There were four games in each conference over the weekend, including playoff clashes in the NE10 and CACC. Let’s begin the recap with an upset in the first round of the latter league’s tournament, where the North captured three of four quarterfinal slots:
CALDWELL 81 WILMINGTON 74
Derek Dorn collected 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Eric Johnson-Alford contributed 22 points (9-9 FG) and eight boards in leading Caldwell to a stunning victory over Wilmington, spoiling the latter’s first home playoff game and abruptly halting the pogram's most successful season. The Cougars took the capacity crowd out of it early, jumping out to leads of 18-8 and 32-15 en route to a 44-26 halftime divide. The margin peaked at 48-28 shortly after play resumed before the Wildcats began to scratch and claw their way back, closing within 60-54 following a 3-pointer by Brian Adkins (10 points off the bench, 3-4 from deep) with 7:05 to play. Dorn answered with a jumper to spark a critical 9-0 run that boosted the lead to 69-54 with 4:22 left and essentially solidified the result as the Cats came no closer than the seven-point final spread. Zay Jennings posted 10 points in a reserve role for Caldwell, which won its fourth straight to reach the CACC semifinals, to be played on its very home court next weekend (they will take on rival Bloomfield on Saturday). Newly-minted conference Player of the Year Tyaire Ponzo-Meek closed out his stellar career with 30 points for Wilmington, but leaves an indelible mark as its all-time leading scorer (1,808 points), while also finishing second in both assists and rebounds. Nick Richards (18 points) and Omari Dill-Pettiford (10) reached double figures in defeat as well. The Cougars shot it better overall (49%-40%) and were more efficient from downtown Newark (8-16 to 10-29), bolstering its win.
DOMINICAN 71 GOLDEY-BEACOM 62
The other Delaware school also saw a terrific regular season come to a close as Goldey-Beacom succumbed to Dominican at the Hennessy Center – the same building where the visitors romped to a 98-71 victory just last month. Gerrel Irvin led a balanced attack with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, highlighted by back-to-back lay-ups that commenced an 11-3 game-ending flourish after the Lightning had trimmed a 47-33 deficit down to 60-59 on a Dante Thompson lay-up with 4:47 remaining. The Chargers – who also landed Travis Cook (15 points, eight rebounds), Jonathan Garcia (11 points off the bench) and Daraja Rodwell (10 points, five assists) in twin figures – likewise closed out the first half with momentum, claiming the last nine points to flip a 28-26 deficit into a 35-28 advantage. Thompson did the heavy lifting for Goldey with 20 points (8-12 FG) and nine rebounds, while the other four starters struggled to shoot a combined 7-for-39. Reserve guard Khalil Keel pitched in with 10 points (4-5 FG) in his final game for the Lightning, which was outshot from the floor (53%-36%) and from downtown Orangeburg (5-9 to 3-18) while getting mauled on the backboards, 42-27. They stayed close by forcing 10 more turnovers (27-17). Dominican will take on Philadelphia in the semifinals at Caldwell on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA 72 POST 63
Philadelphia is the lone remaining South representative as the division champs held on to edge Post at the Gallagher Center for its sixth straight opening-round triumph – four of them at the expense of the Eagles. Kaison Randolph totaled 20 points for the Rams, including a big triple to cap an 11-2 flurry that closed out the first half, slicing a 37-25 deficit down to 39-36. A 13-5 start to the second stanza (24-7 total run) – culminating in a Josh Brandanese lay-up – put Philly U. on top 49-44, and the margin bounced between one and six points until a 3-pointer and lay-up from Rookie of the Year Kylan Guerra (15 points, six rebounds) opened up a 63-53 advantage with 5:42 to go. The hosts canned just enough foul shots (3-of-6) over the final minute to secure the spoils and ride into a semifinal match-up with Dominican on a seven-game win streak. Brandanese (14 points, six caroms) and 7-footer Malcolm Gilbert (12, 12) provided solid depth for the victors, who fared a little better at the stripe (18-25 to 11-15), off turnovers (12-5) and on second chances (9-1) to close the deal. Naasir Williams was high man for Post with 16 points (3-5 from long distance), followed by Tyler Desrosiers (15 points) and Malcolm Amos (11 points, six rebounds).
