The playoff picture in the ECC is becoming a little clearer after Wednesday night’s action, which saw four games all decided by double figures. We’ll kick off the recap with a surprise result on the Connecticut coast:
LIU POST 90 BRIDGEPORT 69
Greg Dotson led six in double figures with 18 points (7-11 FG, 4-4 from 3-point range) and eight rebounds, leading LIU Post to a stunning upset of second-place Bridgeport at Hubbell Gym, snapping its six-game winning streak in the process. A 19-2 run spanning the halves extended a 35-33 lead to 54-35 following a Dotson triple. The Purple Knights responded with a 12-2 spurt, capped by a Carlos DeJesus bomb with 15:30 to play that brought the hosts within single digits at 56-47. It was still a 72-61 ballgame inside of the seven-minute mark when a 3-ball from Jared Rivers (10 points off the bench, 4-5 from 3) sparked a 16-2 burst that put the game on ice at 88-63 with 2:07 left. Aary Bibens contributed 18 points (8-11 FG) and 10 rebounds in a reserve role for the Pioneers, who also received solid efforts from Kyle McLeggan (15 points, 4-4 from deep), Jared Hall (13 points, nine boards, five assists) and Jemal Mosley (10 points, five helpers). Sam Joseph was high man with 19 points for the Purple Knights, who were playing their ninth game in 24 days. Kyle Benjamin (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Montana Mayfield (10 points off the pine) also reached twin figures for Bridgeport, which can secure the second-place bye with a win at District of Columbia or Molloy loss to LIU Post in Saturday’s league finales. LIU Post – which can tie for fifth place but cannot make the playoffs due to unfavorable tiebreakers – outshot (52%-37%) and outrebounded (43-33) the P-Knights, while outscoring them 38-14 in the paint. However, the key stat was 3-point proficiency, as the Pioneers were an unconscious 11-of-15 from beyond the arc (UB was 10-32), the best performance in the region from long distance since Pace shot a perfect 10-for-10 against New Haven on December 5, 2015.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 103 MERCY 74
St. Thomas Aquinas captured the conference crown and accompanying number-one seed with a blowout victory over Mercy in Valhalla – its fourth straight “W.” Aaron Cust stole the show on this night, busting out for 30 points (12-16 FG, 3-5 from deep), including the 1,000th of his career. The junior guard’s 3-pointer with 8:06 remaining in the first half capped a 26-10 burst that inflated a 16-13 lead to 42-23. The divide was 60-38 by halftime, and the Mavericks never came closer than 20 after the break; the lead peaking at 83-48 on a Cust lay-up with just over 12 minutes to go. Justin Reyes compiled 16 points (8-10 FG), eight rebounds and seven assists for STAC, which was the superior shooting team (57%-41%) and parlayed a 29-16 turnover differential into a 33-9 scoring advantage off mistakes. Chaz Watler pitched in with 15 points (6-9 FG) and Adam Koziol 12 for the Spartans, who dominated the paint, 57-35. Ryan Hickey topped the Mavs’ score sheet with 19 points, followed by Marko Kozul (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Raphael Jennings (14 points, five assists). Their only statistical advantage was foul shooting, going 19-for-24 as compared to 10-of-13 for Aquinas, in falling for a 16th consecutive outing.
MOLLOY 81 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 59
Jaylen Morris totaled 23 points (10-16 FG) and six rebounds, while Curtis Jenkins filled the stat sheet with 17 points (8-13 FG), seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in guiding Molloy to victory over District of Columbia at Quealy Gym, securing a home playoff game as a result. The Lions never trailed on the night, establishing leads of 31-13 and 46-25 before taking a 50-33 advantage into the locker room. The Firebirds – who were fronted by Joseph Nickerson’s 19-point, 11-rebound performance – battled back within 65-58 after a driving lay-up by Kasim Chandler (17 points) with 7:58 to play, but that wound up being their final field goal as the hosts put the hammer down with a 16-1 flourish over the last 7:33, outshooting UDC 55%-28% for the game and doubling up their output in the paint (48-24). Charlie Marquardt double-doubled for the winners with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Khalil Jackson generated 10 points, eight boards and four assists for the Firebirds, who were more active at the foul line (19-25 to 8-8). Molloy can earn second place and the bye associated with it with a home win vs. LIU Post coupled with a Bridgeport loss at UDC. The Firebirds can still earn fourth place and a home playoff game with a win in that game, along with a Daemen loss at Roberts Wesleyan.
DAEMEN 71 QUEENS 59
Daemen will finish either fourth or fifth after outlasting Queens in Buffalo. Arif Mehmetaj - who hails from that borough - led the charge with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, with Darius Garvin providing 16 points off the bench on perfect 7-of-7 shooting. That effort was highlighted by a dagger three with 43 seconds left that was the crown jewel of a 21-8 upswing over the last 9:12 as the hosts erased a 51-50 deficit. The Wildcats raced out to a 32-19 lead en route to a 36-27 halftime advantage. It was 45-33 after a Mehmetaj trifecta with 16;17 on the clock when Tyree White answered with a three and a lay-up to trigger a 16-3 charge that gave Queens its first lead of the contest at 49-48, although it proved to be short-lived. The senior forward registered 19 points (8-10 FG), eight rebounds and four assists for the visitors, who also received a dozen points from Kyheim Chaplin. Jaleo Wilkes netted a baker’s dozen for Daemen, which essentially won the game at the foul line (15-21 to QC’s anemic 2-9) and by taking better care of the rock (the turnover differential was 13-6, leading to a 16-7 scoring edge). Both teams shot an identical 25-for-60 (42%) from the floor, with the Knights winning the glass, 40-37. The Cats can secure fourth place and a home game (possibly against the same Queens team) with a win at Roberts Wesleyan or UDC home loss to Bridgeport. The Knights – who are done for the regular season and who will hit the road for the playoffs – will finish fifth if the latter scenario occurs.
POLL POSITION
The second of three Regional Rankings was released yesterday, reflecting games played through last Sunday. There was no change among the top six (last week’s rankings are in parentheses):
- Le Moyne (1)
- Saint Rose (2)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (3)
- Southern New Hampshire (4)
- Merrimack (5)
- St. Anselm (6)
- Bridgeport (NR)
- Southern Connecticut (7)
- Bloomfield (8)
- Philadelphia (10)
Dropped out: Goldey-Beacom (9)