vermont L, 71-53; Dec. 28 at NJIT L, 66-53
This Week: Jan. 2 at Columbia; Jan. 5 vs. Wagner; Jan. 7 vs. Mount St. Mary’s
• Junior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) led the Knights with 13 points and six rebounds in the loss to Vermont.
• Junior Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, NY/Bishop Stepinac) added 12 points versus Vermont.
• Graduate student George Goode (Raytown, MO/Raytown South) scored 11 points in the game against Vermont for his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring performance. He also made a career-best five free throws while swatting away a season-high three shots.
• Graduate student Mouhamed Lo (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester) also scored 11 points, grabbed a season-high six rebounds and made all five of his free throw attempts agaisnt Vermont.
• Junior Lonnie Hayes (Cincinnati, OH/Harmony Prep) tied a season-high with four steals and dished out five assists against Vermont.
• Junior Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach) came off the bench to score 12 points to lead the Knights in scoring in the loss to NJIT. It was the second time this season he has scored in double-figures, with the other time also coming off the bench (12/3 at SFPA). Robinson also made a season-high four free throws.
• Hayes added 10 points against NJIT to break a four-game streak in which he did not score in double figures after scoring double-digits in five of the first six games of the season.
• Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) received a rare start against NJIT and scored a season-high seven points in a season-high 26 minutes.
Long Island (8-6, 2-0 NEC, RPI: 136)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 20 vs. Texas State W, 100-84; Dec. 30 vs. NJIT W, 84-74
This Week: Jan. 5 at Sacred Heart; Jan. 7 at Quinnipiac
• Long Island wrapped up non-conference play with a pair of home wins, defeating Texas State, 100-84, on Dec. 20 before downing NJIT, 84-74, on Dec. 20. The Blackbirds head into the new year at 8-6 with an 8-4 mark in non-league play.
• Long Island reached triple digits for the first time in five years in its victory over Texas State. The last time the Blackbirds eclipsed the century mark was a 105-50 drubbing of Old Westbury on Nov. 25, 2006 at home. Against Texas State, Long Island shot 63 percent from the field, a feat last accomplished in that same Old Westbury game.
• The Blackbirds hit a season-high 11 three-pointers against Texas State. Long Island used a 15-0 run on five straight threes to pull away from the Bobcats in the second half. Senior Michael Culpo (Pittsfield, MA/St. Andrews (RI)) hit five treys on the night while sophomore Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) contributed a troika of trifectas. Freshman Gerrell Martin (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) chipped in a pair and senior Arnold Mayorga (London, Ontario/H.B. Beal) added a three ball in the win. It was the first time that Long Island had double-digit treys since the Blackbirds hit 13 in a 94-85 win over Bryant on Feb. 24, 2011.
• Long Island saw a pair of players register double-doubles against Texas State. Junior Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) turned in his fifth of the season and 21st of his career with game highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Brickman recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 assists, tying a career high for dimes dished. Boyd added his third straight double-double in the win over NJIT with game highs of 22 points and 11 boards. Junior Jamal Olasewere (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) also registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 off the glass while Brickman scored a career-high 18 points.
• Against the Highlanders, Long Island led by as many as 21 points but saw its opponent cut it to three. Boyd went on a personal 12-7 run to put some space between the Blackbirds and NJIT.
• Boyd was named to the Pre-League Play All-Conference Team by CollegeHoops.net.
Monmouth (2-12, 0-2 NEC, RPI: 301)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 22 vs. Rider L, 74-62; Dec. 28 at Lafayette L, 69-54; Jan. 1 at #5 North Carolina L, 102-65
This Week: Jan. 5 vs. Mount St. Mary’s; Jan. 7 vs. Wagner
• Monmouth is now 2-12 overall, and 1-11 away from home.
• MU is now 0-19 all-time against nationally-ranked teams after its loss at No. 6 North Carolina.
• The Hawks are now 1-14 all-time against teams from the ACC.
