Saturday saw 38 of the region’s 40 teams take to the court, with most of the playoff scenarios coming into clearer view. We begin the big recap with a stunner in Syracuse:
Le MOYNE 86 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 77
Qwadere Lovell exploded for a career-high 32 points (7-12 FG, 4-8 from deep, 14-17 FT), including the 1,000th of his career, leading five players in double figures as Le Moyne outperformed American International at the Henninger Athletic Center, sweeping the season series and grabbing a share of third place in the Northeast-10’s Southwest Division with idle New Haven. The junior guard – who added five assists on the afternoon – became just the second Dolphin ever to record 500 points and 100 helpers in a season, joining Lenny Rauch, who turned the trick in 1991. The Phins trailed 45-41 at the half and 56-49 five minutes into the second stanza before unleashing a 20-4 blitz, highlighted by three consecutive Lovell triples, to seize the lead for good at 70-60. The gap peaked at 80-67 after a 3-pointer by Russell Sangster (10 points, six rebounds) with 3:17 to play before the Yellow Jackets mounted a late comeback, outscoring their hosts 10-1 in drawing within 81-77 after a foul shot from Trahmier Burrell (12 points, seven rebounds) with 59.8 seconds left. Le Moyne closed out the scoring with five foul shots in 10 attempts down the stretch (they were 26-for-35 for the game compared to AIC’s 14-for-18). Tanner Hyland chipped in with personal bests of 16 points and six assists for the winners, who also received strong outings from Ryan Romich (11 points, 5-7 FG, career-high 16 rebounds, two blocked shots) and Stan Buczek (11 points). Cameron Dobbs was high man for the Jackets with 26 points and five steals while Bobby Harris nearly pulled off the super-rare quadruple-double, accumulating 17 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and seven steals. American International – which locks up the #2 seed in the division – forced more than twice as many turnovers (20-9) and scored more often off those mistakes (22-5) while also accounting for 14 of the game’s 17 fast-break points. The Dolphins overcame those flaws with vastly superior shooting (62%-42%) and more efficient work from long range (8-17 to 9-29) in snapping both a four-game losing streak and AIC’s four-game winning streak.
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 83 SAINT ROSE 58
The Le Moyne win assured #25 Southern Connecticut of its second straight divisional title, though the Owls took care of their own business by slamming Saint Rose in New Haven for its ninth straight triumph. Luke Houston (12 points, 3-4 from distance, eight rebounds) broke an 8-8 tie with a lay-up that kicked off an 18-0 run, and Southern sprinted out to a 34-16 halftime lead. An 11-4 start to the second period – capped by a 3-ball from Tylon Smith (19 points, seven assists) – put the game out of reach at 45-20 and the Golden Knights never came closer than 17 points thereafter as the lead peaked at 75-47 with 3:17 remaining. Desmond Williams registered 15 points and 11 rebounds for the victors, who also landed Michael Mallory (15 points off the bench, 5-6 FG, 4-4 from 3) and Deshawn Murphy (12 points, seven boards) in double figures. Chris Dorgler (13 points, six rebounds), Jack Jones (11, 8) and Sam Eckstrom (10 points off the bench) were the top threats for Saint Rose, which won the glass (44-39, including 22-10 on the offensive end) but was outshot (49%-36%), tripled from beyond the arc (12-25 to 4-18) and outworked at the stripe (11-16 to 2-9). The fifth-place Golden Knights will travel to either Stonehill or St. Michael’s next in their playoff opener.