BLOOMFIELD 77 USCIENCES 62
Rakwan Kelly registered 17 points, while Ahmid Williams added 16 (5-8 from long range) and four assists in leading North Division champ Bloomfield past University of the Sciences in the Garden State. A 12-0 burst – topped off by a Kelly lay-up at the 5:15 mark of the opening period – widened a modest 24-23 lead to 36-23 as the Bears took a 42-30 advantage into the locker room. The Devils came no closer than nine points over the final 20 minutes, and were within 59-49 after a steal and lay-up by Flo Da-Silva (13 points, 6-9 FG, four assists) with 7:34 on the clock. A timely 10-2 upswing – bookended by Chiedozie Akawuoko’s only two hoops (the latter an exclamation-point dunk) – put the game away at 69-51 and set up a semifinal match-up with archrival Caldwell just up Bloomfield Avenue at the Newman Center in next Saturday’s semifinals. Nick Davidson recorded 12 points (despite 6-for-19 shooting) and eight boards for the Bears, who took better care of the basketball (19/5 assist-turnover ratio compared to 11/12 for US), leading to a 16-6 boon in mistake points. Will Gregorits topped the Sciences scorecard with 16 points and eight rebounds, while forwards Jon McGill (11, 6) and Brendan Devine (career-best nine points in five bench minutes on 4-of-4 shooting) closed out their collegiate careers with solid efforts. The shooting (46%-46%) and rebounding (35-35) numbers were dead heats.
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE 97 ADELPHI 95
In a rare confluence of on-court events, the NE10’s top four teams have advanced to the semifinal round, though the top seed had the toughest road in Saturday’s quarters, as it turned out. Chris Walters’ lay-up with 41 seconds left put Southern New Hampshire ahead to stay as his team battled back from a 14-point, second-half deficit, surviving a scare from Adelphi at the SNHU Field House in advancing. The Penmen were down most of the afternoon, and by as much as 60-46 just over eight minutes into the second half before riding a 22-7 wave to carve out a 78-77 lead with 6:33 to play. The Panthers regrouped and regained control at 89-83 inside of the four-minute mark before Daquaise Andrews (career-high 28 points, 14-20 FG, seven rebounds) scored inside to spark a 13-4 run that gave SNHU a 96-93 upper hand with 23 ticks remaining. Manny Suarez – who delivered 21 points (8-13 FG), 11 rebounds and four assists – converted a pair of free throws 11 seconds later to bring Adelphi within a point, and the visitors had life after Jerome Harris split a pair at the stripe with 11 seconds showing. However, Walters came up with a game-saving stop, stripping the ball from Michael Coffey before he could attempt a potential winning trey, ending a drama-filled afternoon, delivering the Penmen their third straight 20-win season and extending their home-court win streak to a region-best 18 games dating back to last season. Walters finished the day with 27 points (8-11 FG, 11-14 FT), six rebounds and five steals for the defending tourney champs, who also placed Player of the Year Devin Gilligan (19 points, seven boards) and Dimitri Floras (14 points) in doubles. Coffey paced the Panthers with 23 points while playing all 40 minutes – a feat matched by Austin Beech (20 points, 10-10 FG, 10 rebounds, six helpers) and Jack Laffey (11 points, six rebounds). Additionally, Nick Cambio equaled his career high with 13 points (5-7 FG) as Adelphi’s lone reserve. Both teams shot it well (SNHU 57%, AU 55%) but the visitors were more potent from beyond the arc (9-29 to 3-13), on the glass (41-28) and in the assist department (22-8). A 21-12 turnover disparity hurt their cause, however. Southern New Hampshire will host Saint Rose in Wednesday’s semifinals. Adelphi’s season comes to a disappointing end.
ST. ANSELM 87 SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 74
Across town, St. Anselm had an easier time of it, dispatching Southern Connecticut at Stoutenburgh Gym to earn a semifinal date against Le Moyne in Syracuse. All five starters scored in double digits in this one, led by Cody Ball’s 21-point outing (7-11 FG, 4-6 from deep) and Chris Braley’s impressive 13-point, 20-rebound output, becoming the first player in the program to snare 20 boards since Mike McCahey achieved the feat over three years ago vs. Franklin Pierce. After surrendering the first basket of the ballgame, the Hawks took off with 12 unanswered points and raced out to a 35-17 lead on the way to a 39-24 halftime bulge. The Owls were within 58-45 just past the midway mark of the second period when Tim Guers (15 points, five assists) touched off a 9-2 spurt with a pair of foul shots, as the lead grew to 67-47 with 7:50 to go, then hovered between 13 and 21 the balance of the ballgame. Harrison Taggart (19 points, seven rebounds) and Taylor Fortin (16 points, four assists) also made their presences felt for the winners, who did more damage from distance (9-26 to 4-23) and made twice as many free throws (20-22 to 10-15), offsetting Southern’s 48-45 glass advantage that helped fuel a 24-14 second-chance differential. Michael Mallory chalked up 24 points in what could be his final collegiate contest as his Owls sit on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Jerry Luckett. Jr. accumulated 16 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.
