The last big weekend of regular-season action in all three leagues produced some intriguing results that affect conference and divisional races. Let’s start the 18-game recap in the CACC, which concluded interdivisional play with the North dominating the South by 15 full games this winter, including a head-to-head match-up of the red-hot divisional leaders in New Jersey:
BLOOMFIELD 71 JEFFERSON 67
Keith Washington drove home 21 points and Kavione Green ripped down 22 more rebounds for an absurd 79 in his last four games as Bloomfield rallied from a 14-point, second-half deficit to stun Jefferson at the Den, capturing its eighth straight triumph while simultaneously snapping the Rams’ 14-game hot streak. A 9-0 burst out of the halftime break stretched the visitors’ lead to 49-35, and it was still a 60-52 advantage with nine-and-a-half minutes to play when Green connected on a 3-pointer and jump shot (five of his six points on the day) to instigate a 14-2 run, putting the Bears in front, 66-62, with 6:08 left. Jefferson knotted the count at 66-66 on a Devaughn Mallory hoop at the 3:31 mark before Rich Chapman (12 points) converted the go-ahead lay-up with 2:25 remaining. Deondre Bourn (11 points in 40 minutes) was fouled on a three attempt with 20 seconds on the clock but missed each of his free throws (the second regional player to achieve that dubious feat this season after Holy Family’s Patrick Robinson on Opening Night at Merrimack), preserving the hosts’ lead. Washington split a pair six seconds later and Josh Bradanese (10 points, 10 rebounds despite 1-of-10 shooting from long range) followed suit with six ticks to go, keeping it tight at 69-67. Washington then locked it down with two clinching tosses in the final second as Bloomfield fared better from beyond the arc (9-28 to 4-23). Matt Lejeunesse compiled 10 points and 10 boards for the winners, while Mallory (22 points, 12 rebounds in 40 minutes) and Kylan Guerra (12 points, four assists with no break) topped the Rams’ scorecard. Bloomfield remains one win or one Dominican loss away from clinching the North. Jefferson has already won the South.
SCIENCES 83 GOLDEY-BEACOM 82
The battle for second in the CACC South is still a three-way scrum with a week to go after University of the Sciences surprised Goldey-Beacom in Pike Creek, landing five in double figures, led by Tanner Kerr’s 20-point outing (9-10 FG). The Devils never trailed on the day, using a 26-11 swing to turn a 4-4 game into a 30-15 lead en route to a 38-26 halftime divide. The advantage was a seemingly comfortable 82-74 after a Paddy Casey (15 points, 11-12 FT, five assists) foul shot with just 28 seconds showing when the Lightning struck late, forcing turnovers and rattling off six straight points, drawing within 83-82 on a Marcellus Livingston free throw with three seconds to play. The sophomore guard missed a second attempt for the tie but gathered his offensive rebound and eyed a winning shot inside, which was swatted out of bounds by Jordan White (14 points, 6-9 FG, four assists) with 0.2 seconds left, essentially snuffing out the improbable rally as the hosts could not get a tip off in time. Brandon Crawford totaled 16 points, including the 1,000th of his career, as well as 15 rebounds and six assists for USciences, which also landed Brandon Starr in doubles with 13 bench points (4-5 FG). Corey Taite was high man for Goldey with 26 points and four helpers, followed by Mahir Johnson (14 bench points), Troy Stancil (11) and Livingston (11 points, six rebounds). The Devils were the more effective shooters (58%-46%) while doing more damage at the stripe (22-28 to 6-11), offsetting the Lightning’s 3-point advantage (8-28 to 3-12). Goldey-Beacom is a game up on both Holy Family and crosstown rival Wilmington, against whom they wrap up the season at home next Saturday.