STONEHILL 73 BENTLEY 72
The race for the final playoff spot in the Northeast Division will come down to tomorrow’s regular-season finales. Three teams are still alive for the coveted berth in an unusual game of musical chairs after Stonehill held off a furious late-hour rally from Massachusets rival Bentley at Merkert Gym in a rare Saturday night clash. Jack Cole logged 15 of his 20 points (9-11 FG) in the first half and pulled down nine rebounds for the Skyhawks, who used a 21-10 run in expanding a 47-40 lead to a seemingly safe 68-50 bulge with under six minutes remaining, only to see their guests get off the deck with 14 unanswered points, extending the run to 20-3 after a Shaq Phelps lay-up and bringing the Falcons within 71-70 at the 38-second mark. Ryan Logan split a pair of free throws on Stonehill’s next two possessions as the lead remained one possession (73-70) with eight seconds on the clock. J.P. Koury (10 points) was fouled attempting a tying trey with 0.4 showing, giving the visitors a lifeline. However, the senior misfired on all three (the last one intentionally), rendering Keegan Hyland’s put-back at the buzzer a mere footnote, capping a terrific 27-point, career-high 12-rebound performance by the senior. Carter Smith dropped in 16 points (4-6 from afar) for the Skyhawks, who also placed Logan (15 points, six rebounds) and Pierce Cumpstone (10, 11 in a reserve role) in twin figures. Stonehill is now the lead dog for the third-place bye as a win at St. Anselm tomorrow or St. Michael’s home loss to Merrimack will sew it up. Otherwise, it will host Saint Rose on Friday. Bentley still holds down fifth place but must win at Franklin Pierce to assure a playoff game at either New Haven or Le Moyne.
MERRIMACK 68 FRANKLIN PIERCE 65
Even after a horrid start to the NE-10 season, Merrimack is still alive for the final playoff spot and can steal it tomorrow with a win at St. Michael’s and Bentley loss (they would win out in the ensuing three-way tiebreaker thanks to a sweep of first-place Southern New Hampshire). The scenario remains viable thanks to a win over Franklin Pierce in North Andover that saw all five starters reach double digits in the scoring column. In a tight affair that saw nine ties and 11 lead changes, the Warriors trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and by a 61-58 count inside of the last three minutes when Troy Hammel (10 points, seven rebounds) and Gelvis Solano (19 points) each knocked down a pair of free throws to nudge the hosts back in front, 62-61 with 1:39 to go. A Ryen Vilmont put-back 16 seconds later reclaimed the lead for Pierce at 63-62 but JT Strickland shined during a game-shaping 6-0 spurt with a lay-up and two clinching foul shots, putting Merrimack in the clear at 68-63. The junior guard totaled 12 points and seven boards for the Warriors, who also received 11 points from Kyle Howes and 10 from James Kennedy. Paul Becklens tabulated 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Ravens, while Donte Gittens and Vilmont (10 rebounds) each netted 15 in a losing effort. Both teams were challenged from behind the 3-point line (MC 7-21, FPU 8-31) but were near-perfect at the foul line (MC 9-10, FPU 11-12). Franklin Pierce needs to beat Bentley and have St. Michael’s upend Merrimack at home in order to play in the postseason. The Warriors need the opposite scenario to remain alive.
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE 74 ST. MICHAEL’S 52
Two huge runs at the end of each half carried Northeast Division champ Southern New Hampshire past St Michael’s in Manchester for its fifth straight win. A 14-2 flourish lengthened a 23-20 lead to 37-22 by intermission, with half the points coming from Aleksandar Dobrovic (14 points, four assists), then a 16-0 avalanche over the last 5:43 turned a 58-52 ballgame into a 74-52 blowout as the Purple Knights went 0-for-13 with three turnovers down the stretch in falling to fourth place. Elijah Bonsignore did most of the heavy lifting for the Penmen with 21 points (8-13 FG), nine rebounds and four blocked shots, while Rodney Sanders snapped off 15 points. Michael Holton, Jr. produced 20 points and seven rebounds for St. Mike’s, which also received solid outings from Dom Ditlefsen (12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from deep) and Mike Thompson (10 points, 5-7 FG) though the team shot 35% and a disturbing 0-for-8 from the free-throw line, while being schooled 24-2 off turnovers, offsetting a 42-38 edge on the boards. The two teams weren’t shy to let it fly from long range (SNHU 11-38, SMC 10-30), as they combined for just 55 attempts inside the arc. The P-Knights can still garner third place and a bye with a home win vs. Merrimack and Stonehill loss at St. Anselm. Otherwise, they will host Saint Rose in Friday’s play-in round.