Le MOYNE 61 NEW HAVEN 47
A 20-4 blitz over a nearly 11-minute stretch of the second half was enough to carry #24 Le Moyne past New Haven at the Henninger Athletic Center for its eighth straight triumph. The big run – which was spearheaded by Anthony Richards’ 11 points (he scored 14 on the afternoon, all in the second half, on 4-of-5 shooting from downtown Syracuse) – commenced 20 seconds after the Chargers scored the first bucket of the final frame for their only lead of the game – 29-28. The Dolphins found themselves ahead 48-33 at the conclusion of the uprising, and the lead hovered between 11 and 17 the rest of the way as the Fins defeated their guests for the second time in six days at the same venue. Russell Sangster sported 12 points and four steals for Le Moyne, which was the superior shooting team overall (44%-33%) and from long range (8-25 to 3-9) while outscoring its guests 18-8 off of turnovers. Roy Kane, Jr. hit for 17 points for New Haven, which also received a noteworthy effort from Mihailo Vasic (14 points, 6-9 FG, seven boards) and made twice as many foul shots (14-15 to 7-11). The Dolphins host St. Anselm – their most frequently played postseason opponent – in Wednesday’s semifinals.
SAINT ROSE 93 FRANKLIN PIERCE 80
Just down the Thruway in Albany, a 29-7 tear shortly after the break proved the difference in Saint Rose’s victory over Franklin Pierce – its sixth straight “W.” Julian Lipinsky produced a career-best 24 points (9-14 FG) and Mical-Ryan Boyd 20 (8-12 FG) for the Golden Knights, who found themselves nursing a 46-44 lead two-and-a-half minutes into the second half before unleashing the torrent that was punctuated by a 3-ball from Chris Dorgler (17 points, 5-7 FG, four assists) that made it a 75-51 game with 8:26 on the clock. The Ravens – who were fronted by Mike McDevitt’s 19 points – came as close as 12 down the stretch but could never recover completely, turning the ball over 17 times to a mere four miscues for Saint Rose, resulting in a massive 29-5 scoring gulf. Matt Banton called it a career with 18 points (3-5 from 3) and Jordan Lackey dropped a baker’s dozen for Pierce, which fared better on the boards (32-21) and from beyond the arc (7-13 to 4-12), to no avail. Both teams shot crisply (CSR 58%, FPU 54%). The Golden Knights – who travel to Southern New Hampshire next – are now sitting on 24 wins for the first time since a 26-6 campaign in 1998-99. Both NE10 semifinals feature a team from Upstate New York pitted against a club from Manchester.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 70 BRIDGEPORT 67
The ECC playoff match-ups are all set after Saturday’s regular-season curtain-drop. The game of the day took place in the nation’s capital as Khalil Jackson splashed a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to lift District of Columbia past Bridgeport. The Firebirds launched a 17-5 run to snap a 41-41 deadlock and surge in front 58-46 after a trifecta by Kasim Chandler (19 points, five steals) with 13:01 to play. Back came the Purple Knights with a 15-2 counter-run, nosing in front 61-60 on a Stefano Osuji lay-up with 5:19 remaining as the visitors kept UDC without a field goal for over 10 minutes. That would be the first of six late lead swaps, with one tie thrown in – 67-67 after a traditional 3-point play from Traevon Butler (18 points, seven rebounds) with 39 seconds on the clock. After a stop, Jackson (12 points, seven boards) nailed his big three, but there would be even more drama within that final second: namely, a premature celebration that spilled onto the court and prompted a technical foul plus possession for the visitors. Alas, Osuji missed the technical toss and Bridgeport could not get off a final shot in time, losing a chance for a first-round tournament bye. Joseph Nickerson compiled 13 points (5-22 FG), seven rebounds and five steals for the Firebirds, whose starters accounted for all the scoring (each netting at least eight points). Osuji racked up 15 points and 13 caroms for the P-Knights, who outshot (45%-39%) and outrebounded (45-32) their hosts but committed more than twice as many miscues (20-9) and were punished for them (29-10) while also being outscored on the break (18-4). D’vonne Trumbo generated 14 points (6-8 FG) and seven rebounds in defeat for Bridgeport, while Kyle Benjamin finished with 12 and 14, respectively. UDC clains fifth place and will make the long trip to Buffalo to play fourth-seeded Daemen in first-round playoff action on Wednesday. Bridgeport – which hosts the semifinals at Hubbell Gym – is the three seed and welcomes sixth-seeded Queens.
