Random Thoughts on a D2 Season
By Chris Granozio
Well, the jinx is over for Chestnut Hill, who Thursday knocked off crosstown rival Jefferson for its first-ever home win in the series. The Rams had won each of the other 15 contests at Sorgenti Arena. The Griffins – who in so doing tied Jefferson for first atop the CACC’s South Division – leaves Post as the only team in the circuit with a perfect conference record at 5-0. The only other two in the region are ECC powers Daemen (7-0) and St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0), who, coincidentally, meet up for the first time Friday in Sparkill. Chestnut Hill took control with a 12-3, game-closing flourish after falling behind 76-72 with 2:43 to play. Nigel Haughton (21 points, six rebounds, seven assists and ZERO turnovers) delivered the dagger 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to put the hosts in the driver’s seat.
Kudos also go out to Nyack, which upset #19 Dominican in Jersey City Wednesday for its first win over a NABC Top 25 team throughout its 19-year NCAA era. Making the feat even more impressive was the fact that the Warriors had only seven players dressed and were missing a couple of starters. Senior guard Joel Bailey was the star of this show with a career-high 29 points (12-18 FG), six boards and five assists for the winners. Just goes to prove once more that you can throw everything out the window when it comes to rivalry games.
Speaking of the NABC rankings, Dominican had moved up a notch prior to that loss, while Bentley climbed two spots to #23. Daemen was receiving votes. No idea why St. Thomas Aquinas (at 12-3) isn’t being considered yet. Lubbock Christian of Texas remains the #1 ranked team in D2.
Daemen’s 7-0 start in conference play is its best since joining the East Coast Conference and best overall dating back to the 2003-04 campaign when the then-NAIA Wildcats were members of the now-defunct American Mideast Conference. Daemen matched the feat after upending Queens on Sunday, improving to 8-0 all-time vs. the Knights in Buffalo (16-2 overall). It was the two teams’ first meeting since March 4, 2020, when Andrew Sischo erupted for a career-high 47 points and 15 rebounds in a memorable playoff win. That was also the first game Queens forward Eddie Mehmetaj played on the same floor where his older brother, Arif Mehmetaj, called home between 2014-17. The Knights’ junior point guard, William Ellis, broke out for a career-best 25 points two night earlier across town vs. D’Youville in the first meeting between the two former D3 programs who are now league rivals. That result gave Queens its first three-game win streak in four years, short-lived as it may have been.
Few coaches patrol the sidelines with more passion and emotion than Queens' Matt Collier.
The most remarkable comeback in the region to date this season took place in Waterbury on Tuesday between CACC North contenders Post and Felician. The visiting Golden Falcons appeared primed for an impressive road triumph, leading 69-60 inside of two minutes, and 71-67 with 15 seconds remaining, but it wasn't to be. Devonte McCall nailed a 3-pointer to make it a one-point affair. Then, after Dee-End McRae split a pair at the stripe, David Jasson buried the go-ahead triple from the right corner with five seconds to play, capping a 13-3 spree over the last 1:42 and completing a perfect 4-0 homestand.
Bentley – the last team to knock off Post on a last-second three at the Drubner Center on December 18 – has emerged as the region's alpha dog at this point, with an East-best 12-2 record, including second-half comeback wins vs. New Haven and Pace. In the latter battle between NE10 divisional leaders, the Falcons shot a school-record 19-19 at the foul line while landing five in double figure scoring. With so many uber-talented newcomers in the league, first-year sophomore Zach Laput is emerging as one of the elite. The Connecticut native tossed in a career-high 25 points, including two pairs of free throws that bookended the critical 16-4 run as Bentley turned a 65-65 game at the 6:47 mark into an 81-69 advantage with 2:58 on the clock.
Le Moyne has given a fresh spin on the term balance. In Saturday’s win over Southern New Hampshire, all 10 Dolphins that saw action scored at least one field goal and secured at least one rebound (nine pulled down O-boards, for good measure). Four days later, in a 68-61 win vs. St. Michael’s, not one of the 10 players who participated in the contest reached double figures in scoring, marking just the second time that had occurred in a victory over the past 30 years.