ST. ANSELM 86 ASSUMPTION 76
Roy Mabrey cashed in 24 points (8-12 FG, 4-6 from downtown Worcester) and grabbed six rebounds, while Chris Santo pitched in with 17 points, eight boards and two blocks in leading St. Anselm past Assumption at Laska Gym to clinch second place in the Northeast and hand head coach Keith Dickson his 550th career win. After a 21-8 start to the afternoon, the Hawks found themselves in a 63-55 hole with under eight minutes to play before a Mabrey trifecta initiated a 21-6 power run, putting the visitors in front for good at 76-69 with 2:19 left. Harrison Taggart – who capped the spree with a lay-up – added a big three from the left-wing as part of a 12-point, six-rebound afternoon, while Victor Joshua chalked up 16 points for the “victors.” Kamali Bey drove home 23 points (10-16 FG) and hauled in six rebounds in a reserve stint for the Greyhounds, who also placed Karl Ziegler (19 points), Terrance Bobb-Jones (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Reilly Reid (all 11 points off the bench in the first half) in doubles. Assumption actually held slight edges in shooting (48%-46%) and rebounding (36-33) but allowed more 3-pointers (7-23 to 2-10) and foul shots (24-35 to 18-23) in dropping their seventh straight.
USCIENCES 90 BLOOMFIELD 75
The CACC playoff teams are determined, though pecking order is still up for grabs. In Philadelphia, USciences showed Bloomfield no brotherly love in coasting to its region-best 11th straight win and moving within a win of clinching the South crown. Conference Player of the Week Garret Kerr was a human wrecking ball yet again, amassing a career high-tying 37 points (16-26 FG) and 19 rebounds, securing his 23rd double-double by halftime and passing the legendary Herb Magee (one of his staunchest admirers) for ninth on the all-time Philadelphia NCAA school scoring list (all divisions) as he now boasts a ridiculous 2,265 point total. The Devils led from wire to wire thanks to a 10-0 start and 25-7 finish to the first half in opening up a 55-31 chasm. The gap swelled to 59-31 early in the final frame after a lay-up by Will Gregorits (11 points), but the Bears clawed their way back within 78-66 after a pair of Marvin Williams free throws with 3:40 remaining. That would be as close as the visitors would get, though, as T-John Cassielo – indisputably the most underrated point guard in the region – knocked down a pair at the stripe seven seconds later, polishing off a 13-point, nine-assist performance. The red-hot Williams was brilliant in defeat for Bloomfield, generating a career-high 30 points on near-perfect shooting (10-13 FG, 3-3 from long distance, 7-7 FT) while stealing the rock seven times, though his accomplishments were dwarfed by Kerr, who reached the 30-point plateau for a third straight game. Claude Blue (19 points) and Clarence White (10) flanked Williams though the Bears were outshot (54%-43%), outrebounded (43-27), out-assisted (19-9) and outworked both in the paint (52-30) and on second chances (20-6), negating a 6-3 edge in 3-point baskets as they tumbled into a third-place tie. Dylan Kerwin procured 10 points off the bench for the hosts. Bloomfield can wrap up second place and a home playoff game with a win at Caldwell. A loss results in a fourth-place finish and likely return trip to Morgan Arena. Sciences is one win away from the top seed in the tourney.
PHILADELPHIA 77 CONCORDIA 75
Philadelphia remains a game off the pace after squeaking past Concordia at the Meyer Center for its sixth straight victory and 20th overall, giving Hall of Fame Coach Herb Magee his mind-blowing 32nd season with at least that many wins. A 24-10 surge flipped a 48-37 deficit into a 61-58 upper hand thanks to a Nick Schlitzer 3-ball with 9:24 to go. The lead changed hands six times over the next five-and-a-half minutes before Schlitzer drained back-to-back triples to give the Rams the lead for keeps, 75-71 with 2:35 on the clock (the 15th lead swap of the game). Andre Gibbs (16 points) delivered the clinching free throws with 18 seconds left as his team shot at a higher clip overall (55%-46%), especially from downtown Bronxville (9-16 to 11-27), while also winning the battle of the boards, 38-27. All five starters did the job yet again for Philly U, including Derek Johnson (19 points, 5-7 from deep, seven rebounds), Schlitzer (18, 6), Peter Alexis (14, 10) and T.J. Huggins (10 points, seven caroms, four assists). Peter Aguilar was the top option for the Clippers with 23 points, as he was supported by Tshyrad Oates (17 points, 5-9 from 3, seven rebounds) and Jamie Holder (10 points). Concordia – which was eliminated from the playoff race – only turned it over five times (PU committed 13), resulting in an 18-4 boon in mistake points. Philadelphia can tie USciences for first with a head-to-head win at home this evening and can finish anywhere from first to third in the rugged South Division.
