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TERRIER TAKEDOWN: ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN DROPS DEFENDING ACC CHAMPS
South Florida is the home to many native New Yorkers, and St. Francis Brooklyn certainly made itself feel at home last Friday on its trip to Coral Gables, tripping up Miami, 66-62 in overtime in a landmark win for the program. The defending ACC champion Hurricanes ranked as high as #2 in the nation a year ago and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Following a slugging start from the field, the Terriers ended the first half on a 12-4 run to take a 27-26 lead into intermission. With freshman forward Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, NY/South Shore) providing the offensive spark with 12 second half points, SFBK went up by as many as seven, before Miami rallied to knot the game at 56 all on a layup with 2.9 seconds to play. In overtime, a layup by junior forward Jalen Cannon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) with 1:02 to play gave the Terriers the lead for good, and junior guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy) sealed the upset with four free throws in the final 30 seconds.
“I was just really proud of our guys tonight,” said St. Francis head coach Glen Braica. “This is one of the biggest wins, if not the biggest in the history of our school. They are the defending ACC champs, and are such a great program. I was particularly impressed that our guys had enough left at the end to pull this out after Miami had tied it up to force overtime. To have that kind of mental discipline is not an easy thing to do so it’s a credit to them that they were able to hang in there. It was like a prize fight out there tonight as both teams were really exhausted at the end.”
Martin couldn’t have had a better debut. The Brooklyn native feasted on the Miami interior defense to the tune of a game-high 17 points to go along with eight boards to earn Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week accolades. Cannon recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Terriers to a 45-43 edge on the glass. Jones, who shot 54.8 percent from the line last season, hit 7-8 from the stripe and finished with seven points and four assists.
Looking at the bigger picture, the win was the fifth by an NEC school over an ACC team, and comes less than a year after Bryant edged Boston College, 56-54, on November 25, 2012. It was the first victory for SFBK over a BCS program since a 53-52 win over St. John’s on November 23, 2004 and the first-ever for the Terriers over an ACC school.
OTHER NOTABLE NEC VICTORIES AGAINST BCS CONFERENCES
Robert Morris 59, Kentucky 57 (3/19/13)
Bryant 56, Boston College 54 (11/25/12)
Wagner 59, #15 Pittsburgh 54 (12/23/11)
Robert Morris 57, Boston College 51 (1/7/08)
Fairleigh Dickinson 76, Seton Hall 71 (11/18/06)
St. Francis Brooklyn 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)
Wagner 84, Duke 77 (1/5/83)
BRICKMAN BRINGS BEST to BARCLAYS
The familiar faces around him may have changed, but LIU Brooklyn senior point guard Jason Brickman (San Antonio, TX/Clark) did not miss a beat in Saturday’s opener for the new look Blackbirds, who began their quest for a fourth consecutive NEC championship with an 87-80 win over Saint Peter’s at Barclays Center on Saturday. Brickman sliced and diced the Peacocks with precision passing, and registered some timely buckets en-route to a virtuoso 13-point, 14-assist, six-rebound, three-steal performance.
”He is a machine. He is a robot,” said LIU Brooklyn head coach Jack Perri of Brickman. “He makes the right call. Thank goodness we have him this year especially with guys that are changing roles and the new guys.”
The Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week entered the season with 719 career assists, second all-time in the NEC and just 86 behind Marist’s Drafton Davis, who 25 years ago established a record (804) that had never been challenged until the San Antonio native’s arrival on the scene in 2010. Brickman, who led the nation in 2012-13 with 8.5 apg, enters Tuesday’s matchup against Indiana with 733 career dimes. Looking ahead, Brickman has a realistic chance of joining Duke’s Bobby Hurley (1,076), NC State’s Chris Corchiani (1,038) and UNC’s Ed Cota (1,030) as the only players in the history of DI college hoops to end their careers with 1,000 assists.
KARVEL’S BACK IN BUSINESS, KEYS RMU WIN IN SEASON OPENER
Another team sporting a different look this season is Robert Morris. With all-time greats Velton Jones and Russell Johnson among others moving on, fourth-year head coach Andrew Toole added six newcomers to the mix, all of whom saw action in an 88-66 season-opening win over Savannah State on Saturday. Toole showed off what appears to be a deep bench by playing 11 players at least 10 minutes and no one more than 26 minutes.
One returnee Toole can count on for production is senior guard Karvel Anderson (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Memorial (Glen Oaks CC)), Anderson scored 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, including 10 straight points during a 14-6 surge that turned a two-point lead into a 63-51 advantage. He converted 7-12 shots from the field and made 5-8 from beyond the arc. His performance against the Tigers marks the fourth time in two seasons he has drilled at least five three-pointers in a game, with Robert Morris a perfect 4-0 in those contests.
