Late Runs, Returning Stars and Record Routs Highlight a Crazy Week
By Chris Granozio
The conference races are heating up as we enter the home stretch of the regular season. Let’s look at recent results and survey the landscape in a parity-rich region that’s aching for an alpha dog.
ECC Dribbles…
Daemen had the most eventful week by far, upsetting a nationally-ranked rival, enjoying a record romp and surviving a double-overtime thriller – all at Lumdsden Gym, no less. In the opener, Dylan Fasoyiro led a balanced attack with 23 points (5-10 from 3-point range) and Joey Atkins chipped in with 15 as the Wildcats rallied from 20 down to upend then-#15 St. Thomas Aquinas, 87-82, on Friday. Daemen fell into a 37-17 hole before drawing within 51-43 by halftime. The second half was a hotly-contested period, with the hosts finally climbing over the hill on four consecutive Atkins free throws, making it 72-69 with just over three minutes to play. Justin Glover buried a huge 3-pointer at the 1:16 mark to make it a two-possession game and the Wildcats went a perfect 8-8 at the stripe over the final 35 seconds to ice it, capping a spectacular 28-of-29 night at the foul line. The Spartans were not without their heroes, as Kyle Pulliam notched a career-high 30 points (3-4 from 3) and James Patterson added 21, including the 1,000th of his career. STAC was the more effective shooting (48%-40%) and rebounding (39-30) team but was outclassed at the line and from beyond the arc (DU 15-31, STAC 9-18).
Two days later, 12 of 13 Wildcats scored, fronted by redshirt freshman forward Phil Nwugwo’s personal-best 20 points (9-10 FG) in 17 bench minutes as Daemen mauled Mercy, 123-75 – its highest point total since joining the NCAA Division 2 ranks in 2015. The ‘Cats led from start to finish, using a 17-0 burst to run away, 54-27 inside the three-minute mark of the first half. Alex May chalked up a career-high 27 points (5-9 from downtown Buffalo) for the Mavericks, who lost for a 12th straight time and fell for the 22nd time in as many lifetime meetings. Daemen shot 58% from the floor, 16-32 from long range, dominated the glass (48-26), boasted a ridiculous 35/9 assist-turnover ratio and accounted for 35 of the game’s 48 assists in the region’s most lopsided game of the year (at least for three days… details below). Prior to this game, Daemen had last scored 123 in a one-point win over fellow NAIA school Cincinnati Christian at the Malone Tournament on December 19, 2009 in a game that went two overtimes.
And speaking of double overtime, the Wildcats survived a scare from District of Columbia yesterday, prevailing 103-98 after two bonus periods, improving to 2-0 this year in double-OT (also at St. Anselm on December 31). Fasoyiro’s hoop in the paint 11 seconds into the final period gave Daemen the lead for good, while Zach Philipkoski sank the clinching foul shots with 15 seconds left. A victory for the home side didn’t appear in the cards at the end of regulation as the Firebirds used a 14-2 run to grab a 78-73 advantage inside of the two-minute warning. It was 80-76 within the final minute, but Nick MacDonald scored the tying basket with 10 seconds remaining, sandwiched by a pair of blocked shots by Atkins and Fasoyiro, respectively, the latter negating a potential winning lay-up from Eric Morgan, Jr. with three seconds on the clock. Morgan – who finished with 26 points for UDC – assured the second overtime with a jumper at the nine-second juncture, knotting the score at 89-89. Fasoyiro led six in double figures for the winners with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Atkins offered 20 points, seven boards, five assists and three blocked shots in 42 minutes of action. The tug-of-war game saw 11 ties, 13 lead changes and only one possession with more than a two-possession spread (71-64 DU). The Wildcats have now won 14 straight in the series and reached the 20-win mark for the sixth straight “full” season.