CALDWELL 75 WILMINGTON 71
Caldwell nabbed the final playoff berth in the North thanks to Concordia’s loss and their own win over Wilmington in Newark. Michael Balkovic powered the Cougars with 27 points (10-11 FG) and 13 rebounds, while Dawan Lighty (20, 6) and Kevin Walker (all 11 points after the break, four assists) were strong in supporting roles as their team bolted out to a 20-9 lead en route to a 30-22 halftime advantage. An 18-8 burst stretched a modest 46-42 lead to 64-50 after a pair of Walker tosses at the 6:06 mark, and the lead crested at 70-55 with two-and-a-half minutes to play when the Wildcats rose from the dead and uncorked a 16-4 run to move within a single possession (74-71) following Tyaire Ponzo-Meek’s third 3-pointer over the last 1:16. There were only eight seconds remaining, however, and Billy McDonald (six points) hammered the final nails in the coffin with two free throws. Ponzo-Meek posted 18 points (4-5 from distance) in reserve duty for Wilmington, which is locked into fourth place and will square off at Dominican in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Kevin Ohen added 16 points for the ‘Cats, who were outshot from the floor (50%-37%) and the line (26-35 to 10-11), offsetting a 16-8 turnover edge. Caldwell can finish as high as third place with a home win vs. Bloomfield. A loss will land the Cougars in fourth.
POST 71 GEORGIAN COURT 62
Matt Mareno came up big with personal bests of 29 points (10-16 FG) and 15 rebounds (eight offensive) while also swatting away three shots as Post rallied from 10 down to knock off Georgian Court at the Drubner Center in a game that featured seven ties and 14 lead changes. The Eagles trailed 42-34 after a trifecta from Michael Pierre (12 points) with 18:21 to go in the second stanza when they clamped down and ripped off an 11-0 run over a nearly seven-minute stretch to jump on top 45-42. The Lions roared back with eight of the next 12 points, edging in front 50-49 on a dunk by Jordan Wejnert (18 points, seven rebounds) with 9:44 on the clock. The Eagles took flight from there with a 14-4 charge, topped off by a 3-pointer from David Seymour (16 points) that made it 63-54 at the 3:29 juncture. Georgian Court – which was paced by Juwuan Carter’s 18 points and eight rebounds – came within seven points on four occasions down the stretch but couldn’t get over the hump in falling for a fourth consecutive contest. Nardie Bogues finished with 11 points and five assists for Post, which won despite being soundly outshot, 46%-36%. The Eagles made up for that deficiency by outworking their guests at the line (21-29 to 6-10) and on the backboards (44-32, including 22-9 on the offensive end). Neither side shot it well from downtown Waterbury (PU 4-17, GCU 4-15). Post can finish in second place and host a first-round playoff game if Caldwell beats Bloomfield. Otherwise, it will finish in third and head to one of three Philadelphia schools for the opening round.
