The two highest-ranked teams in the region squared off in a Top 25 showdown last night in Connecticut, and it lived up to the billing:
BRIDGEPORT 67 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 63
Bakary Camara’s two free throws with 3:53 to play gave #16 Bridgeport the lead for good, and his second-chance 3-pointer to beat the shot clock with 1:51 left proved the crucial play in a hard-fought, pulsating victory over #12 St. Thomas Aquinas as Hubbell Gym. The Purple Knights’ second victory in five weeks over their archrivals (by a total of six points) clinched the ECC’s regular-season title and the top seed in the upcoming tournament. It didn’t come easily, however, as the Spartans carved out a 17-8 lead and tallied the last five of the half to take a 33-28 advantage into the locker room. There was only one spread of more than two possessions in the final period (51-44 Aquinas), but the hosts promptly erased that with eight unanswered, edging in front, 52-51, on a Camara bucket with 9:23 remaining. The battle between the top two teams in the official Regional Rankings was a tug-of-war down the stretch, with the lead changing hands four times and neither side able to forge more than a four-point separation over the final 11:05. Demetre Roberts netted five of his 11 points in succession to hand the Spartans their last lead – 58-57 – with 4:51 to go before Camara came through at the stripe, then with a lay-up at the 3:28 mark, but it was his dagger three from the left wing off a teamate's airball 3-point try that was the game's signature moment, making it 66-62. STAC had its chances in the final seconds, but Grant Singleton (14 points, four assists) split a pair at the line and Roberts misfired on the front end of a one-and-one with 32 seconds on the clock, setting up Jayden Iturmendi’s clinching foul shot with 7.3 seconds showing. Camara finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for the winners, who also received 14 points from Travis Robinson-Morgan, 12 points and seven boards by Iturmendi and 11 points from Hashem Abbas. Sekou Cisse (eight rebounds, four assists) and Osbel Caraballo (six caroms) both chipped in with 11 points for the Spartans, who were the better shooters (44%-38%), rebounders (39-38) and assisters (17-11) but allowed more threes (8-30 to 5-17) and freebies (13-18 to 8-14). Aquinas leads Daemen by a half-game for the second-place bye in the first round of the playoffs.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 72 QUEENS 55
Ten of 11 players scored, led by Zachary Olukanni’s 18-point effort (9-15 FG), as District of Columbia shook off a four-game slide with a victory over Queens in Washington, clinching a playoff spot in the process. Aaren Smith compiled 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 from long range), 10 rebounds and five assists for the Firebirds, who used a 17-6 run in transforming an 11-8 deficit into a 25-17 lead they would not relinquish. A 9-0 upswing out of intermission extended a 36-27 lead to 45-27, and the margin bounced between 13 and 20 the balance of the ballgame. Shomari Redd and Kevin Buron each logged 11 points for the Knights, who have completed their regular-season slate and are awaiting a playoff invite, which would be forthcoming if idle New York Tech splits or loses both its home games this weekend vs. Roberts Wesleyan and Daemen. UDC - which will end up fifth or sixth - was the more accurate shooting club (50%-32%), especially from beyond the arc (7-13 to 4-19), while dishing out more than twice as many assists (24-11). Both teams struggled at the stripe (UDC 7-14, QC 11-20). The Firebirds will finish fifth or sixth and be on the road for the first round of the playoffs.
GEORGIAN COURT 76 WILMINGTON 71
Congratulations to Georgian Court, which earned its first-ever CACC playoff berth after holding off Wilmington at the Wellness Center to snap a five-game losing streak. Davon Floyd led five in double figures with 21 points and nine rebounds in just his second start for the Lions, who also received noteworthy outings from Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor (14 points, 4-7 from 3, seven rebounds), Kim Speller (13 points, 5-7 FG, eight boards), Matt Ringel (12, 6) and Jelani Jackson (11 bench points). In a game that featured eight ties and 12 lead changes, the hosts seized control with a 7-2 spurt, parlaying a 63-62 deficit into a 69-65 upper hand after a Ringel lay-up with 4:58 to play. Jermaine Head – who totaled 19 points and five assists while eclipsing Tyaire Ponzo-Meek’s program-record of 1,808 points – converted an “And-1” with 3:42 left that brought the Wildcats within one (69-68), but Speller answered with a lay-up and two free throws to restore a 73-68 lead at the 1:34 mark. A Danny Walsh trifecta slashed the deficit to 74-71 with 23 ticks remaining, but Bryce Council (five points, nine assists) capped the scoring with two foul shots four seconds later. Walsh garnered 23 points (9-15 FG, 5-7 from long distance) in 40 minutes for the Cats, who also benefited from Kameron Cooper’s 14 points off the pine. The Lions – who dominated the glass (45-27) and shot better from downtown Lakewood (9-16 to 13-36) – have been in existence for seven years and had never won more than five games until this season. They can finish as high as third with a win vs. Felician, coupled with a Wilmington loss to Goldey-Beacom and either a Holy Family win at Jefferson or Chestnut Hill loss to University of the Sciences. Got all that?