MOLLOY 78 LIU POST 71
Molloy emerges with the #2 seed after outlasting Long Island rival LIU Post at Quealy Gym for its first season sweep since 1998-99. A tight contest with eight ties and 12 lead changes, it took an 18-4 surge for the Lions to break free from a 56-56 tie and jump in front 74-60 with 4:03 to go. Still, the Pioneers didn't fold up their tent, answering with nine straight to creep within 74-69 following a Greg Dotson hoop, albeit with 24 seconds on the clock. Jaylen Morris (19 points, nine rebounds) quelled the momentum with two tosses two seconds later, securing his team’s fourth straight win. Charlie Marquardt exploded for a career-high 34 points, half of which came at the stripe (17-18) as Molloy prevailed despite being soundly outshot (44%-34%) and outrebounded (47-35). The hosts atoned for those shortcomings by feasting at the foul line (27-36 to 13-19) and off turnovers (32-13) while committing just nine miscues to Post’s 20. Jared Hall cranked out 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in his final game for the Pioneers, while Dotson mustered 10 points and eight boards in his swan song. Aary Bibens provided strong support off the bench with 15 points in a losing effort. The Lions will play the winner of Wednesday’s Bridgeport-Queens clash in next Saturday’s semifinals at Bridgeport.
DAEMEN 80 ROBERTS WESLEYAN 71
Daemen earned the fourth spot and final home playoff game after a hard-fough victory against Western New York rival Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester, taking a 12th straight decision in the all-time series, and 19 of the last 20. Deion Hamilton was front and center in this one, ringing up a career-best 26 points (11-13 FG) off the bench in a homecoming game, while fellow local product Supreme Hannah cashed in 23 (4-7 from deep), including a jumper that ignited a 16-5 run and lengthened a 22-19 lead to 38-24. The second half was a rollercoaster ride as the Redhawks began with an 11-2 spell in trimming a 38-26 deficit to 40-37 following a Tristan Brown lay-up. The Wildcats countered with a 17-6 spree – capped by a Hannah 3-ball – in restoring a 57-43 advantage. Roberts reeled off the next 10, closing within 57-53 on a lay-up by Malik Dare (15 points, 7-7 FG off the pine) with 8:12 remaining. Another Dare basket with 2:58 to go brought them within 60-58, but an “And-1” by Hamilton 25 seconds later instigated a 7-1 spurt that made it 73-65, and Daemen sank 9-of-12 from the line over the last 1:11 to hold off the hosts. Arif Mehmetaj chipped in with 10 points for the Cats, who won despite being outshot (53%-44%), outrebounded (43-26), out-assisted (10-8) and outworked in the paint (52-30). They made up for those discrepancies with greater volume from beyond the arc (7-23 to 1-9) and the line (17-24 to 8-18), as well as an 18-4 turnover advantage. Isaiah Lewis (16 points, 7-11 FG), Brown (14 points, 5-7 FG, 12 rebounds in his final game) and Manny Joseph (12 points, eight boards, four assists) made impacts for the Redhawks.
NYIT 89 MERCY 71
The last regional game of the season that bore no consequence saw New York Institute of Technology pull away from Mercy in Valhalla, landing five in double figures including national rebounding leader Jon Feiler, who amassed 20 boards to go along with 17 points and six assists in his final collegiate contest. The Bears bolted out to an 18-8 lead but the Mavericks caught up by halftime (45-45) and were still within 71-66 when Kachi Nzerem (14 points) banged a triple to jump-start an 18-5 dash over the final 5:16, consigning the hosts to a 17th consecutive loss and winless conference slate. Keiran Hamilton drove home 18 points for NYIT, which also placed Jeffrey Hayden (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists) and Henrik Davidssen (12 points in 15 bench minutes, nine rebounds) in double figures. A trio of seniors went out with a bang for Mercy: Will Robinson (22 points, 11 rebounds), Raphael Jennings (21 points, five assists) and Ryan Hickey (20 points in 40 minutes), but their team was outshot (50%-39%), outrebounded (51-31, Feiler being the difference-maker), out-assisted (21-10) and nearly doubled in the paint (47-24). The Mavs stayed close most of the way on the strength of a 19-3 advantage in turnover points. The last regional team to lose every league game was the inaugural Georgian Court team three years ago (0-19).