HOLY FAMILY 78 GEORGIAN COURT 67
Holy Family remained a game out of a home playoff berth by pulling away from Georgian Court at the Campus Center. Kharon Randolph’s traditional 3-point play sparked a game-defining 25-6 run that lengthened a precarious 47-46 lead to 72-52 with 5:49 remaining. The margin remained in double figures the rest of the way thanks to strong performances by Patrick Robinson (24 pints, 9-15 FG, six rebounds), Vincenzo Dalessandro (17 points), Randolph (13 points, 10-13 FT) and Branden Aughburns (eight points, 13 rebounds). Sean Barksdale turned in a 19-point (7-10 FG, 3-6 from 3), seven-rebound performance for the Lions, who have dropped four straight. Caleb Bowser tossed in 14 points and Kristian Alexander 12 with six boards in reserve duty for Georgian Court, which got to the line less than half as often (14-18 compared to HFU’s 21-37). Both teams were horrendous from long distance (HFU 5-31, GCU 5-26).
WILMINGTON 105 CHESTNUT HILL 93
On the other side of Philadelphia, a record offensive explosion carried Wilmington past Chestnut Hill to stay tied with Holy Family for third, a game behind Goldey-Beacom. The three-headed monster of Thomas Farrior (29 points, 12-23 FG, seven rebounds), Jordan Harding (22, 13) and Jermaine Head (22 points, 7-12 FG, 4-5 from deep, six assists) carried the load for the Wildcats, whose 105-point output established a new program standard. Alvin West (15 bench points, 4-7 from afar) and Danny Walsh (12 points, six caroms, four assists) also joined the scoring party for the Cats, who took control with a 17-6 charge, flipping a 27-24 deficit into a 41-33 lead after a West trifecta with 2:44 to go in the half. A 30-11 barrage in the second period, culminating in Farrior’s “And-1,” expanded 52-47 advantage to 82-58 with 9:35 on the clock before the Griffins used a 22-6 counter-run to creep within single digits at 93-84 following a 3-pointer from Liban Awl (11 points) at the 1:33 mark. They would get no closer, however, as Wilmington went a perfect 12-for-12 at the line over the final 1:24 to secure the spoils, consigning its hosts to a 16th consecutive defeat (15 of which were league tilts). All five starters reached double digits in defeat, led by Ed McWade (21 points, 12 rebounds), Trevonn Pitts (14 points), Dexter Thompson (12 points, four helpers) and Tony Toplyn, Jr. (12 points). Chestnut Hill was a little better in the shooting (49%-48%) and rebounding (40-38) departments while dominating the paint (40-22), however the Wildcats made twice as many triples (14-31 to 7-21) and nearly double the number of free throws (27-34 to 14-17).
DOMINICAN 84 POST 74
The top four North Division clubs emerged victorious on Saturday. In Waterbury, Tavon Ginyard registered 17 of his 22 bench points in the opening half and drilled six of 12 threes to guide Dominican past Post, maintaining its slim hopes for the division crown. Ian Gardener (19 points, 10 rebounds in 40 minutes), DJ Rodwell (12 points) and Daniel Grant (11 points, seven rebounds) also made impacts for the Chargers, who trailed only once (4-3) before seizing the reins at 45-28 on a Ginyard trey. A 16-4 Eagles flurry over the last 3:54 of the half sliced the lead to 49-44, but Dominican responded with a 20-7 tear out of the break to regain momentum at 69-51, again with Ginyard providing the exclamation point from downtown Waterbury at the 10:45 juncture; the margin bouncing between 10 and 20 the balance of the ballgame. Tyshon Rogers topped the Post scorecard with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while D.J. Jarrett (16 points) and Marcus Johnson (10 points, six rebounds) provided quality depth in a losing cause.
CALDWELL 62 NYACK 53
Caldwell remains a game out of second after holding off Nyack for its eighth straight triumph in an eyesore game in front of a packed Bowman Gym. Ahmad Harrison (14 points, nine rebounds) and Ned Ogomesim (14, 11) led a balanced attack for the Cougars, who jumped out to a 19-8 lead before taking a 26-18 advantage into the locker room. The Warriors – who received 12 points from Gemaal Davis and 10 from Joel Bailey in a reserve role – caught up at 34-34, but the visitors reeled off the next eight points, capped by an Ogoemesim hoop with 9:23 to play, to move back on top for keeps; the differential barely budging between five and nine over the last 9:52. Manley Dorme recorded a dozen points for the victors, who also placed A.J. Kittles in twin figures with 10 points and seven rebounds. Both teams were ice cold from long range (CU 1-8, NC 3-22), as well as the free-throw line (CU 11-22, NC 8-18) while also producing wretched assist-turnover lines (CU 5/19, NC 8/15). The Cougars won the rebound war, 46-31.