Despite its loss at Daemen on Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas continues to sit atop the ECC hierarchy. The Spartans rebounded with a 101-86 victory across town vs. D’Youville. A 16-3 push over the last 4:32 of the opening half flipped a 39-33 deficit into a 49-42 lead and it continued to swell after the restart, peaking at 82-63 before the dust settled. Pulliam (29 points, 9-11 FG, 5-6 from deep) and Patterson (24 points, 11-12 FG, 11 rebounds) once again did the heavy lifting for the Spartans, while Bryson Birdsong hit for a career-high 29 points (6-9 FG, 4-7 from 3, 13-15 FT) in a mere 20 minutes to pace the Saints… STAC returned home Wednesday and overcame a slow start in an 86-53 romp over Molloy. Pulliam topped the scoresheet once again with 16 points, while Ethan Millirons added 15 on 5-10 long-distance shooting in a rare start. The Lions roared early, establishing a 17-6 lead before the Spartans embarked on a 23-4 run, holding their guests without a field goal for a span of 8:56 enroute to a 42-31 halftime advantage. A 12-2 flurry when play resumed expanded the gap to 54-33 and it was never a game thereafter. Jalen Rosmond was the bright spot for the Lions with a personal-best 18 points and seven rebounds. STAC was vastly superior from beyond the arc (12-28 to 3-15), on the backboards (41-24) and in the assist department (18-4).
Staten Island remains on an island, so to speak, in second place, a game off the pace (actually two games, thanks to STAC’s sweep) and a game ahead of Daemen, whom IT swept. The Dolphins earned a hard-fought victory over District of Columbia in Washington, 82-77, bolting out to a 21-4 lead, only to see the Firebirds rise from the ashes and catch up, 46-all just over five minutes into the second stanza. An 11-1 surge, culminating in a Messiah Mallory lay-up, restored CSI’s double-figure lead at 57-47, but back came UDC, slicing its arrears to 79-77 on a 3-pointer by Tevin Curtis (21 points) with 27 seconds to go. That’s as close as the hosts would get, however, as Shemar Latty’s lay-up 10 seconds later ended any lingering doubt. Gannon transfer Chris Clancy (18 points off the bench, 5-9 from 3) and Mallory (17 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks) were the heavy hitters for the Dolphins, who retuned home to The Tank and ripped Roberts Wesleyan, 83-58 for their fifth straight triumph. Clancy and Adeleye Oyekanmi each produced 13 points off the bench to propel CSI (the latter in just 14 minutes), which took control with an 18-6 upswing, stretching a 45-37 lead to 63-43. Malik Brooks sported 15 points for the Redhawks, who were outshot, 55%-32%.
Roberts Wesleyan is still in prime position for a home playoff game as the fourth-place Redhawks continue to hold serve on their home court, winning every league game thus far at the Voller Center, including a 98-74 victory over Queens last Friday. Isaiah Elmore (20 points, 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes) and Jermaine Taggart II (16 points, 5-6 FG, 2-2 from 3) led six in double figures for Roberts, which jumped on the Knights early, building a 48-20 lead and maintaining between a 24- and 35-point upper hand the entirety of the second half. Shemar Chester’s 20 points spearheaded the Queens attack, but the Redhawks’ 57% shooting and dominance from distance (10-22 to 2-18) proved too much to overcome. RWC accounted for 23 of the game’s 28 assists… Two days later vs. Molloy, Ryan Garwood fronted five in doubles with 17 points (9-11 FT) in a foul-plagued quagmire of a game that saw 56 fouls whistled, including five technical and one ejection, leading to a mind-numbing 74 free throws attempted. Brooks (15 points) and Elmore (13 points, nine rebounds, five blocks) provided quality depth for the Redhawks, who led by as many as 21 points before settling for a 92-82 final. Robbie Matos totaled 19 points in defeat for the Lions.
Congratulations are in order for Mercy, which snapped its 12-game losing streak and earned its first league win, 91-87, over Queens in Dobbs Ferry. Asa Kone’s career night was the catalyst as the sophomore forward racked up career bests of 24 points and 11 rebounds while turning aside four shots as all five Mavericks recorded double figures in scoring. A 14-2 run to close the first half, coupled with a 27-12 jaunt to begin the second (41-14 overall blitz) transformed a 39-26 deficit into a 67-53 lead near the midway mark. The Knights – who were powered by Sunnie Diamond’s return (24 points, 4-8 from 3, nine rebounds, four assists in a reserve role) – battled back within a possession at 78-75 following a 3-ball by Chester (19 points, eight boards, four assists, three steals) with 4:48 to play. The game remained tight the rest of the way, the turning point being Diamond called for an offensive foul (his fifth) on what the Queens bench wanted to be an “And-1” with 19 seconds left. Taj Chiles – who finished with a 13-point, 10-assist double-double – sank the definitive free throw with four seconds left for the Mavs, who made twice as many freebies (22-32 to 11-19) to fuel their win.
