The NE10 semifinals are in the books, while the ECC opened up its tourney play on Wednesday. Let’s begin the recap with an overtime thriller in Central New York:
MERRIMACK 84 Le MOYNE 77 (OT)
Juvaris Hayes flirted with a triple-double, collecting 28 points (10-16 FG, 2-2 from long range), nine rebounds and nine assists, while Ryan Boulter chimed in with 22 points, including the go-ahead 3-point play in overtime as Merrimack downed defending NE10 and regional champ Le Moyne in Syracuse to reach its first NE10 Tourney title games in 19 seasons. The Warriors – who also landed Idris Joyner and Khalief Crawford in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively – only trailed for a total of 15 seconds in regulation (at 25-24), jumping out to a 17-7 lead and holding a 69-60 advantage when the Dolphins outscored them 10-1 over the final 2:30 of regulation. Malik Garner (14 bench points, 4-8 from 3) knotted the count with a right-wing 3-pointer at the 13-second mark, and following Joyner’s offensive foul just past midcourt with 2.5 seconds to play, the hosts had a chance to steal the win, but C.J. Asuncion-Byrd’s running 3-pointer was off the mark at the buzzer. The senior guard – who exploded for a career-high 34 points (15-21 FG) and six rebounds in a reserve role – opened the overtime period with a basket that gave Le Moyne its second and last lead at 72-70. It lasted only 10 seconds, however, as Hayes sank the tying free throws with 3:50 left and Boulter converted his “And-1,” sparking an 11-2 spurt that put Merrimack in the driver’s seat at 81-74 with 28 seconds on the clock, snapping the Dolphins’ four-game winning streak while extending its own run to four straight. Kobi Nwandu recorded all 13 of his points in the first half for the Fins, while adding eight rebounds in 45 minutes. Tom Brown totaled 10 points (5-6 FG), seven rebounds and four assists, though it wasn’t enough for Le Moyne, which lost despite being a little better in the shooting (51%-50%) and rebounding (32-28) departments. The Warriors – who advance to their fourth and final NE10 Tournament Championship Game, and first since beating American International in 2000 – feasted at the foul line (21-29 to 9-11) and benefited from a 5-0 turnover advantage in the extra session. This was the third encounter between the two clubs in as many postseasons, and the second to go beyond regulation (both won by MC). In an odd note, five of Le Moyne’s eight home losses over the past three years have been in overtime, and the overall OT record dips to a staggering 30-59 over the program’s 71-year history. Asuncion-Byrd’s 34 points are the most by a Dolphin since Nate Champion erupted for 35 at Saint Rose on November 23, 2013.
NEW HAVEN 87 SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 66
Merrimack will play for the championship trophy in West Haven on Saturday as fellow two-seed New Haven placed all five starters in double figures and pulled away late from crosstown rival Southern Connecticut, topping the Owls for the third time in as many meetings this winter and ending their season. Roy Kane, Jr. led a balanced Chargers attack with 21 points (7-11 FG, 3-5 from 3) and six rebounds, including a huge three with 5:50 remaining that set in motion a game-ending 26-10 flourish, widening a 61-56 lead to 87-66. Quashawn Lane punctuated the big blitz with a 4-point play en route to an 18-point, eight-rebound, four-assist, three-block outing, as New Haven knocked down 11 straight foul shots over the final 2:17 to cement the result. Kessly Felizor tallied 14 of his 18 points at the foul line in 15 attempts while snatching six boards for the winners, who also received noteworthy efforts from Derrick Rowland (13 points, seven assists) and Elijah Bailey (11 points. 3-5 from beyond the arc). C.J. Seaforth was high man for Southern with 26 points (10-16 FG, 6-12 from 3), while Kealan Ives (12 points, five helpers) and Joey Wallace (10 points, 10 boards) also made impacts in their last collegiate contests. The Chargers were the superior shooting (52%-40%) and rebounding (36-26) team, while also outclassing their guests from the stripe (24-26 to 4-4). This will be New Haven’s second NE10 Championship game, both of which have taken place in the Elm City, as Southern Connecticut defeated New Haven on March 8, 2014 at Moore Field House.
MOLLOY 61 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 60
The two first-round playoff games in the ECC went to the home teams. At Quealy Gym, Nick Corbett garnered 20 points (4-7 from deep) and Mike Torre registered 18 points and nine rebounds, including the go-ahead lay-up with 1:34 to go as Molloy dispatched District of Columbia fr the second time in eight days. Torre drained two huge free throws with four seconds showing, clinching the victory and rendering a Juanye Colon 3-pointer at the final horn a mere footnote. The Lions – who advance to take on second-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas at Bridgeport in the semis on Saturday – enjoyed the biggest spread of the night at 27-17 before the Firebirds narrowed the gap to 37-36 by halftime, then opened the second stanza with a 9-0 run to surge in front 45-37. The hosts answered with a 17-5 upswing – capped by a Corbett free throw with 7:03 to play that made it 54-50. UDC claimed seven of the next nine points to grab their final lead – 57-56 – after a Colon trey at the 4:54 mark. Josh Dennis pitched in with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Lions, who were the better shooters (42%-35%) and rebounders (46-33) but turned it over much more often (21-12), keeping their guests within striking distance. Kevin Cox (12 points, seven rebounds in his final game), Zachary Olukanni (11, 6) and Colon (11 off the bench) were the primary threats for the Firebirds.
BRIDGEPORT 92 ROBERTS WESLEYAN 82
A 25-7 spell spanning the halves was all Bridgeport needed to defeat Roberts Wesleyan for the second time in four days – this time in Connecticut – advancing to the semifinals on its home floor this Saturday. The Purple Knights were staring at a 40-33 deficit before posting the last eight points of the half and continuing the hot streak upon the restart, outscoring their guests 17-7 to open up a 58-47 advantage. The Redhawks slashed the deficit down to four on two occasions, the last time at 67-63, before Bridgeport initiated a 15-5 charge, extending the lead to 82-68 after two Eric Rankin free throws with 3:45 left, cinching the win. Rankin led the way for the P-Knights with 17 points, followed by Hashem Abbas (14 points, 6-9 FG), Bakary Camara (13 points, 11 rebounds), John Middleton (11 points in a reserve role), Jose Pabon-Sanchez (10 points, four steals off the bench) and Dennis Green (10 points off the pine). Fope Okuyiga busted out with a personal-best 27 points (11-19 FG) and seven caroms for the Redhawks, who also benefited from solid final performances by Justin Vaughan (10 points, 8-14 FG, 4-8 from 3) and Peyton McLaurin (10 points, four assists), both of whom were playing their final games. Roberts held edges in shooting (54%-50%) and rebounding (34-31) but turned it over far more often (22-13), resulting in a devastating 25-11 scoring boon for Bridgeport, which will take on top-seeded Daemen on Saturday.
HOW THEY RANK
The last East Regional poll was released Wednesday and is listed below. The numbers in parentheses are last week’s rankings, with this week's list based on results through last Sunday.. The committee will release its NCAA Regional selections and seedings on Sunday night.
- St. Anselm (1)
- Daemen (2)
- Le Moyne (4)
- New Haven (3)
- Merrimack (5)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (6)
- Bentley (8)
- Bloomfield (9)
- Adelphi (7)
- Southern Connecticut (NR)
Dropped Out: Jefferson