FELICIAN 83 CONCORDIA 71
Zamir Wright hit for 26 points – landing exactly on 1,000 for his career – in leading Felician past Concordia in Rutherford to remain a game out of third and two out of a home playoff berth with two to play (one against second-place Dominican). Wright mustered 21 of his 26 in the sceond half, including a bomb 63 seconds after intermission that initiated a 7-0 spurt and provided the 10th and final lead change, putting the Golden Falcons on top at 38-32. The Clippers – who were fronted by Mike Demello’s 15 points – were still within striking distance at 45-44 after the senior guard’s jumper with 13:10 left when the hosts embarked on a 12-0 joyride, opening things up at 57-44 on a bucket by Rahsaan Williams (14 points, 6-9 FG, 14 rebounds) with 9:20 remaining. Concordia – which has dropped four in a row – came within single digits at 61-52 inside the seven-minute mark before back-to-back Wright threes launched a game-clinching 12-2 run that made it 73-54 with 5:10 to go. Jaylen Colon (15 points, five assists) and Jay’von Jackson (14 points, 4-5 from beyond the arc, 13 boards) were also impactful for Felician, which made more noise from distance (12-28 to 8-25). Reserves Jared Young (four assists) and Devin Sims (4-4 FG, career-high eight rebounds) each dropped a dozen in defeat for the Clippers, who also received 10 bench points from Baron Goodridge. Felician's 13 wins are its most since a 14-13 campaign in 2010-11.
DAEMEN 87 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 81
ECC leader Daemen returned to the win column Sunday afternoon, holding off upset-minded District of Columbia in the nation’s capital to remain a game in front with two to play. Andrew Sischo paced the balanced Wildcats’ ledger with 17 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Jeff Redband (16 points, 3-5 from downtown Washington), Quinn Lee Yaw (16 points, 7-10 FG, six rebounds, career-best six assists off the bench), Deion Hamilton (12 points) and Breon Harris (11). A 27-12 spell transformed a 10-6 deficit into a 33-22 lead that Daemen never relinquished. The margin widened to 64-46 with 12-and-a-half minutes to play before the Firebirds got off the deck, outscoring their guests 29-14 to creep within a single possession at 78-75 on a Kevin Cox triple with 3:42 on the clock. Redband stanched the bleeding with a 3-ball 31 seconds later and the #13 Cats sank six of eight at the line over the last 54 seconds to salt it away, making a killing at the stripe (26-29 to 7-13) to fuel their win. Kerry Kirkwood chalked up 21 points on 7-of-12 long-range shooting while dishing out four assists for UDC. He was flanked by Cox (15 points), Danny Shand (13 points, five helpers in a reserve role), Zachary Olukanni (10 points) and Juanye Colon (10 off the pine). Daemen was the better rebounding club (45-32), helping offset a near-fatal 19-8 turnover disparity. The Firebirds slip into a tie with idle Queens for the sixth and final playoff spot.