DOMINICAN 81 GOLDEY-BEACOM 80
Nick Smith returned with a vengeance, churning out 40 points (16-21 FG, 8-8 FT), seven rebounds and five blocks in leading Dominican past Goldey-Beacom in Orangeburg to wrap up the North Division title. The Chargers needed every single one of those points from its senior superstar as Goldey nearly wiped out a 19-point second-half deficit before succumbing for a sixth straight time. Back-to-back inside hoops by Smith touched off a 23-8 run that afforded the hosts a 64-45 cushion with 11:32 to play and it appeared the game was a fait accompli. It was 79-68 after a Smith slam with 2:29 left when the Lightning struck, closing within 81-80 after two Joey Getz freebies with 35 ticks remaining. John Decker (11 points) was sent to the line but missed both of his attempts, leaving the door open for the visitors. However, misses by Kyle Steinbergin (eight points off the bench) from three and Sameen Swint (10) on the follow in their final possession cemented the result. Gerrel Irvin contributed 12 points (5-6 FG) off the pine for Dominican, which also received 10 points and seven assists from Joe Clinton as their club outshot its opponents, 55%-43%, on the day. Getz stuffed the stat sheet for the Lightning with 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals, while Parris Ridgeway-Higgs (16 points on 7-of-10 shooting) and Ed McWade (11 points, 10 boards) also made their presences felt in the tough setback. Goldey-Beacom made twice as many threes (6-22 to 3-14), held a slim 37-35 edge on the glass and feasted off turnovers, 25-10... almost enough to pull off a staggering upset. Both sides finished with strong assist-turnover lines (DC 22/16, GBC 16/10). The Chargers will host Wilmington in its playoff opener.
HOLY FAMILY 79 NYACK 69
Reggie Charles led a balanced attack with 17 points and five assists, while Marvin Crawford collected 13 points, six rebounds, five dishes and three steals in leading Holy family past Nyack at the Campus Center to reach the 20-win plateau for the second straight season – a first for the program in the NCAA era (since 2003-04). After allowing the first point of the game, the Tigers controlled the action in this one, racing out to a 33-15 lead before settling on a 33-18 halftime bulge. The Warriors – who were buoyed by a career-high 17 points off the bench from Yahmir Greenlee – announced their presence after the break, instigating a 20-7 tear to sidle within 40-38 following a Chris Hampton trey. It was all Holy Family after that, thanks to a 27-11 uprising that fleshed out the lead to 67-49 after a Crawford 3-pointer with 5:18 to go, and Nyack never seriously threatened afterward. Isaiah Gans hit for 11 points and six rebounds for the victors, who also received 10 and 13, respectively, from Derrick Stewart. Will Robinson racked up 16 points and 13 rebounds in a backup role for the Warriors, who also received 15 and seven from Hampton, as well as 10 points from Khalid Samuels. Nyack won the glass battle (50-42) but was outscored 32-18 off turnovers. Both teams exhibited an icy touch from beyond the arc (HF 8-30, NC 6-24) and at the foul line (HFU 17-30, NC 15-28). It’s a longshot but Holy Family can still finish as high as first with a win at Chestnut Hill coupled with a Philadelphia win over USciences and loss to Goldey-Beacom, plus a Sciences loss at Georgian Court. They can come in second with a win at Chestnut Hill plus a Philly loss in either of its two final games coupled with USciences winning at Georgian Court.
MOLLOY 75 NYIT 69
There are still races to be decided in the East Coast Conference, especially in the middle of the pack as a quartet of Long Island schools is battling for playoff seeding. At Quealy Gym, Matt McLeod garnered 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, delivering a huge 3-point play in the final minute to lead Molloy past New York Institute of Technology and forge a three-way tie for the third seed. Richard Zoller notched 14 points and Charles Marquardt a dozen on 4-of-7 shooting from deep in the opening 20 minutes as the Lions constructed a 41-24 lead. The Bears – spearheaded by Darian Hooker’s 21 points and seven assists – fought back within a point (69-68) after a 3-ball from Kachi Nzerem (13 points, 3-5 from 3) with 2:37 on the clock but could never equalize. Tensions mounted as the game remained scoreless for nearly two minutes before McLeod’s huge “And-1” at the 52-second mark gave the hosts some breathing room, and they nailed 3-of-4 at the line after that to steer the ship home. Fred “Bam” Rivers sported 16 points (4-7 from 3) off the bench for NYIT, which attempted 29 of its 51 shots from long range, slipping into seventh place but just a game out of fourth with all three remaining games at home. Molloy boasted the stronger assist-turnover ratio (24/8 to 14/14), outscoring its guests 21-8 off of those miscues while also outworking them in the paint (34-16) and on the break (12-2).