“Sometimes when you get into those zones, the rim seems like an ocean, you just feel like you can’t miss,” Anderson said. “Fortunately for myself, I got into one of those zones and my team kept finding me. I don’t think they changed their defense, my teammates just kept telling me, ‘Keep looking for your shot, keep trying to score,’ [and] my coaches kept telling me. Them having that confidence in me, and already having the confidence I have in myself, that helps.”
DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE FOR DYAMI
Walking into the Kennel isn’t easy. The home of 15th-ranked Gonzaga is one of the toughest arenas to play in the country, yet the crazed atmosphere didn’t seem to rattle Bryant preseason All-NEC pick Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East (Columbia)) in the least.
Starks, who was named Choice Hotels/NEC Co-Player of the Week, put on a clinic in front of the 6,000 in attendance, dropping a career-high 35 points, including 29 in the second half when he hit 10-12 from the field, 3-4 from outside the arc and a perfect 6-6 from the line. For the game, Starks converted 13-22 shots from the floor. His previous career-high was 29 points against Robert Morris on January 3, 2013.
MILESTONE FOR BRYANT’S FRANCIS
On Saturday, Bryant senior forward Alex Francis (Harlem, NY/Holderness Prep (NH)) reached the latest milestone in a career that by season’s end could be labeled historic. Francis surpassed the 1,500-point mark in a loss to Gonzaga, scoring 13 points.
With 1,503 points, Francis ranks 62nd on the NEC career scoring list. The Harlem, NY product is on pace to become the first player in conference history to finish with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He has compiled 732 rebounds in his career.
“He’s a kid who’s been a mainstay,” O’Shea said. “He came in when we weren’t eligible for any type of postseason and here it is, four years later, and he has a pretty good chance to end his career with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.”
FDU’s HERENDA ERA OFF TO WINNING START
With Fairleigh Dickinson looking to reboot its program, the call was made to Greg Herenda last spring. Herenda had turned around the UMass-Lowell program in his five years, leading the DII school to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Looking to restore the Knights to NEC prominence, Herenda has started to build the foundation from the ground up with seven newcomers joining a team that sports just three upperclassmen.
On Saturday, before an enthusiastic crowd of 1,200 at the Stratis Arena, the Knights downed Caldwell, 89-71.
“It was a great night to be a Knight,” Herenda said. “Our team is young and exciting, and our crowd was just awesome. My first win here at FDU is special, but what makes me even happier is the potential of this team and this program. We have a great deal of work ahead of us, but the potential is incredible here.”
Junior Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti (Hartford)) led the way with a career-high 20 points and added seven boards. He drained 5-11 from three-point range and was one of five FDU players to finish in double digits. The Knights received 30 points from newcomers, including 13 from freshman guard Jayde Dawson (Montreal, Quebec/Brooks School), who finished with 13 points and four assists.
The win was the first in a season opener for FDU since the 2002-03 season.
NEWCOMERS OF NOTE
A number of newcomers to the NEC made good first impressions last week, none more so than St. Francis Brooklyn freshman forward Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, NY/South Shore). The NEC Rookie of the Week had his way against Miami with 17 points and eight boards in a 66-62 overtime win over the Hurricanes. The high school teammate of UConn freshman Terrence Samuel scored 12 points and added four rebounds in the second half alone.
Along with Martin, here are a host of NEC newcomers who made impressive debuts:
Declan Soukop (BRY, RFr, G): 6 points, 2 assists vs. Gonzaga
Juwan Newmen (CCSU, Jr, F): 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4-5 FG vs. Yale
Jayde Dawson (FDU, Fr, G): 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 6-10 FG vs. Caldwell
Landon Atterberry (LIU, Jr, F): 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5-9 FG vs. Saint Peter’s
Gilbert Parga (LIU, RJr, G): 13 points, 3 assists, 2-4 3PFG vs. Saint Peter’s
Will Miller (MSM, Fr, F): 9 points, 3-6 3PFG vs. West Virginia
Desjuan Newton (RMU, Jr, G): 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2-2 3PFG vs. Savannah State
Charles Oliver (RMU, Jr, G): 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2-4 3PFG vs. Savannah State
Amdy Fall (SFBK, So, F): 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks vs. Miami
Malik Harmon (SFU, Fr, G): 5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Fordham
Jay Harris (WC, Jr, G): 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Penn State
CCSU’s VINALES OFF AND RUNNING
It didn’t take much time for CCSU junior guard Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School) to find his groove. The nation’s eighth-leading scorer last season scored 24 of his game-high 30 points in the first half of the Blue Devils’ 93-77 setback to Yale in Connecticut 6 Classic in Bridgeport, CT on Saturday. Vinales made 11-23 shots from the floor, including three from long distance, and added two rebounds, three assists and three steals. It was the eighth 30+ point game of his career, most among active NEC players.