D'Youville snapped an eight-game skid with a 96-76 win over Mercy in Buffalo last Friday, thanks largely to Birdsong’s 24-point effort (7-10 FG, 4-6 from afar). A 25-10 opening salvo extended a 36-27 lead to 61-37 and the Saints rolled from there. Six Mavericks registered between 10 and 15 points, led by Jay Turner off the bench. There were six (count ‘em) technical fouls in this one.
CACC Dribbles…
The North Division continues to be a game of musical chairs, with five teams vying for four playoff spots, and all within a game of each other. The marquee match-up of the past week took place at The Den, where Jaden Honis exploded for a career-high 29 points (10-16 FG, 4-7 from 3) and Seth Sharif-Brown flanked him with 17 points in 18 minutes as Dominican avenged a home loss by beating first-place Bloomfield, 91-87. Kareeme Davis posted a personal-best 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Bears, including a go-ahead lay-up with 1:11 left as the hosts climbed out of a 63-52 hole, albeit temporarily. Isaiah Honis banged a jumper 13 seconds later, while brother Jaden followed with four straight free throws, affording the Chargers the necessary breathing room. The Bears’ reserves outscored the starting five, 46-41, and they owned the glass (53-29) in the loss.
Bloomfield retains a half-game lead in the division, while Dominican is a game back, tied with Felician for that last playoff berth. The Golden Falcons pulled out a 65-62 heart-stopper vs. Georgian Court in Lakewood, handing the Lions their region-worst 12th straight loss and keeping them winless in league play. Felician trailed 58-51 before closing out the contest with a 17-7 flourish over the final 7:12, including the last seven points. Jaylen Colon (17 points) put his team ahead for keeps with two free throws at the 1:27 mark, then Jabri Fitzpatrick (16 points, nine rebounds) closed out the scoring with a pair of his own. Clint Wright, Jr. netted 22 for Georgian Court, which lost despite being the vastly superior shooting club (50%-33%). The Golden Falcons – who are now 9-0 all-time at the Wellness Center – made more noise behind the 3-point line (13-38 to 5-13) and on the offensive glass (16-7) to overcome its shooting woes… That win loomed larger after Felician was upended by Bridgeport at Hubbell Gym, shooting a poor 5-13 at the stripe and wasting a 57-52 lead inside of the last eight minutes as the Purple Knights closed out the contest with a 22-7 spree, the big blow being a corner trey by D’Andre Collins (20 points, 7-11 FG, 11 rebounds) with 1:41 remaining. Jay’von Jackson was high man for Felician with 18 points, including the 1,000th of his career – one of four current Golden Falcons in that prestigious club.
Bloomfield used a 13-0 game-ending tear to deny upset-minded Chestnut Hill at Sorgenti Arena on Saturday. In a game that featured nine ties and 15 lead changes, the Bears had the last laugh with said run over the last 3:17. Edward Ngene was the catalyst with the go-ahead put-back “And-1” and then a dunk-And-1 on successive possessions, giving the visitors a 65-61 advantage. They closed out the scoring with six straight foul shots as Davis continued his hot streak with 17 points, and Ngene collected 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots, adding to his national lead (he now has 100 rejections). Noah Charles was best of the bunch for the Griffins with 16 points and five assists.