LIU POST 62 QUEENS 46
Greg Dotson topped the scorecard with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while fellow reserve P.J. Torres collected 13 points, eight boards, four assists and four steals to power LIU Post past Queens for a share of that three-way tie for the three seed. After an inauspicious start that saw the Pioneers fall behind 17-2, Dotson commandeered a 29-3 blitz over the last 12:42 of the half, punctuated by a buzzer-beating, put-back dunk that gave the hosts a 31-20 halftime advantage and all the momentum (QC went 8:11 without a point during the stretch). The Knights received a baker’s dozen from both Diego Maldonado and Jerry Mordi (six rebounds, four assists, four steals, two blocks despite nine turnovers), whose two foul shots at 9:37 brought Queens within 43-34. A lay-up by Tyuan Williams (11 points, nine caroms) 24 seconds later boosted the lead back to double digits, where it remained the balance of the ballgame, bouncing between 11 and 18 the rest of the way. LIU Post was the superior shooting team (43%-28%) despite misfiring on all nine of its 3-point attempts. The Pioneers also dominated in the paint (42-14) and on the break (12-2). The ugly game was marred by 42 fouls, 49 free throw attempts and twice as many combined turnovers (40) as assists (20). Like last year, Queens is still clinging to life in its pursuit of the playoffs, tied with Roberts Wesleyan two games off the pace with three to play.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 75 ROBERTS WESLEYAN 71
Chaz Watler rang up 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, coming through with the go-ahead jumper at the 50-second stage as St. Thomas Aquinas outlasted Roberts Wesleyan at the Voller Center for its 11th win in 12 league games to remain a half-game in first place. The Spartans engineered a 54-37 lead early in the second half before the Redhawks stormed back with a 23-3 barrage, grabbing a 60-57 edge after a bucket by Jamaal Carter (12 points off the bench, 5-7 FG, 2-2 from downtown Rochester) with 7:21 on the clock. Watler responded with tying and go-ahead trifectas to spark a 9-0 flurry and give STAC a 66-60 lead with 5:23 to play, but back came the hosts, and the lead changed hands six times within the final 2:41, the last time on Watler’s jay. The sophomore guard added to the lead by going 3-for-4 from the stripe, sandwiching a missed triple try from Marcus Gooding (18 points), to wrap it up. Marcus Henderson deposited 16 points (4-8 from 3) for the Spartans, who also saw Justin Reyes kick in 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tyrel Dixon managed 13 points for Roberts, including the 1,000th of his career, while teammate Isaac Medeiros chimed in with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a losing cause. The Redhawks were the slightly more effective shooters (52%-49%) and rebounders (30-26) but coughed it up more than twice as often (15-7), leading to a 19-9 scoring differential, which was the main cause of their undoing. They remain two games out of the last playoff slot with three to play. Aquinas can wrap up the division crown with its next win or Bridgeport loss.
BRIDGEPORT 83 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 72
Bridgeport remains a half-game back of STAC after holding off District of Columbia in the nation’s capital for its fourth straight triumph. Willie Williams III was the linchpin in the victory, compiling 22 points (8-10 FG) and eight rebounds, with strong backing from Edde Asamoah (14 points), Devon Elliott (13 points, nine boards, five assists) and Jesse Jones (12 points off the bench, 3-3 FG including two triples). The Purple Knights trailed 56-55 with 12:42 to play before embarking on a 20-6, game-changing upswing, taking a 75-62 lead after an Elliott basket with 8:01 left. The Firebirds crept within 79-72 on a lay-up by Quasim Jones (12 points) with 2:17 remaining, but a Williams jumper and two Jones freebies closed out the scoring as Bridgeport wound up outshooting its hosts (50%-40%), helping offset a 20-10 doubling on the offensive glass that resulted in a 22-12 disparity in second-chance scoring. Michael Terry attained 18 of his 25 points (5-10 from 3) in the first frame while Geran Pope was a force inside with 13 points and 13 rebounds in a reserve role.