NYACK 72 BLOOMFIELD 70
The race for the last CACC playoff spot involves three teams vying for two spots in the North. In New Jersey, Joel Bailey produced 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, delivering the winning free throws with one second on the clock as Nyack slipped past Bloomfield for its second straight 2-point win. The Warriors – who have now halted a streak of 14 straight losing seasons – sit in fifth place, a game behind both the Bears and Felician. A 26-10 spell flipped an early 17-16 deficit and put the visitors on top 42-27 after a Bailey trey with 2:49 to go. The margin expanded to 48-33 after the sophomore guard lad one in to open the second half, but Bloomfield embarked on a 15-2 jaunt to pull within 50-48 after a pair of Isaiah Sparks freebies six minutes in. Bailey countered with a lay-up 13 seconds later, sparking a 13-4 rush that boosted the margin to 63-52 at 9:36, but the Bears used virtually the rest of regulation to mount an 18-7 counter-run, drawing even at 70-70 on an inside hoop by Safee Abdus-Sabur (18 points, eight rebounds, four helpers) with 33 seconds showing. Both teams turned it over in the waning seconds, leading to Bailey’s deciding tosses. Reserve guards Curtis Thompson (14 points) and Luis Escobar (11) also paid dividends for the victors; the latter shooting 3-for-4 from deep. Darin Bellinger was also formidable from beyond the arc (4-of-6 as part of a 16-point night), while Sparks (14 points, seven rebounds) and Rich Chapman (10 points in nine bench minutes) also pitched in for the Bears, who can finish third, fourth or fifth in the North (third with the combination of a home win over Caldwell and Felician loss at Georgian Court). Nyack – which last finished with a winning record in 2005 (20-13) – can crash the playoff party with a victory at Dominican, coupled with a Felician defeat at Georgian Court. Third, fourth and fifth are the potential landing spots.
FELICIAN 104 CALDWELL 91
Speaking of Felician, that surging squad improved to 6-1 this February and currently holds down third place after outscoring – and eliminating – Garden State rival Caldwell at Job Gym. All 10 Golden Falcons who saw action scored, and all five starters did so in double digits, piloted by Jeff Lewis’ 25 points and 12 rebounds as the senior forward connected on 9-of-12 shots, including 7-of-10 from downtown Rutherford (one 3-ball shy of a program record). Rachid Shimou (18 points, 5-8 from 3), Dee-End McRae (17 points, 7-8 FG, five assists), Jaylen Colon (13 points, 3-5 from afar, career high-tying 12 assists) and Jay’von Jackson (12 points, seven rebounds) also joined the party for Felician, which can lock down third with a win Saturday at Georgian Court, but could also finish fourth with a loss, Bloomfield win vs. Caldwell and Nyack defeat at Dominican. The Golden Falcons could also miss the playoffs altogether with a loss, coupled with wins by Bloomfield and Nyack. Back to last night’s action, Felician never trailed and used a 14-4 flourish over the final four minutes of the half to claim a 48-36 advantage. The margin grew to 76-55 on a Shimou bomb nearly eight minutes into the second half and was still 81-61 at the midway mark when the Cougars uttered their last gasp, rattling off 13 unanswered to draw within 81-74 on a triple from Gabe Johnson (eight points off the bench) with 7:52 to play. They would get no closer, however, as Colon drained back-to-back threes to kickstart an 8-0 run that made it 89-74 with 4:52 left; the margin never dipping below 11 thereafter. Vaugh Covington turned in a 23-point performance in his return to the Caldwell lineup, as the visitors also saw Ruud Lutterman record 22 points (9-15 FG) and eight rebounds, while Anthony Cooper garnered 14 points (9-11 FT). None of it was enough to prevent a seventh straight setback, though, as the Golden Falcons shot a program-record 63.3% from the floor (73% after the break) and matched a team standard with 17 threes in just 31 attempts (by contrast, CU was a respectable 46% overall and 8-of-23 from distance), offsetting the Cougars’ advantage at the foul line (25-31 to 11-14). Both teams distributed the ball well (FU 33/14 assist-turnover ratio, 14/6 for CU). Felician’s previous best shooting performance had been 62.7% at Johnson C. Smith (NC) on November 19, 2016 (32-for-52).