MERCY 90 LIU POST 66
Mercy is still lurking a game in back of that pair for a playoff shot after upending LIU Post at the Pratt Center to complete its first sweep of the season series since the 1991-92 campaign. Bryan Griffin amassed career highs of 33 points (14-22 FG) and 23 rebounds – the latter number matching a program record – while Sal Barbetto generated 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 from 30 and nine assists) as the Mavericks used an 18-4 surge to flip a 13-10 deficit into a 28-17 lead after two Griffin freebies with 9:08 left. The gap was 51-39 over six minutes into the second stanza when a Barbetto jumper commenced a 19-8 run that put the game out of reach at 70-47; the differential eventually peaking at 82-52 before all was said and done. Lamont Williams offered a personal-best 18 points and four assists in reserve duty for the Mavs, who were the superior shooters (54%-31%), including from downtown Brookville (11-25 to 8-36). Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor (30 points, 10-11 FT, nine rebounds), Kendell Ogilvie (10 points, career-high 13 boards) and Liam Kunkel (10 bench points) were the top options for the gutted Pioneers, who have dropped all 24 games this miserable final season. Both teams were nearly perfect from the line (MC 19-20, LIUP 12-13) and boasted strong assist-turnover lines (MC 21/15, LIUP 15/9).
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 90 ROBERTS WESLEYAN 64
Osbel Caraballo (7-9 FG, 2-2 from deep) and Louis Griffith (6-8 FG, 4-6 from afar) each netted 18 points (the latter in just nine bench minutes) in piloting St. Thomas Aquinas past Roberts Wesleyan in Sparkill Sunday, avenging a road loss last month. A Griffith lay-up triggered a 23-5 uprising that beefed up an 18-16 lead to 41-21 and the Spartans were off and rolling, maintaining a minimum 19-point second-half advantage as the gap maxed out at 82-50 with 5:42 remaining. Kameron Murrell pitched in with 13 points for STAC, which won its fifth straight and tied idle Molloy for second, a game behind Daemen atop the ECC table. Justin Vaughan was the lone bright spot for the fifth-place Redhawks with 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-8 from beyond the arc). Both teams shot it well (STAC 54%, RWC 47%), especially from 3-point land (STAC 12-21, RWC 11-22), but Aquinas held massive advantages on the glass (38-20, including 14-4 on the offensive end, leading to a 17-3 mandate on second chances) and at the free-throw line (16-23 to 5-6).
BRIDGEPORT 103 NYIT 84
Eric Rankin notched a career-high 27 points and Bakary Camara sported a 19-point (9-9 FT), 10-rebound double-double, guiding Bridgeport past New York Institute of Technology at Recreation Hall to stabilize fourth place. All 11 Purple Knights who saw action landed in the score column, including Hashem Abbas (17 points on 8-of-12 shooting) and Vakas Iqbal (10 points, eight boards) as the visitors used a 14-0 run to take command early at 18-6. A 23-10 spree out of the halftime break – capped by a Rankin lay-up – stretched a 53-40 lead to 76-49, and the chasm crested at 82-53 on an Abbas lay-in just past the midway mark as Bridgeport spoiled the debut of NYIT interim head coach Evan Conti. Marcus Saint-Furcy garnered 21 points and Kieran Hamilton 20 (5-10 from 3) for the Bears, who have dropped 10 in a row. Backups Brandon Redendo (13 points, four assists) and Opong Bramble (12 points, six caroms) also reached twin figures for the hosts, who made more 3-pointers (12-34 to 7-24) and snatched one more rebound (45-44) but were outclassed at the free-throw line (22-29 to 16-28), in the paint (48-22) and off turnovers (29-11). The game was marred by 53 fouls and 44 miscues.
Le MOYNE 71 SAINT ROSE 57
The NE10’s Southwest Division race is once again a three-way deadlock with one game left. In Syracuse, Tom Brown cranked out 19 points (8-13 FG) and nine rebounds, while Kobi Nwandu logged 15 and six, respectively, powering Le Moyne past Upstate New York rival Saint Rose, never trailing on the afternoon in posting leads of 24-10 and 58-36 on a Brown lay-up with 9:30 to go. C.J. Asuncion-Byrd (13 points) and Tim Leavell (10 off the bench, 4-5 FG) also played well for the Dolphins, who were the superior shooters (44%-33%). Sekou Sylla finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Golden Knights, who also placed Matt Cerutti (12 points) and Tyler Washington (10, all in the second half) in double figures. Le Moyne wraps up its regular season at New Haven on Tuesday, with the winner taking the division crown.