Post kept pace after a pair of crossover wins. Saturday in Pike Creek, freshman guard TaQuan Williams dropped a personal-best 21 points in 22 bench minutes, splashing four of five from distance, while Bol Akot contributed 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of swats as the Eagles defeated Godey-Beacom, 87-77. Post – tied for second but even with Bloomfield in the loss column – used a key 20-4 run, flipping a 60-55 deficit into a 75-64 lead with 2:29 to go. Ayshion Centeno returned to the Lightning lineup and garnered 19 points (6-7 FG) in 18 bench minutes as Goldey shot a robust 53% but was outworked on the O-Boards, 17-4… Deng Deang delivered 21 points and 13 rebounds in a makeup game vs. Holy Family, 78-59, at the Drubner Center. The Eagles led from wire to wire, racing out to a 39-18 lead and maintaining between a 16- and 24-point advantage after halftime. Jason Shields tallied 17 points for the Tigers, who were bludgeoned on the backboards, 52-31 in falling for a seventh straight time in the series.
Caldwell is also in lock-step with Post after shading that same Holy Family squad, 95-87 in overtime at the Newman Center. Isaiah Philbert came up huge in the extra session, cranking out half of his 22-point total on 4-4 shooting, including back-to-back triples that punctuated a 13-3 open to OT. Derrick Bueno pitched in with 17 points for the Cougars, while Aamir Hurst and Shields each mustered 22 points in a losing cause, the latter playing 44 of 45 possible minutes. The Tigers – who shot 11-39 from behind the 3-point line – are two games behind Chestnut Hill for the final playoff spot in the South with three to play.
Caldwell lost a home game to Jefferson, 65-55, though it wasn’t costly thanks to it being a non-league affair between conference foes (Caldwell’s third such “exempt” game). The Rams led throughout the entire low-scoring affair, seeing that advantage dwindle to 56-55 on a trifecta from freshman forward Jaden Williams (personal-best 22 points) with 2:47 to play. But Antonin Kemkeng (20 points, 8-11 FG, nine rebounds) answered at the foul line 28 seconds later to touch off a 9-0 game-closing rush. It was the fifth straight win for the surging Rams, who prevailed despite an uncharacteristically impotent performance from long range (1-16 – and the lone three wasn’t even by Erik Timko!)… Jefferson proceeded to win its league match-up with Bridgeport at the Gallagher Center, 86-75, using an 18-4 charge over the final 3:36 of the first half in constructing a 40-30 divide. The margin bounced between seven and 16 after intermission as Jefferson converted 53% of its shot attempts, including 11-of-21 from downtown Philadelphia. Hakim Byrd had a nearly-perfect shooting day (9-10 FG, 6-6 from 3) for 25 points, while Timko (21 points, four assists in a rare reserve role due to Senior Day festivities) and Ahmed Barba-Bey (19 points, six assists) also made their presences felt. Tim Dawson provided 21 points for the Purple Knights.
Goldey Beacom holds a half-game lead over Jefferson, with the two teams on a collision course for Wednesday’s huge head-to-head meeting. The Lightning edged in front with an 81-74 victory at Chestnut Hill, landing all five starers in double figures, led by Zayon Marsh’s 20-point, 13-rebound double-double. A 22-8 second-half spell was the difference-maker as Goldey turned a 52-51 deficit into a 73-60 lead with 2:30 on the clock. Neal Hill compiled 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Griffins.
A pair of Wilmington wins has the Wildcats occupying third place in the South. Amiri Stewart’s late-season hot streak has come at exactly the right time for the club as the senior swingman erupted for a career-high 31 points (8-10 FG, 14-15 FT) and eight rebounds in a 99-95 track meet vs. Dominican in Newark. Taalib Holloman chimed in with 19 (9-9 FT) as the Wildcats shot 59% from the field and shattered their NCAA-era record for free throw makes with 40 in 44 attempts (DUNY was 20-28). The ‘Cats were in control most of the way, including an 84-65 cushion inside of six minutes before the Chargers’ furious late rally fell short (outscoring their hosts, 23-11 over the last 2:58). Sharif-Brown turned in a 25-point, eight-rebound performance off the bench in a losing effort… Wilmington parlayed that win with another vs. Holy Family at the Campus Center, leading from pillar to post, with the margin peaking at 55-37 early in the second. Stewart continued his incendiary play with 22 points (4-5 from downtown Philly), seven rebounds and seven assists, while Tazir Cantey generated 20 points and career-best five steals for the Tigers. Both teams shot an identical 11-28 from long distance and brandished brilliant assist-turnover lines (WU 25/10, HFU 21/6).
