The ECC and CACC grabbed the spotlight on Wednesday, and there was one notable upset in the mix:
CONCORDIA 60 DOMINICAN 51
Steven Millhaven totaled 16 points and nine rebounds to lead last-place Concordia past regionally-ranked Dominican at the Hennessy Center in a stunning upset. The Clippers – who enjoyed their best defensive effort in over a decade – snapped their hosts’ five-game win streak and threw a monkey wrench into their NCAA at-large hopes with the result. A 20-9 start – capped by a Justyn Gardner basket – set the tone early as the visitors took a 24-18 lead into the break. Dominican – which was spearheaded by Daraja Rodwell’s 16-point, seven-rebound effort (despite shooting a chilly 5-for-19 from the floor) – rattled off the first seven of the second stanza to edge in front 25-24, but the lead was short-lived as Elijah Brown (seven points, eight boards) answered with a 3-pointer to kick off an 8-0 spurt and put Concordia in front to stay, 32-25. The Chargers came as close as 45-42 after a free throw by Ian Gardener (eight points off the bench) with 5:11 to play, but Baron Goodridge (four points off the pine) responded with a jumper on the next possession and Millhaven followed with a lay-up to quell the momentum. The Clippers shot much better from the field (47%-31%) if not the foul line (3-11 compared to DC’s 10-14) and dominated in the paint, 40-18. Dominican remains in second place in the CACC North, a game ahead of Caldwell heading into Rivalry Saturday, closing out the season at Nyack. A win or Caldwell loss clinches second. The 51 points allowed by Concordia are its fewest since a 65-49 win vs. Queens on February 27, 2008.
GOLDEY-BEACOM 78 JEFFERSON 65
Goldey-Beacom held off late-charging Jefferson in Pike Creek for South supremacy, capturing the program’s first-ever divisional title and handing its guests a fourth straight setback. Marcellus Livingston compiled 19 points (3-4 from long range), six rebounds and four assists to pace the Lightning, which bolted out to a 32-13 lead and stretched it to 58-39 with 10:56 left in the second half before the Rams embarked on a 16-4 run, pulling within 62-55 following a Kylan Guerra lay-up with 6:35 remaining. Goldey bent but did not break, however, as Mahir Johnson came through with a jumper and 3-ball on successive possessions to trigger a game-defining 14-3 upswing that effectively put the game out of reach at 76-58 inside of the final three minutes. Johnson finished with 15 points (3-4 from downtown Wilmington) in a reserve role, while Dante Thompson chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds for the winners. Kaison Randolph was high man for Jefferson with 19 points and six boards, followed by Guerra (15 points, seven assists), Alexander Gorton (13 points) and Josh Brandanese (12). The Lightning – which will host Felician in the first round of the CACC Tournament next week – was the superior shooting (53%-40%) and rebounding (35-20) team, faring better in the paint (28-14) and on second chances (13-2). The Rams – who can clinch second place and a home playoff game with a win vs. Holy Family on Saturday or a Goldey-Beacom win at Wilmington – made more treys, albeit with a worse shooting percentage (12-29 to 10-16).
WILMINGTON 86 GEORGIAN COURT 74
A 21-5 second-half surge propelled Wilmington past pesky Georgian Court at the Wellness Center, keeping alive the team’s chances for a second-place finish and first-round home playoff game. The Wildcats were staring at a 66-64 deficit with six-and-a-half minutes to go when Nick Richards (17 points, four steals) scored on a tying lay-up to initiate the big run, and the visitors emerged on the other side with an 85-71 lead after a breakaway slam from Miles Gillette (22 points, 4-8 from deep). Jermaine Head flirted with a triple-double, amassing 28 points (6-10 from beyond the arc), nine rebounds and seven assists for the victors, who outshot the Lions 54%-33% after halftime and did more damage from distance overall (12-26 to 5-22). Caleb Bowser shined brightest for Georgian Court with 25 points, seven rebounds and four helpers, while Nikola Vujovic (15 points, eight boards) and Juwuan Carter (15 points) provided quality support in their team’s sixth straight loss. The Lions won the glass (42-34) and scored twice as often on second chances (20-10) to stay close most of the night. A Wilmington home win vs. Goldey-Beacom on Saturday, coupled with a Holy Family win at Jefferson, would land the Cats a home playoff game. Otherwise they will finish third.
CALDWELL 83 POST 51
Derek Dorn churned out 25 points (10-16 FG, 3-4 from 3) and dished out five assists in guiding Caldwell past Post in Waterbury for its fourth straight triumph. The Cougars trailed just once on the evening (2-0) before grabbing a 21-9 advantage en route to a 43-34 halftime lead. The Eagles closed within 49-46 on a Tyler Desrosiers triple with 14:50 on the clock, but then went into the deep freeze, scoring only one more hoop the rest of the way (another Desrosiers three at the 12:12 mark) as Caldwell ended the game on a 34-5 blitz and held its hosts to 17% shooting after intermission. Ruud Lutterman (eight rebounds) and Manny Dorme (5-6 FG) each netted 11 points for the winners, who also landed A.J. Kittles (10 points, seven boards) in double figures. Desrosiers – who was the only Post player to score over the last 16 minutes – registered 18 points despite 6-of-20 shooting (4-of-14 from long range). The Eagles also placed Daniel Cabassa in twin figures with 11 off the bench. Caldwell shot the rock at a much higher clip (51%-32%), including from beyond the arc (8-20 to 6-31) while dominating the backboards (48-28) and scoring more often on second chances (18-7). A home win over Bloomfield and a Dominican loss at Nyack would give the Cougars second in the North. Otherwise, they will finish third.