NEW HAVEN 79 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 65
New Haven is part of that three-way scrum with Le Moyne and idle Adelphi after taking down I-91 rival American International at Butova Gym for its fourth straight victory. All five starters scored in double digits for the Chargers, with Elijah Bailey’s 23 points topping the ledger. The visitors trailed on just one occasion (7-6) and used an 8-0 spurt upon the restart to jump in front 44-33. The advantage peaked at 65-49 after a put-back by Kessly Felizor (18 points, 6-7 FG, eight rebounds) with 7:53 on the clock before the Yellow Jackets made things interesting by setting in motion a 16-6 run, closing within 71-65 after a 3-pointer and jumper by Isaiah Salter (17 points) with 4:27 still showing. AIC missed two chances to inch closer before a Bailey lay-up touched off a game-ending 8-0 flourish; the Jackets misfiring on their last seven shots over the final stretch. Roy Kane, Jr. (13 points, 4-5 FG, seven rebounds), Derrick Rowland (12 points, four assists) and Quashawn Lane (11 points on perfect shooting: 3-3, 1-1, 4-4, plus four helpers) were all instrumental pieces for New Haven, which outshot AIC 55%-43% and made all 17 of its foul shots (AIC was 9-15). Zekiah Owens produced 19 points and seven rebounds in a reserve role for the Yellow Jackets, who also received 10 points and four assists from Adonis Wiliams. Both teams finished with four more assists than turnovers (UNH 12/8, AIC 13/9).
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 77 PACE 61
Isaiah McLeod cashed in 27 points (10-16 FG) and CJ Seaforth chimed in with 16 points (4-8 from distance) and career-high eight rebounds as Southern Connecticut tripped up Pace in New Haven to lock down fourth place and a first-round home playoff game. A 29-9 blitz to start the second half defined this contest as the Owls extended a 36-32 lead to 65-41 following a McLeod lay-up with 10:19 to play. The spread peaked at 70-45 on a Seaforth trey with 7:24 left and never dipped below the 16-point final as Joey Wallace contributed 10 points to Southern’s cause. Austin Gilbertson (16 points) and Brandon Jacobs (13 points, four assists) were the top options for the Setters, who were outshot (57%-44%) and outrebounded (36-21). Pace – which forced 22 turnovers to little avail – is locked into the fifth spot and will play a first-round road playoff on Friday against the loser of tomorrow’s Franklin Pierce-Bentley game. Southern will host either Stonehill or Southern New Hampshire.
ASSUMPTION 59 STONEHILL 53
Stonehill and Southern New Hampshire remain in a tug-of-war for the NE10’s final playoff berth with one game to go, and the former holding the tiebreaker. At Laska Gym, Matthew Kelly tallied 16 points in 40 minutes and Nick Pasquale chipped in with 14 points (6-7 FG) and six rebounds as Assumption upset fellow Massachusetts rival Stonehill to halt an eight-game slide. A 21-6 upswing over the majority of the second half transformed a 38-34 deficit into a 55-44 upper hand for the Greyhounds with 3:44 remaining. The Skyhawks – who were represented in the score column by Owen Chose (14 points), Will Moreton (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Brandon Twitty (13 points in a reserve role) – used a 9-2 flurry, punctuated by a Chose trifecta, to close within 57-53 with 40 ticks to go and had a chance to get even closer after forcing a turnover, but Moreton came up empty on two foul shots. Kelly capped the scoring with two of his own as the Hounds made more hay at the stripe (15-17 to 8-11) and were the lesser of two evils from the floor (38%-31%). Assumption dominated the glass (45-34) and the paint (34-16) while Stonehill fared better from downtown Worcester (7-26 to 2-20). A Skyhawks home win vs. St. Anselm or Assumption victory at Southern New Hampshire punches Stonehill’s postseason ticket and a road date with Southern Connecticut.