CHESTNUT HILL 87 HOLY FAMILY 81
Chestnut Hill pulled out an inspired victory over crosstown foe Holy Family in Northeast Philly, arresting a six-game slide and staying alive in the playoff hunt, although it proved a temporary stay of execution as Georgian Court’s win later on eliminiated both the Griffins, as well as their hosts, from postseason contention. Nevertheless, it was a sterling effort for The Hill, which was fueled by rookie guard Ahmad Bickley, who erupted for a personal-best 30 points (8-24 FG, 4-5 from long range, 10-11 FT), with support from Keyon Butler (15 points, 5-7 FG, eight rebounds), Amir Warrick (13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists off the bench) and Scottie Spann, Jr. (11 points, six boards in reserve duty). It was an uphill climb for the Griffins most of the night as they never led in the opening frame, trailing by as much as 44-35. A Bickley bucket just over four minutes into the second set in motion an 11-0 burst that put the visitors on top for good at 55-50, and the lead hovered between two and eight over the last 9:49 as the Griffins kept their hosts at arm’s length with perfect 8-of-8 foul shooting over the final 37 seconds. Devon Moore and Branden Aughburns each poured in 29 points for the Tigers, with the latter snatching a career-high 19 rebounds – the most in team history since Justin Swidowski hauled in 20 on December 30, 2009 vs. Assumption (Jim Gamble holds the HFU record during the NCAA era with 24 vs. Wilmington on January 30, 2003). Holy Family was noisier from beyond the arc (11-35 to 6-19), but Chestnut Hill did more damage at the line (25-35 to 8-14).
JEFFERSON 90 GOLDEY-BEACOM 68
Both divisional leaders took care of business, with South champion Jefferson dismantling second-place Goldey-Beacom at the Jones Center for its region-best 18th straight triumph. No Mallory? No problem as the #8 Rams received standout performances from Deondre Bourne (29 points, 9-14 FG, 7-11 from 3), Kylan Guerra (22 points in 40 minutes, 5-6 from long distance), Ja’zere Noel (19 points in his second career start) and Josh Bradanese (nine points, career-high 20 rebounds, five assists). After spotting its hosts a 2-0 lead, Jefferson bolted out to a 40-16 advantage and never looked back, maintaining a minimum 12-point separation over the final 20 minutes and putting the game away with a 21-5 spree – bookended by Bradanese baskets – that opened up an 82-54 chasm with 7:54 left. Tyler Jones was high man for the Lightning with 21 points (4-8 from downtown Wilmington), six rebounds and four assists, followed by Nazim Derry (14 points), Jordan Money (13 off the bench) and Juran Ligonde (10 points, six boards). The Rams were the superior shooting team (53%-38%), especially from 3-point territory (16-31 to 10-30), while both teams ahot a mirorr-image 12-for-15 from the line.
DOMINICAN 85 CONCORDIA 76
It took a while to get it done, but Dominican did avenge its worst loss of the season, pulling away from pesky Concordia in Orangeburg as all 10 ofthe game's starters finished in double figures. The Chargers fell into a 15-5 hole early and were down 30-29 at the break before the lead changed hands nine times over the first eight-and-a-half minutes of the second stanza. D.J. Rodwell – who commandeered the Chargers’ attack with 23 points – put his team ahead for keeps (52-51) with a lay-up and then two foul shots, triggering a key 19-4 run that made it 69-55 with 5:13 remaining as the Clippers came no closer than the nine-point final down the stretch, falling for a fourth straight time. Tedrick Wilcox (14 points), Jason Copman (13 points, 14 rebounds), Jonathan Garcia (11, 6) and Jalen Burgess (10 points) provided ample support for Dominican, which shot it better from behind the 3-point line (9-22 to 6-17) and outworked its guests at the stripe (16-24 to 6-10). Dion Herrington registered 18 points for Concordia, which also landed Devon Sims (15 points, seven caroms), Jared Young (15, 6), Jesse Breeding (15, 10) and Alex White, Jr. (12 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots) in twin figures.