DAEMEN 84 MERCY 69
Gerald Beverly left a sensational final impression at Lumsden Gym, cranking out 29 points (7-11 FG, 14-16 FT), 14 rebounds and four blocks for his 55th straight double-digit scoring game and 46th career double-double as third-place Daemen routed Mercy. The game was one-sided from the start as the Wildcats hung the first 10 points on the board and forged a 30-9 lead before settling on a 44-30 divide at the break. The margin maxed out at 70-38 after a 3-ball from Supreme Hannah (11 points, four assists) with 11:42 to go and was 79-51 before the Mavericks orchestrated an 18-5 game-closing jaunt to make the final score more respectable. Kyle Clifford supplied a career-best 19 points (5-8 from downtown Buffalo) for Daemen, which also benefited from Jordan Greene’s 4-for-8 long-distance shooting, accounting for his 12 points. Lazaro Martinez provided 16 points and six rebounds in defeat for Mercy, which also landed Matthew Boyd (personal-best 12 points), Gerald McClease (11 points, eight caroms) and Joshua Thompson (10, 9 off the bench) in double figures. The Mavs were the better rebounders (46-33, including a massive 24-3 dominance on the offensive end) and did more damage inside (30-16) but were outshot overall (47%-37%) and outclassed both from deep (14-27 to 6-15) and the line (20-24 to 11-15) in falling for a seventh straight time.
ADELPHI 89 PACE 68
Duane Morgan continued his exceptional play of late with 27 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead five in double figures as Adelphi pummeled Pace in Pleasantville, never falling behind in building to a 48-28 halftime gulf. A 6-0 spurt upon the restart saw the lead mushroom to 54-28 and the margin hovered between 18 and 26 the rest of the contest. Damon Coleman tossed in 14 points for the Panthers, who also received 13 points and seven boards from Ryan DeNicola, 12 points off the bench from Michael Coffey and an 11-point, 13-rebound, five-assist effort from Anthony Libroia. Shelton Mickell was the best of the bunch for the Setters with 22 points (10-17 FG), while Mike Demello dispensed 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Kyle Pearson mustered 13 points in the loss. Adelphi outshot (49%-40%) and outrebounded (47-33) its hosts while also making hay at the foul line (22-32 to 8-14). Pace has now dropped 12 straight and has lost 22 games for the first time ever.
CHESTNUT HILL 82 FELICIAN 66
For the second consecutive game, Billy Cassidy submitted a career high with 28 points on unconscious 10-of-13 shooting (7-of-9 from beyond the arc), fueling Chestnut Hill’s victory over Felician at Sorgenti Arena. The sophomore guard’s jumper with 3:12 to play in the first period triggered a 25-3 romp spanning the halves as the Griffins transformed a 27-23 deficit into a 45-30 upper hand. Cassidy highlighted the spell with a corner three at the halftime horn and another bomb to conclude the onslaught. The Golden Falcons – who received 19 points apiece from senior forwards J.R. Pringley (4-5 from 3, six rebounds) and Jeyvi Miavivilulu – came as close as 62-55 on a Pringley triple with 5:57 left, but an inside hoop from Seamus Radtke (15 points on 6-of-9 shooting) sparked a 7-0 sweep as the Griffs doubled the lead to 69-55 and maintained between a 10-and 16-point advantage the balance of the ballgame. Filip Sekulic (seven rebounds) and Ed McWade (11 off the bench) each offered 10 points for The Hill, which fared better at the foul line (19-27 to 12-23) to aid its cause. Lamine Cooper tallied 13 in a losing effort for Felician.
POLL POSITION
The new D2SIDE media poll is out and here are the results, with last week’s rankings in parentheses:
1. Southern Connecticut (2)
2. USciences (1)
3. Southern New Hampshire (4)
4. American International (3)
5. Bridgeport (5)
6. St. Anselm (6)
7. Holy Family (7)
8. Stonehill (10)
T9. Philadelphia (NR)
T9. St. Michael’s (T8)
Receiving Votes: St. Thomas Aquinas
Dropped out: St. Thomas Aquinas