NE10 Dribbles…
Bentley is the hottest team in the region, winning all six of its February games, the last two being a barnburner and a blowout. In their last-ever outing at Nolan Gym, Aaron Latham rang up 22 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 from 3) and dished out five assists, while Zach Laput churned out 21 points, 12 rebounds and five steals, both players cashing in on their one-and-one opportunities in the final nine seconds as the Falcons outlasted Saint Rose, 79-75. Other than a 13-0 Bentley lead, this game was a true taffy-pull as the Golden Knights twice sidled within a basket in the waning moments before Latham (at :09) and Laput (at :03) kept their hosts at arm’s length. Christian Pierre-Louis (19 points, eight rebounds) and Tristian Jeffries (18 points in 40 minutes) carried the load for Saint Rose… There would be no such drama in Bentley’s next game – a 102-54 massacre of Franklin Pierce in Rindge that turned out to be the Falcons’ largest margin of victory ever in a conference game, and matched Daemen’s 48-point win over Mercy for most lopsided final in the region this season. In a match-up of teams going in opposite directions, the visitors inflicted their will from the tap, engineering leads of 24-4, 49-19 (halftime) and 96-45 at the zenith as the Ravens fell for a 10th straight time, matching a program low, set at the end of the 1975-76 season. Thirteen of 15 players scored baskets for the Falcons, led by Cash McClure (23 points, 8-10 FG, 3-3 from 3, seven rebounds, six assists) and Laput (20 points, six assists, four steals). Bentley – which is alone in second place – shot 53%, including 15-31 from 3-point range, and fashioned a 25/10 assist-turnover ratio in reaching the century mark for the sixth time this year, one behind St. Thomas Aquinas for most in the region.
St. Michael’s has clinched at least a tie for the regular-season title after two wins in Vermont, reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since a school-record 27 W’s in 2000-01. Romar Reid led five in twin figures with 24 points and four assists, while Darrell Yepdo added 15 and seven, respectively in a 91-80 win vs. Southern Connecticut. A late 14-5 spurt broadened a modest 76-70 lead to 90-75 as the Purple Knights swept Southern for the first time since they went 3-0 head-to-head during the 2014-15 season. Marty Silvera became the third regional player to submit a triple-double this winter, by the narrowest margin, with exactly 10 points, rebounds and assists for the Owls, who also received 28 points (10-13 FG, 4-7 from 3) and 13 rebounds from Josh McGettigan. St. Mike’s made a lot more noise from downtown Colchester (14-31 to 6-24), helping offset a 48-33 rebounding disparity as SCSU saw its five-game win streak go by the boards… Three days later, the P-Knights gathered the last six points of the game to clip Assumption, 70-65, in the two programs’ 100th all-time meeting. The game was air-tight with 11 ties, 14 lead changes and only one three-possession gap (64-56 SMC) as the hosts trailed 65-64 with less than 90 seconds left before Yepdo (26 points, 5-8 from 3) scored the go-ahead lay-up and, following a Reid hoop, closed out the scoring with two free throws. St. Michael’s also eclipsed its 17-year-old record with 279 threes on the season. Kasey Draper powered the Greyhounds with 29 points (he had a region-high 46 in their last encounter), 24 of which came before the break. Njavan Stewart amassed 14 points and 13 rebounds as well. Both teams had an icy touch from the foul line (SMC 6-14, AU 4-10).
Adelphi occupies third place after splitting a pair. In its 67-62 home loss to St. Anselm, Josh Morissette supplied 19 of his 26 points in the second half, 15 of which came during a 20-5 game-ending binge as the Hawks eradicated a 57-47 deficit over the final 8:05. Elijah Lewis guided the Panthers with 18 points in 40 minutes of court time… Next outing in Albany, the team welcomed back Dayshawn Walton, who accounted for 13 points and four assists. But it was Lewis who made the difference down the stretch, converting 3-point plays on back-to-back possessions, then draining a 3-ball as the Panthers turned a 68-67 shortfall into a 76-68 lead with 3:39 remaining. Lewis scored 11 of his 24 points (9-12 FG, 3-5 from deep) over the last five minutes, while Mason Jackson accumulated 11 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the victors. Ata Turgut piloted the Golden Knights with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting.
