America East Basketball News & Notes: NJIT Beats Two Big Dogs

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Up until this point, the NJIT Highlanders were struggling just to stay in contention for a playoff spot in the upcoming America East Basketball postseason tournament. Then last week, the Highlanders went 2-0 at home and beat both Vermont and UMass Lowell. The two victories took place in a span of three days. It also moves NJIT into a tie for seventh place in the league standings. They are tied with Binghamton, a team they have already played this year and lost to back on February 1 by a 75-66 score. The two teams will meet again this coming Saturday at NJIT in what will be a very big game.

The loss by Vermont (19-6, 9-1) was their first in league play in 23 games. The winning streak was the nation’s best conference winning streak. The two-point loss, 63-61 on the road, was highlighted by Tariq Francis. He went for 31 points on 11-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point land. He was also a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Francis was one of only two players in double-figures for the Highlanders (7-15, 3-7). The other was Elijah Buchanan who had 12 points off the bench. NJIT won this game for two reasons. First, they turned 10 Catamounts turnovers into 16 points. Second, they scored more points in the paint than Vermont, 28-20. It also didn’t hurt to win the turnover battle as Vermont turned the ball over 10 times. NJIT did it only four times.

On Saturday vs the River Hawks (16-7, 7-3), the Highlanders used a 16-0 first-half run to put the game away 71-64. Francis was once again the key as he scored 26 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field. He was 10-of-12 from the foul line and 2-of-5 from deep. The game had only two ties and one lead change as NJIT played from in front for most of the afternoon. Points off turnovers was a key stat as NJIT won that battle 14-9.

Meanwhile, the Bryant Bulldogs (16-9, 8-2) took advantage of what was happening in New Jersey by winning both of their games last week. First, on Thursday night, the Bulldogs defeated UNH (13-9, 5-4) by an 85-66 score. Three members of the Bryant starting five were in double figures. Sherif Gross-Bullock with 28 points, Daniel Rivera with 17, and a double-double from Earl Timberlake of 20 and 12, led the way. For Timberlake, the double-double was his tenth of the year which is tied for the conference lead with UAlbany Jonathan Beagle. The Bulldogs’ defense was also a big part of this game as they held UNH to 34.3% shooting from the field (23-of-67) and 25.7% from 3-point land (9-of-35). Clarence Daniels was held to just eight points in 33 minutes.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs made the trip to upstate New York a successful one as they beat the Binghamton Bearcats (11-12, 3-7) 70-69. Down one with 13:10 left in the game, the Bulldogs took the lead on a Rafael Pinzon jumper with 12:47 left and never looked back. The lead grew to nine on a Timberlake jumper with 7:10 to go. It did get a little hairy for Bryant in the last few minutes but they held on for a big road win. The Bulldogs are now in second place all by themselves, a game back of #1 Vermont and a game ahead of third-place UMass Lowell. On Saturday the River Hawks and Bulldogs meet in Smithfield, RI.

In the latest Small Conference Mid-Major Top 25 poll for week 14 of the college basketball season, three teams from America East are in the poll. Vermont is at #9, Bryant is at #12, and UMass Lowell is at #16. In the Mid-Major Top 25 oll, Vermont is at #14, with the River Hawks getting a couple of votes. The NET Ranking for this week has Vermont at #113, UMass Lowell at #144, and Bryant at #150.

It is clear why Tariq Francis is this week’s America East Player and Rookie of the Week. In the Highlanders two wins, Francis shot 50% from the field (18-of-36) and 50% from 3-point land (7-of-14). It is the seventh time this season that Francis has won Rookie of the Week honors. It is the first time this year he has been named Player of the Week.

A couple of things to keep in mind heading into Saturday’s showdown in Smithfield, RI between the River Hawks and Bulldogs. Bryant is #3 in the nation in blocks per game at 6.4 (160 in 25 games). UMass Lowell is 33rd, 4.9 a game (113 in 23 games). Daniel Rivera of Bryant is 7th in the country in blocked shots with 58 blocks in 25 games. Max Brooks is 34th in the country for UMass Lowell in blocked shots with 47 in 23 games. Ayinde Hikim is 41st in the nation in assists with 125 in 23 games. A good match-up is set for Saturday afternoon.

Next week we will be back with more from the America East Conference.