HERE AND THERE
Wagner senior guard Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ/Southern Mississippi) notched his fourth career 20-point game, finishing with an even 20 to lead the way for the Green & White in a 74-62 loss to Penn State on Saturday. His two assists also gave him 301 in his career...Mount St. Mary’s senior guard Julian Norfleet (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) led Mount St. Mary’s with 19 points and seven assists in a 77-62 setback to West Virginia on Friday. In that same game, sophomore Gregory Graves (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) made his first career start and finished with six points and a game-high nine rebounds...Sacred Heart senior forward Louis Montes (Brockton, MA/Brockton) paced the Pioneers with 19 points in a 67-54 loss to Fairfield at the Connecticut 6 Classic on Saturday...Saint Francis U junior forward Earl Brown (Imhotep Charter) made 6-7 shots from the field and finished with 16 points and six boards in an opening night setback to Fordham.
NEC NUMBERS
CCSU’s Kyle Vinales now has eight career games of 30+ points.
LIU Brooklyn’s Jason Brickman has registered double-digit assists 23 times over the course of his career.
Robert Morris is 3-1 in season openers under Andrew Toole.
Robert Morris has averaged 23.5 wins over the past six years.
Miami did not make a single three-pointer in St. Francis Brooklyn’s win over the Hurricanes.
St. Francis Brooklyn junior forward Jalen Cannon registered his 19th career double-double against Miami.
Wagner committed just five turnovers against Penn State, the lowest for the program since turning it over just four times in a 63-60 win over Monmouth on March 6, 2005.
Wagner senior guard Latif Rivers raised his career point total to 1,140 which ranks 28th in school history.
QUOTABLE
“This certainly isn’t an easy team to open up with or an easy place to play. But you can learn a lot from a team like [Gonzaga] in how well they defend and move the ball.” - Bryant head coach Tim O’Shea
“He’s a guy who has to score the ball for us to be a good team. He has a great gift of being able to make shots, we just have to keep encouraging him.” - RMU head coach Andrew Toole on Karvel Anderson
“Give Fordham credit, they have a good explosive guard in [freshman Jon] Severe and he did a great job giving them momentum. I was pleased with the way we battled in the second half. I thought we responded to the adjustments that we made, but you can’t come into a environment like this in your first game and play out of your element.” - SFU head coach Rob Krimmel
“They’re a really good team. I think their guards are great, and they have athletic bigs. We knew it was going to be a tough game. That’s a great team; you’ll see them in the NCAAs. We thought it was going to be like a Big Ten game and that’s how we played it.” - Penn State head coach Pat Chambers after the Nittany Lions beat Wagner on Saturday.
TWEET DECK
Anthony Ruggiero @RuggieroSports
St. Francis is trending!!! How about that? Not bad for the small college of big dreams.
Jalen Cannon @iAM_Cannon
Great win for the school.. Time to prepare for the next never be satisfied
CollegeHoopsDigest@NCAAhoopsdigest
Holy Moly, what an upset. Serious congrats to the team from Remsen St, the @SFBKTerriers play giant killer. #NEC is no joke.
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein
St. Francis (NY) 66 Miami 62 Final-OT. A huge win for one of college bball’s good guys -- Glenn Braica. They are partying in BK Heights!
Craig Meyer @CraigMeyerPG
Was just able to check out the Robert Morris box score. Looks like Karvel Anderson’s picking up right where he left off, going 5 of 8 on 3s.
John Templon @nybuckets
Why you can’t count LIU out in their Soar for Four in #NECMBB: Jason Brickman. Virtuoso 13 points, 14 assists, 6 boards. Every big play.
Devin Sweetney @DSweetney1
Want to wish the @SFUathletics Mens Basketball team all the best of luck this season as they open tonight…#IBleedRed #RedFlash4eve
Rick Stainton @RickStaintonJr
Congrats to 1st year @FDUKnights Head Coach Greg Herenda, @CoachBruceHam ,staff, &players on a great start w/ a win over Caldwell last night
Ron Ratner @NECHoopsRon
Gonzaga is crazy good, but Dyami Starks had himself a night to remember for @BryantAthletics. 35 points in the Kennel. Sick shooter. #NECMBB