• Jesse Steele (Milford, NJ/Oak Hill Academy (Army)) added 17 points and a career-high nine assists at UNC. Over the three games, Steele averaged 13.3 points, while adding 13 assists. He connected on eight three-pointers and averaged 34.0 minutes per game.
• MU allowed 100+ points for the second time this season at UNC.
• Monmouth, which will play three other Garden State schools this year, is 0-2 after its loss to Rider on Dec. 22.
Mount St. Mary's (2-11, 0-2 NEC, RPI: 314)
Next Two Weeks: Dec. 22 at Savannah State L, 45-41; Dec. 29 vs. American W, 49-42; Dec. 31 vs. Albany L, 65-64
This Week: Jan. 5 at Monmouth; Jan. 7 at Fairleigh Dickinson
• The Mount went 1-2 over the Holiday season with a 49-42 win over American sandwiched between a pair of close losses at Savannah State (45-41) and Albany (65-64).
• The Mount held Savannah State to 45 points and American to 42 points. It was the first time since the opening two games of the 1949-50 season at the Mount has held back-to-back opponents to 45 points or less.
• The Mount’s win over American snapped a nine-game losing streak and was the team’s first home win of the year.
• Mount St. Mary’s finished with a 2-9 record in non-conference games this year.
• The Mount defense has been solid recently as the team is allowing 57.8 points over the past five games. The opponents are shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three-point range in that stretch.
• Mount St. Mary’s heads to Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson this week as it returns to NEC action.
Quinnipiac (8-5, 1-1 NEC, RPI: 180)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 22 vs. Niagara W, 85-81; Dec. 28 at Colgate W, 80-70; Dec. 31 vs. Boston University W, 59-53
This Week: Jan. 5 at St. Francis (NY); Jan. 7 vs. Long Island
• Quinnipiac, led by Ike Azotam (Boston, MA/O’Bryant (Marianapolis Prep)), James Johnson (Queens, NY/Bishop Loughlin) and Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, MD/Salisbury (CT)), posted three wins in three tries last week. The Bobcats defeated Niagara (85-81), Colgate (80-70) and Boston University (59-53).
• Azotam registered a career-high 32 points to lead the team past Niagara at the TD Bank Sports Center. He nearly posted another double-double, hauling in nine boards to go with his offensive outburst. He finished 13-fo-18 from the floor and added two blocks to his stat line. Dave Johnson (Jackson, NJ/St. Mark’s (MA)) was terrific in his role as the point guard. He matched a career-high with 10 assists and collected 13 points to complete the double-double. He went a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stipe and only turned the ball over twice on the evening. Ousmane Drame (Boston, MA/New Mission (Marianapolis Prep)) posted his first career double-double as well. He poured in 13 points, grabbed 10 boards and went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
• Quinnipiac outshot the Purple Eagles, 46 percent to 43 percent, out-rebounded Niagara, 48-30, and controlled the paint, 44-30. Defensively, QU held Niagara’s leading scorer, Juan’ya Green, in check all night. Young was matched up with Green for much of the contest and held him to just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. Green entered the game as the nation’s second leading freshman in points per game (19.9).
• Four members of QU registered double-figures in the scoring column against Colgate, as the Bobcats handed the Raiders an 80-70 defeat at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y. The Bobcats shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and connected on 28-of-31 from the free-throw line, two statistics that proved to be difference-makers in the final result.
• Azotam recorded game-highs in points (20) and rebounds (14) for his 10th career double-double, and number eight on the year. James Johnson poured in 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. He scored 11 in the second half and dished out a game-high six assists. Zaid Hearst posted a new career-high with 16 points, as the freshman guard went 4-of-7 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the stripe. Dave Johnson added 10 points and four rebounds.
• Led by Ousmane Drame’s 10-point, 14-rebound double-double, the Bobcats mounted a tremendous comeback to erase a 13 point first-half deficit, as QU went on to defeat Boston University, 59-53, at the TD Bank Sports Center.