BLOOMFIELD 89 FELICIAN 81
The first and fourth-place teams in both divisions are locked in, a week before the CACC Tournament gets underway. North Division champion Bloomfield won another close one on the road, outlasting Garden State rival and fourth-place Felician at Job Gym. Safee Abdus-Sabur recorded 23 points and five assists for the Bears, who also received 16 points apiece from Keith Washington (eight assists) and Kavione Green (6-8 FG off the bench). A tight game most of the way (10 ties, 10 lead changes), it was deadlocked at 73-73 when Nick Davidson (12 points, 10 caroms) came through with a put-back at the 5:19 juncture to spark a 7-0 spurt and put Bloomfield ahead to stay, 80-73 with 3:26 to play, never allowing its hosts within a single possession thereafter. Gjaimeir Stanford (seven assists), Terrell Spaulding and Zamir Wright led a balanced Golden Falcons attack with 17 points apiece, while Jordan Compas (15 points, 6-8 FG, 3-3 from 3) and Rahsaan Williams (12 points, 14 boards in a reserve role) also made impacts in a losing cause. The key stats were extremely close in this one, including shooting (FU 44%, BC 43%) and rebounding (42-42), with the major difference being the Bears’ 21-10 upper hand in points off turnovers. Bloomfield will host USciences for a second straight season in the league tournament, while Felician will travel to Goldey-Beacom.
QUEENS 86 MERCY 76
The quest for the sixth and final playoff spot in the ECC is now a two-dog race after Queens eliminated Mercy in Nyack, leading from wire to wire thanks largely to a stellar effort by Tyrone Hall, who accumulated 22 points (6-9 FG, 4-7 from distance) and six rebounds. The Knights used a 9-0 streak in extending a 54-47 lead to 63-47 with 11:36 left, then fended off the Mavericks, who twice battled back within five before succumbing; the last time at 69-64 on a Bryan Griffin lay-up with 5:48 remaining. Queens – which received key contributions from Simon Green (16 points), Kevin Buron (11 points, 3-5 from afar, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots off the bench) and Tyrese Crosdale (11 points in a reserve role, all in the first half) – went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line over the final 1:48 to keep the Mavs at arm’s length. Mercy landed six in double figures, accounting for all but two of their points: Marko Kozul (18 points), Kelvin Howard (12 points, 4-7 from deep, eight rebounds), Sal Barbetto (12 points), Daquawne Richards (11 points, six boards off the bench), Griffin (11 points off the pine, 5-7 FG) and Chris Myers (10 points, 10 assists off the bench). The Knights – who outshot Mercy 48%-36% - can clinch a playoff berth with a home win over Bridgeport or Molloy loss at Mercy.
BRIDGEPORT 83 MOLLOY 73
Molloy is still on the outside looking in after losing to #17 Bridgeport at Hubbell Gym for the 23rd time in as many regular-season meetings (they won a playoff game there last March). The Purple Knights used a 21-8 flourish at the end of the first half to open up a 41-21 chasm, then picked up where they left off when play resumed, orchestrating an 18-4 burst (39-12 overall run) in stretching the lead to 59-25. The Lions roared back, however, outscoring their hosts 30-8 to claw back within 67-55 following a Josh Dennis lay-up with 5:11 to go. They whittled the deficit down to 80-73 on a Dennis tip-in with 31 seconds on the clock, but it was too little, too late for Molloy as the P-Knights knocked down three of four foul shots to close out the scoring, cementing their school-record 14th straight triumph. Sharif Cobb dropped a dozen for Bridgeport, which also received 10 points and 12 rebounds from Bakary Camara and nine points from five other players, including Sam Joseph, who just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Nick Corbett remained red-hot for Molloy with 27 points (25 in the last 20 minutes). He was flanked by Steve Torre (13 points, 3-4 from beyond the arc) and Dennis (10 points, nine caroms). The Lions were the more accurate shooters (43%-39%) and were more efficient from the 3-point line (7-13 to 11-30) but were bettered on the boards (51-41, including 21-11 on the offensive glass, resulting in a 28-12 second-chance bounty) and outscored 27-15 off turnovers as there were an unsightly 47 miscues in the game (26 by MC). Molloy must win at Mercy and hope Bridgeport prevails at Queens to qualify for the postseason.
HOLY FAMILY 75 CHESTNUT HILL 69
Maliq Sanders cashed in 22 points and seven rebounds, while Sean Griffin provided 19 and seven, respectively, off the bench (9-10 FG) in carrying Holy Family past crosstown rival Chestnut Hill in Northeast Philadelphia. The Tigers – who had trailed by as many as 10 points in the opening period and 54-46 early in the second – seized control with an 18-3 charge, highlighted by Sanders’ tying trifecta and go-ahead dunk. The hosts led 64-54 after the run, but the Griffins made a late push, drawing within three twice down the stretch; the last instance at 70-67 on a lay-up by Liban Awl (15 points, six rebounds off the bench) with 2:22 to play. They would get no closer, though, as Mekhi Bryant (11 points, five assists) splashed his third triple in five tries with 1:53 left, essentially slamming the door. Terrell Jones pumped in 12 points for Holy Family, which won despite being slightly outshot (47%-44%), outrebounded (38-35) and out-assisted (21-18). The Tigers prevailed by punishing their guests 26-9 off turnovers. Both teams mirrored each other with 9-for-18 outings at the stripe.
THE RANKINGS
Not much movement in the latest rankings from the East Regional Committee. The Top 10 is based on results through last weekend’s games, with last week’s ranking in parentheses:
- Le Moyne (1)
- Bridgeport (2)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (3)
- Saint Rose (4)
- Bloomfield (5)
- St. Anselm (6)
- Dominican (7)
- Daemen (9)
- Merrimack (10)
- New Haven (NR)
Dropped out: Stonehill (8)