Men's Basketball Weekly Honors - Feb. 9
Rob Washburn
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY REPORT - FEB. 9 (PDF format)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Ron Curry • James Madison
Jr., G, 6-4, 190 - Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI
Curry averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in JMU’s two games last week. The junior guard scored a career-high 27 points in a 63-61 victory at Towson, including a game-winning 18-footer at the buzzer. He also contributed a team-best 21 points, six rebounds and four assists versus UNCW. For the week, Curry was 7-of-13 from 3-point range and 17-of-21 at the free throw line. He’s scored 15 or more points in six straight games and has reached double figures in 11 consecutive contests.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Sammy Mojica • Drexel
Fr., G, 6-3, 175 - Chelsea, Mass./Brimmer & May School
Mojica averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds off the bench to help Drexel win a pair of road games last week. The freshman guard tallied 14 points in a 67-63 triumph at Elon and had seven points and six rebounds in a 59-45 victory at CofC. For the week he shot 44% from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. He’s averaging 11.6 ppg over his past five contests.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Joey McLean • James Madison
Fr., G, 6-0, 160 - Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian
McLean averaged 12.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in JMU’s 1-1 week. The freshman guard set a career-high with 11 points against UNCW and then topped it by scoring 14 points in his first collegiate start as the Dukes edged Towson on the road. For the week, McLean shot 50% (7-of-14) from the floor and was 9-of-10 at the free throw line.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
TRIBE ATOP CROWDED CAA STANDINGS: Five teams are within two games of first place in the CAA standings with just six games to play. William & Mary regained sole possession of first place after a 56-53 victory at UNCW last Saturday. The Tribe (9-3), which has won four of its last five, has been extremely efficient offensively and is shooting 52% from the floor, 41.9% from three and 77.4% from the FT line in CAA play. UNCW and Northeastern are tied for second at 8-4 after both suffered home losses last Saturday. The Seahawks, who have won five of their last seven, and the Huskies meet on Saturday night in Wilmington. There is also a three-way tie for fourth at 7-5 between Hofstra, James Madison and Drexel.
CLOSE CONFERENCE GAMES: There have been 35 CAA games played since January 17, and 18 have been decided by six points or less. Delaware has had eight of its past 10 contests with a margin of six points or less. Seven of College of Charleston’s last 10 games have been decided by six points or less. Five of UNCW’s last eight games have been decided by five points or less.
STREAKING: William & Mary is riding a 13-game home court winning streak, including a 10-0 mark this season. The Tribe’s streak is the 15th-longest in Division I currently. Drexel has won five consecutive games, which is tied for the 12th-longest active streak in Division I. The Dragons’ streak is their longest since winning 19 in a row in 2012.
ROAD TEAMS DOING WELL IN CAA PLAY: After road teams posted a 7-3 mark last week, home teams are only 31-29 (51.7%) in CAA play this season. Six squads have winning records in league road games and all 10 teams have won at least one conference road contest. Last season, home teams went 44-28 (61.1%) in CAA play.
TWO CAA PLAYERS AMONG TOP 30 IN SCORING: Two CAA players are among the nation’s top 30 in scoring through games of Feb. 8. Drexel junior guard Damion Lee is ranked 6th with 21.0 ppg, and W&M’s Marcus Thornton is 29th with 19.0 ppg. Thornton has scored double figures in 29 consecutive games and Lee has a 20-game streak.
3-POINT THREATS: The CAA features several of the nation’s top three-point threats this season. Elon junior Tanner Samson ranks 7th in 3’s per game (3.24). W&M senior Marcus Thornton is 30th in 3’s per game (2.83) and 21st in 3-pt percentage (43%). Hofstra junior Ameen Tanksley ranks 4th in 3-point percentage (47.4%), while Pride sophomore Brian Bernardi is 25th in 3’s per game (2.92) and 26th in 3-pt percentage (42.4%).
MCGLYNN RANKED #4 NATIONALLY IN FT PERCENTAGE: Towson junior guard Four McGlynn is 97-of-105 (92.4%) at the charity stripe, which currently ranks fourth in the nation. Last season, McGlynn led the CAA and ranked sixth nationally in free throw percentage at 91.3%. Drexel junior Damion Lee is 27th at 86.9%.
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Men's Basketball Notebook on our Hoop Scoop blog.