• Drame was stellar on both ends of the court, as the freshman forward powered his way to career-highs in rebounds and blocked shots (6). James Johnson totaled 16 points, to go along with four rebounds and five assists, and Zaid Hearst had 13 points and seven boards.
• QU returns to action on Thursday, January 5, 2012 when the team resumes Northeast Conference play at St. Francis (N.Y.). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Robert Morris (10-4, 2-0 NEC, RPI: 91)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 20 vs. Hampton W, 64-54; Dec. 22 at Youngstown State W, 59-56; Dec. 29 at Memphis L, 64-47
This Week: Jan. 2 at Ohio; Jan. 5 at Bryant; Jan. 7 at Central Connecticut
• Robert Morris posted a 2-1 record over the holiday season, defeating Hampton (12/20/11) at the Charles L. Sewall Center, 64-54, before splitting a pair of road games to open a five-game road trip … The Colonials earned a 59-56 win @ Youngstown State (12/22/11) before suffering a 64-47 setback @ Memphis (12/29/11)
• The Colonials finished the month of December with a 6-2 record, holding each of their eight opponents during the month to less than 70 points, including four to less than 60 points … In its eight games, RMU posted a scoring defense of 58.1 points per game
• Redshirt junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) averaged 13.3 points and 3.0 assists in the three games, leading Robert Morris in scoring against both Hampton and Youngstown State … Jones finished with 18 points against the Pirates and 15 in the win over the Penguins
• Jones ran his streak of consecutive double-figure scoring games dating back to last season to 19 before having it snapped by finishing with seven points @ Memphis (12/29/11) … The streak is the third longest in school history
• Freshman forward Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games off the bench last week, shooting 88.2 percent (15-for-17) at the free-throw line … Jones finished with a career-high 16 points in the win over Hampton and missed his first career double-double by just a rebound with nine boards and led the Colonials with 10 points at Memphis
• An amazing 43.8 percent (42-of-96) of the points scored this season by freshman forward Lucky Jones have come at the free-throw line
• Redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, VA/Christchurch School) became the third active player on the Robert Morris roster to hit a game-winning shot in the last five seconds of a game, as his three-pointer with 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Colonials a 59-56 victory @ Youngstown State … Williams joins redshirt juniors Velton Jones and Russell Johnson (Chester, PA/Chester) to accomplish the feat … Johnson hit a jumper in the paint with 3.3 seconds to play that gave RMU a 62-60 victory @ Monmouth (2/19/11), while Jones converted a floater with 4.3 seconds to go to lift the Colonials to a 64-62 win @ Quinnipiac (3/6/11) in the semifinals of the 2011 NEC Tournament
• After sitting out the 2011 fall semester due to NCAA transfer rules after transferring from Iona, sophomore forward Mike McFadden (Newark, NJ/Technology) averaged 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games last week, grabbing a career-high nine rebounds against Memphis
• Robert Morris had four players reach double figures in scoring in a 59-56 victory @ Youngstown State (12/22/11), the eighth time in 14 games this season the Colonials have turned the trick … RMU is 6-2 (.750) in those contests and 12.5 (.706) in two seasons under head coach Andrew Toole when at least four players score in double figures in a game.
• The Colonials conclude a five-game road trip this week with three games, visiting Ohio (1/2/12) to close out its non-conference slate before returning to league action with road games at Bryant (1/5/12) and Central Connecticut State (1/7/12).
Sacred Heart (7-8, 1-1 NEC, RPI: 227)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 19 at Notre Dame L, 106-65; Dec. 21 at Boston College L, 83-73; Dec. 29 at New Hampshire W, 77-59
This Week: Jan. 5 vs. Long Island; Jan. 7 vs. St. Francis (NY)
• Junior Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT/Killingly) scored 25 points at Boston College and became the 33rd player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. He is the ninth player to reach the mark during SHU’s Division I era (1999-present) and the first since Corey Hassan ‘10 reached the plateau in the 2009-10 season. Gibson needed 74 games in a Pioneer uniform to reach the 1,000 point mark.