The Dolphins also received a gift on their last first-half possession vs. SNHU as Jeremiah Washington's dunked on a baseline drive. Only problem was he was one of six men on the court at the time. Oops.
Congratulations to Wilmington’s lefty guard Danny Walsh, who ascended the 1,000-point plateau during a 24-point performance against archrival Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday.
Pace playmaker Brandon Jacobs – the program’s all-time assist leader – dished out 11 dimes vs. Stonehill earlier this week. He had two more than the entire Skyhawks team in the 12-point win.
Jefferson’s sophomore Antonin Kemkeng has emerged as one of the best big men in the region. The Frenchman has recorded seven double-doubles in his last 10 games and ranks second in the region with 12.4 rebounds per game.
Mercy’s sophomore center, Jayden Dewaal, has been making big strides in the paint as well, compiling 19 points and 20 rebounds – off the bench, no less – in a recent win vs. District of Columbia. The Mavericks – who have now won two of three – limited the firebirds to 20% shooting after halftime while doubling them up on the scoreboard, 36-18. That included a suffocating 27-5 power run over the final 12:04.
St. Thomas Aquinas remains the hottest team in the East Region with eight straight victories. Number Eight came at the hands of new ECC rival Staten Island, which hung with the Spartans for a half (49-45) before STAC unleashed a 50-19 avalanche after the break, holding the Dolphins without a hoop for over seven minutes during one stretch. Turnovers, as usual, told the tale for the Spartans, who forced 27 (committing only seven themselves) and feasted off mistakes to the tune of 41-11.
I've been to two games recently in which clock operators failed to hit the stop button when a whistle blew. In one instance, 10-12 seconds were lost as one team inbounded during "running time."
Last Saturday, there were 14 games in the region and St. Anselm was the lone road team to pull out a victory, holding off Adelphi and overcoming Ronnie Silva’s 34-point explosion as the New Hampshire native outscored his teammates, 34-31, in that one.
New Haven shot 50% in both halves and used stifling D in jumping out to a 35-16 halftime lead vs. Adelphi… but just to illustrate how much quality and parity there is in the NE10, the Panthers took out their frustrations next game vs. Assumption in Worcester, limiting the Greyhounds’ starters to just 25 points on 24% shooting (9-38), including a staggering 0-11 from beyond the arc.
Assumption has also endured some ups and downs and pauses. In a recent non-league contest vs. Mass Turnpike rival American International, the Greyhounds trailed by 17 in the first half and 76-71 inside of the final seven minutes before uncorking a timely 15-2 burst to seize control, 86-78 with 33 seconds showing. Senior star guard Matthew Kelly accounted for eight points during the decisive run.
In an NE10 crossover game Saturday vs. Stonehill, New Haven sophomore transfer Tavin Pierre Philippe showed a glimmer of what he brings to the table with a career-high 22 points in his first collegiate start. The transfer from Stony Brook was part of a key 18-8 surge that snapped a 50-50 deadlock and gave the Chargers the upper hand at 68-58 with 3:49 left en route to the win.
The highest-scoring game in the region this winter – and perhaps the most entertaining to watch – was Roberts Wesleyan’s 113-105 track meet win over Bridgeport – the Redhawks’ first win at the Voller Center in nine lifetime tries. Amari Lee’s 19 points paced six in double digits for the victors, countering Ryo Kobiyashi’s career-high 31-point effort in just 21 bench minutes. Both teams hung 62 on the scoreboard after intermission.
Overheard from a veteran coach watching his rookie guard dribble to the baseline, dribble back out and throw a pass into the stands: "what the fuck was that?!?!"
Georgian Court has had a tumultuous season thus far, but one silver lining has been sophomore guard Clint Wright, Jr., who scored 27, 27 and 25 points in his last three games, respectively, shooting a formidable 55% (26-47) from the field, 50% (12-24) from deep and 88% (15-17) from the line.
And the feel-good story of the past week took place in Rutherford as Felician redshirt freshman Julius David, Jr. entered the game vs. Georgian Court with two minutes to go in the first period, landing the program its first two-generation player. His dad – Julius David Sr. – currently a Golden Falcons staff assistant coach – had played between 2000-02. Like father, like son, for sure!
Until next time, stay safe, be healthy and happy hooping to all!