Pace has won four straight to seize fourth place (the top four seeds gain byes in the tourney), rallying from 12 down to nip Southern New Hampshire in Manchester and end a nine-game dry spell at Spirou Field House. Sean Bresnan and Mark Dadika each logged 18 points for the Setters, who rattled off nine straight points to grab a 69-66 advantage following a Bryan Powell lay-up with 1:32 to go. The Penmen – who received 14 points from Alex Rivera – had chances down the stretch, but two missed Daniel Grant foul shots and Powell’s rejection of Kurtis Henderson’s lay-up proved costly. The last time Pace had won at SNHU was an 82-66 triumph on December 2, 2006… It was an easier path to victory next time out against American International in Pleasantville as Powell poured in 21 points on 10-14 shooting and the Setters led from the opening tip to the final horn, using a 28-10 second-half uprising, topped off by a Powell 3-point play, in fattening a 40-35 advantage to 68-45 at the 6:24 juncture. Justice Ellison managed 19 points and seven rebounds for the Yellow Jackets. Pace shot 53% but both teams combined for a frigid 8-39 from distance.
There’s a three-way scrum for fifth, with two of those teams being former NECC rivals Southern New Hampshire and Southern Connecticut; the former of which earned an 82-70 victory in New Haven. Preston Santos drove home a career-high 27 points (12-14 FG) and grabbed eight rebounds for the Penmen, knocking down a three to spark a 23-11 second-half run and put the visitors comfortably ahead, 73-55. Matt Becht (22 points, 6-11 from 3) ended the barrage with a bomb of his own as SNHU shot an electric 62% from the floor and 12-23 from beyond the arc. Silvera tabulated 15 points and five assists for the Owls.
St. Anselm used a 17-5 jaunt to pull away from New Haven at Stoutenburgh Gym, 74-62. Tyler Arbuckle knocked out 23 points in 39 minutes, while Morissette (21 in 40) and Sean McCarthy (19 points, nine rebounds) provided strong support for the Hawks, who saw their modest 56-51 lead mushroom to 73-56. Davontrey Thomas – the last remaining regular from the Chargers’ first regional championship in that same gym last March – had the hot hand in defeat with 19 points and nine boards.
Just before Franklin Pierce lost by 48 to Bentley, they fell in excruciating fashion at Assumption, 79-78. Kani Glover’s foul shots with 1.2 seconds on the clock after a Daouda Dembele offensive rebound were the difference for the Greyhounds, who trailed most of the contest, including a 66-55 deficit inside of nine minutes. Seven lead changes ensued over the last five minutes, and Andrew Politi’s desperation 3-pointer for the win was off the mark. Alex Carlisle was top dog for the Hounds with 24 points (9-12 FG) and four assists, while Draper (15 points) and Glover (12 points, 12 rebounds) also played big roles. Politi, Rufus Rusholme-Cobb (5-6 FG, seven rebounds) and Pierce Prendergast (4-6 from downtown Worcester) all earned 14 points for the Ravens, who landed five in double figures.
Ethan Simmon’s 3-pointer inside of the eight-minute mark ignited a key 16-3 run in New Haven’s 74-68 win over American International at Charger Gym, lengthening a 52-49 lead to 68-52. AIC crept within 72-68 in the waning seconds before Thomas (26 points, 11-13 FT) closed things out at the line. Ellison buoyed the Jackets with 25 points.
Poll Position
St. Thomas Aquinas remains the only ranked regional team in the NABC Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, dropping eight spots to #23. St. Michael’s and Bentley are receiving votes while West Texas A&M once again holds down the #1 spot.
Regional Rankings… er, sort of
The Regional Committee has released its first Top 10, though as per NCAA mandate, each of the eight RACs has only revealed the teams without placing them in any order. Next week, there officially will be rankings. Here are the Top 10 alphabetically through last Sunday’s games. Make of them what you will:
Adelphi
Bentley
Bloomfield
Daemen
Jefferson
Pace
Post
St. Michael’s
St. Thomas Aquinas
Southern New Hampshire
Another Around the Rim coms your way next Friday. Until then, Happy hooping to all!