• Gibson is on a streak of four-straight 20-point performances and has climbed to second in the NEC in scoring (19.2 ppg). Gibson posted back-to-back 22 point games against Lafayette and Notre Dame and dropped 25 at BC. He is coming off a 22 point outing at New Hampshire where he also recorded his first career double double snatching a career-high 10 rebounds.
• The junior guard has also caught fire from three and now ranks fifth in the NEC from behind the arc. Gibson is shooting 41.8% (33-79). Over his last four games, he is 15-of-29 from three (51.7%).
• The Pioneers as a team are first in the NEC in assists, dishing out 14.6 per game. SHU is led by freshman guard Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) who ranks seventh in the NEC in assist to turnover ratio (50 a/35 to) and 10th in assists (3.33 apg).
• SHU closed non-conference play at 6-7 and will now move to NEC play full-time. The Pioneers are just 2-6 on the road this season with their lone victory coming at Quinnipiac in their NEC opener. The Pioneers finished this season 0-3 against teams from BCS conferences. SHU lost twice to the Big East (Rutgers, Notre Dame) and once to the ACC (Boston College). The Pioneers have never beaten a team from a BCS conferece, going 0-16 all-time against the Big East, 0-7 vs. the ACC, 0-5 vs. the Big Ten and 0-1 against the Big 12. SHU has never faced a school from the Pac-10 or the SEC. With their win over New Hampshire, SHU finished 3-0 against the America East and have now won eight-straight against the league. The Pioneers finished 1-1 against the Ivy League and Patriot League this year and went 0-1 against the A-10.
• Sacred Heart has shot 50.0% or better five times this season but is just 2-3 in those games. SHU beat Lafayette and New Hampshire making 50.0% of their shots but lost at Rutgers (51.5%), vs. Lipscomb (54.5%) and at Boston College (50.9%). In two of those losses, SHU allowed their opponent to hit 50.0% or better (RU-63.0%; BC-55.3%).
St. Francis (NY) (4-9, 1-1 NEC, RPI: 258)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 19 vs. Albany L, 76-64; Dec. 23 vs. Norfolk State L, 84-74; Dec. 29 vs. Brown W, 66-49; Dec. 31 at Army L, 79-70
This Week: Jan. 5 vs. Quinnipiac; Jan. 7 at Sacred Heart
• St. Francis (NY) went 1-3 during the holiday’s and will enter 2012 with a record of 4-9 (1-1 NEC).
• The Terriers picked up their first home victory of the season, defeating Brown 66-49 on December 29th. Four St. Francis players recorded double-figures for the third time this season. The Terriers shot a season-high 54 percent (7-of-13) from behind the arc in the contest.
• Sophomore center Matt Milk (Wantagh, NY/Pine Crest High School (FL)) made his first start of the season against Brown, recording five points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.
• Freshman power forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Alllen) made his first career start in the loss at Army on December 31st. Cannon pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds against the Black Knight’s and has increased his team-leading average to 7.2 per game. He’s now tied for 6th in the league and is also third in offensive rebounds per game (3.62).
• Senior forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Dimitrije Tucovic High School) dished out a career-best four assists in the victory against Brown. Perunicic, who is averaging 15.6 ppg. over the last five contests, is now just 16 points shy of joining the 1,000 point club.
• Sophomore guard Ben Mockford (Shoreham-by-Sea, England/Oak Hill Academy (VA)) drilled four treys at Army and continues to lead the conference in three-pointer per game (3.08).
• Senior point guard Justin Newton (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep Country Day School) came up with a career-high five steals and added six rebounds and five assists in the victory against Brown.
• St. Francis (NY) will resume their NEC slate against Quinnipiac on Thursday evening at home and will travel to Sacred Heart on Saturday.