FRANKLIN PIERCE 80 SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE 69
Falu Seck exploded for 27 points (10-14 FG, 4-5 from deep), six rebounds and six assists off the bench to carry Franklin Pierce past Granite State rival Southern New Hampshire in Rindge and snap a six-game dry spell in the series. An 8-0 jaunt over the last 2:03 of the half afforded the Ravens a 37-27 advantage, and the lead grew to 58-40 following a 3-point play by Sam Van Oostrum (10 points, career-best nine assists in a reserve role) near the midway mark of the second period. It was still a 69-53 divide inside of the five-minute mark when the Penmen sprung to life with an 11-2 push, drawing within 71-64 on a Daquaise Andrews lay-up with 2:35 still on the clock. That would be as close as the visitors would get, however, as Jeremy Arthur (11 points) threw down a dunk to set off a 9-1 run that ended all doubt at 80-65 with 70 seconds to play. Lola Lolami-Charles and Sean Fasoyiro (5-7 FG off the pine) each supplied 10 points for Pierce, which shot at a higher clip from long distance (9-22 to 3-18) and procured the vastly superior assist-turnover ratio (25/11 to 5-20), offsetting disparities on the backboards (42-30) and in the foul department (21-10). Andrews delivered 31 points (despite 1-of-10 shooting beyond the arc) and four assists for SNHU, which also received personal bests of 14 points and 10 boards from reserve rookie Justyn Lacy. Franklin Pierce wraps up its regular season at Bentley on Tuesday with the winner earning the third-place bye and the loser hosting Pace in next Friday’s playoff opener.
MERRIMACK 65 BENTLEY 54
Bentley lost for the eighth time in 12 outings after a 14-1 start, falling to intrastate rival Merrimack at the Volpe Center in a hotly-contested game that featured 18 ties, 20 lead changes and only one three-possession difference on the scoreboard until the final 90 seconds. The Warriors – who were spearheaded by Ryan Boulter’s 19 points (5-10 from downtown Andover) – were staring at a 49-46 deficit with less than six minutes left before ripping off a 16-1, game-defining run that put them in control at 62-51 with 29 ticks remaining. Juvaris Hayes once again stuffed the stat sheet, racking up 17 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals (his 110 thefts lead the nation) for Merrimack, which was slightly outshot (39%-38%) and outboarded (39-33, leading to a 12-4 disparity in second-chance scoring) but made up for those deficiencies at the line (15-19 to 8-12) and in the assist-turnover realm (14/8 to 8/18), resulting in a sizeable 25-13 edge in mistake points. Colton Lawrence collected 21 points (5-10 from 3) and seven rebounds for the Falcons, who also placed Chris Hudson in doubles with 14 and seven, respectively. The Warriors are locked into second place and will host either Adelphi, New Haven or Le Moyne in the playoffs.
ST. ANSELM 93 ST. MICHAEL’S 61
A 31-6 blitz over the last 7:51 carried #20 St. Anselm past St. Michael’s in Manchester for its fourth straight triumph. The Hawks – who trailed 16-11 at the outset – used a 27-9 outburst to push in front, 38-25, following a Danny Evans lay-up with 3:50 to go in the half. The Purple Knights – who were paced by Derek Cheatom’s 17 points and four assists – were hanging around at 62-55 when St. A’s ran away and hid, kicking off the late assault with a slam by Gustav Suhr-Jessen (15 points, 5-7 FG, 3-4 from 3, 10 rebounds). Backup freshman guard Miles Tention was pressed into heavy minutes for the Northeast Division champs, accumulating 18 of his personal-best 23 points in the first half while displaying a near-perfect shooting touch (6-7 FG, 5-6 from long range, 6-6 FT). Tim Guers gathered 20 points (4-7 from distance) and five assists for the winners, who also placed Chris Paul (13 points) and Evans (12 points, six assists) in double figures. Jordan Guzman (15 points, six rebounds, four assists) and Eli DiGrande (10 points) rounded out St. Mike’s top scoring options, though their team was outclassed from the floor (59%-40%), from 3-point land (14-24 to 4-20) and at the line (13-15 to 5-6). The game was practically devoid of whistles as there were only 19 fouls called – just six on St. Anselm.