Saint Francis (PA) (3-10, 2-0 NEC, RPI: 313)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 20 at #15 Pittsburgh L, 71-47; Dec. 23 at St. Bonaventure L, 82-58; Dec. 31 at Drexel L, 63-42
This Week: Jan. 5 at Central Connecticut; Jan. 7 at Bryant
• Saint Francis (PA) enters 2012 looking to snap its 0-7 road record. The Flash, however, have been much better at home, winning three straight at DeGol Arena.
• The Red Flash have been a good second half team this season outscoring opponents 427-416 in the the second stanza this season.
• Anthony Ervin (Chesterfied, VA/Fork Union Military Acadamy) continues to impress and has scored in double digits in seven of his last eight games.
• Scott Eatherton (Hershey, PA/Hershey) will look to regain his hot shooting touch in 2012. The sophomore saw his average dip after going 4 of 12 at Pitt before bouncing back at St. Bonaventure, hitting 6 of 7.
• Eatherton posted double-digit scoring in eight of his last nine games including a career high 21 against American.
• Kameron Ritter (Niskayuana, NY/Christian Boys Academy) has posted a 13-6 assist-to-turnover ratio in his last five games, after posting just two assists in his first seven games.
Wagner (10-3, 1-1 NEC, RPI: 45)
Last Two Weeks: Dec. 23 at #13 Pittsburgh W, 59-54; Dec. 29 vs. Air Force W, 72-61; Dec. 30 vs. Santa Clara W, 64-62
This Week: Jan. 5 at Fairleigh Dickinson; Jan. 7 at Monmouth
• Wagner 59-54 win over #13 Pitt was its over a ranked team since the Seahawks defeated #15 Alabama on November 24, 1978
• The victory snapped the Panther’s 70-game winning streak against Northeast Conference (NEC) teams and was just the third-ever by a team from outside the BIG EAST in the 10-year history of the Peterson Events Center.
• It was also the first win over a BIG EAST team since beating Rutgers 80-78 on December 16, 1995 and the first by a league member since Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Seton Hall 76-71 on November 18, 2006.
• The Seahawks are now 3-24, all-time against the BIG EAST, and had lost 13-straight to the BCS conference since the aforementioned victory over the Scarlet Knights.
• Sophomore Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)) scored all of his game-high 18 points in the second half. Additionally, he converted all six of his free throws in the game’s final minute. He is now 17-for-18 (.944) in the final minute of games this year.
• Wagner then bested Air Force 72-61 for the Seahawks’ first-ever win over a Mountain West Conference team.
• The Green & White converted all 20 free throws in the game, highlighted by sophomore Kenneth Ortiz’s (Newark, NJ/Science Park (Southern Mississippi)) 8-for-8 performance.
• Wagner then posted a thrilling 64-62 win over Santa Clara to give the Seahawks the Cable Car Championship. The championship was the first in-season title for the Green & White since the 1997 Pepsi Marist Classic.
• Wagner finished the non-conference schedule with a school-record 9-2 record and won 10 games before the end of the calender year for the first-time in school history.
• The Seahawks are off to their best start since starting the 1968-1969 season with a 10-3 record.
• Rivers averaged a team-best 18.7 points per game over the last two weeks and shot an impressive 50.0 percent (18-36) from the floor, 47.6 percent (10-21) from beyond the arc and a perfect 100.0 percent (10-10) from the line. After halftime in those games, Rivers turned it up a notch, scoring 44 of his 56 points while converting 13-of-21 (.619) from the field, 8-for-13 (.615) from long range and hitting all 10 of his free throws.
• Ortiz’s incredible game-winning shot has been seen by close to a million people on the internet and came off of his career-best 12th rebound of the night.
• Rivers was named the Cable Car MVP while Ortiz was named the Most Inspirational Player. Included on the list of honorees was junior Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA / Kennedy (City College of San Francisco)), who was named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Williams was playing just 45 minutes from his hometown of Richmond, CA and was cheered on by over 30 members of his family and friends.