Men's Basketball Weekly Honors - Feb. 8
Rob Washburn
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY REPORT - FEB. 8 (PDF format)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Ron Curry • James Madison
Sr., G, 6-3, 200 - Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI
Curry averaged 23.5 points to lead James Madison to a pair of CAA victories last week. The senior guard scored a team-high 16 points in a 78-56 win at Drexel last Thursday and followed with a career-high 31 points as the Dukes rallied past Hofstra, 98-95, in overtime on Sunday. Curry shot 48.3% from the floor and was 9-of-19 from 3-point range, including a game-tying trey with 12.6 seconds left in regulation against the Pride. He has scored double figures in a league-best 17 straight games.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Omar Prewitt • William & Mary
Jr., G/F, 6-7, 195 - Mount Sterling, Ky./Montgomery County
Prewitt averaged 24.5 points as William & Mary extended its winning streak to four with a 2-0 week. The junior wing scored 17 of his season-high 28 points in the second half as the Tribe rallied for an 86-77 victory at Northeastern last Thursday and then poured in a team-best 21 points as W&M rolled past Delaware, 90-64, on Saturday. Prewitt shot 69.2% (18-26) from the floor over the two games and also grabbed six rebounds. He’s topped the 20-point mark nine times this season.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
C.J. Bryce • UNCW
Fr., G, 6-5, 180 - Charlotte, N.C./North Mecklenburg
Bryce averaged 19.5 points and 3.5 rebounds to help UNCW pick up two road wins last week. The freshman guard tied his career-high with 24 points, including 18 in the second half, as the Seahawks came from behind to beat Hofstra, 70-67, last Thursday. He also contributed 15 points in UNCW’s 90-73 triumph at Northeastern. For the week, Bryce shot 65.4% (17-26) from the floor and also made four steals. He leads all CAA freshmen in scoring with 11.7 ppg.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
UNCW TAKES SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE: UNCW took over sole possession of first place in the CAA at 10-2 after pushing its winning streak to nine with road victories at Hofstra and Northeastern last week.
After last Thursday’s win, it marked the first time since Jan. 7 (Northeastern 3-0) that there wasn’t a tie for first place in the CAA standings. William & Mary, which went 2-0 last week to extend its winning streak to four, is a game back at 9-3. There is a three-way tie for third place at 8-4 between
Hofstra, James Madison and
Towson, and
College of Charleston is close behind at 7-5. There are several head-to-head matchups between the top six teams this week as W&M faces Hofstra and Towson and JMU makes a road swing to UNCW and CofC.
UNCW’S WIN STREAK IS NATION’S 4TH-BEST: UNCW’s nine-game winning streak Is tied for the 4th-longest in the nation as of Feb. 8. The Seahawks trail only Stony Brook (15), San Diego State (11) and Yale (10) and are tied with Stephen F. Austin (9). The nine-game streak has also matched UNCW’s school record set in 2002-03.
CLOSE GAMES CONTINUE: Of the 40 CAA games over the past four weeks, 17 have been decided by six points or less, including six overtime contests.
ROAD TEAMS ARE 32-28 IN CAA ACTION: Road teams have a 32-28 record thus far in CAA play. Seven of the league’s 10 teams have winning road records in CAA play, including five squads that have at least four wins
. All 10 teams have suffered at least one home loss in conference competition and only five have winning records. Visitors having success in CAA action continues a trend from last year when home teams finished 47-43.
PILING UP THE WINS: The CAA is one of only eight Division I conferences to have at least six teams with 15 or more overall wins through games of Feb. 6. The others are the ACC (9), Big Ten (7), Pac 12 (7), Big East (7), A-10 (6), Big 12 (6) and SEC (6).
FIVE CAA TEAMS AMONG TOP 90 IN LATEST RPI: Five CAA teams are ranked among the top 90 in the latest RPI report released by
Collegiate Basketball News (rpiratings.com) on Feb. 8.
William & Mary leads all CAA squads at #37, followed by
UNCW at #76,
Hofstra at #78,
College of Charleston at #88 and
James Madison at #90. The CAA is ranked #9 among the nation’s 32 Division I conferences,
which is its highest ranking ever at this point in the season, and is one of only nine conferences with five teams among the top 90 of the RPI along with the American, A-10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac 12 and SEC.
HOFSTRA’S GREEN TOPS 1,000 POINTS AGAIN: Hofstra guard
Juan’ya Green became just the fourth player in NCAA history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark at two Division I schools on Sunday, joining former CAA standout
Gary Neal (La Salle/Towson), Joe Manning (Oklahoma City/North Texas) and Kenny Battle (Northern Illinois/Illinois). With 2,141 points (1,131 at Niagara/1,010 at Hofstra), he’s currently third among active scorers in Division I. Green also leads active Div. I players in career assists (693) and is fifth in career steals (217) through games of Feb. 7. He trails only Evansville’s D.J. Balentine (2,280) and High Point’s John Brown (2,146) in points.
FLEMMINGS, HOLDEN SET SINGLE-GAME SHOOTING MARKS: UNCW’s
Chris Flemmings went 11-for-11 from the floor at Northeastern last Saturday, which tied the school field goal percentage record set by Vladimir Kuljanin in 2006 and was the 2nd-best performance in CAA history behind a 12-for-12 effort from Navy’s David Robinson in 1985. Delaware’s
Kory Holden was 15-for-15 at the free throw line against Towson on Jan. 30, which matched the 4th-best effort from the charity stripe in CAA history.
BACK-TO-BACK 20-20’S FOR HOFSTRA’S GUSTYS: Hofstra sophomore
Rokas Gustys was the first Division I player in six years to record back-to-back “20-20” games. He tallied a career-high 25 points and a career-best 20 rebounds vs. JMU on Jan. 16, followed by 23 points and 20 boards at Northeastern on Jan. 21. Gustys, who also grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds vs. UNCW last Thursday, has recorded nine double-doubles in his last 10 games and is averaging 16.2 ppg and 14.4 rpg in CAA play.
THREE-POINT SUCCESS: Several CAA teams are among the nation’s best at scoring from the 3-point line and defending it.
Elon (9.8 pg/16th),
James Madison (9.2 pg/26th),
Northeastern (8.9 pg/35th) and
Hofstra (8.8 pg/41st) are among Division I leaders in 3’s per game while
William & Mary (38.1%/35th) and NU (37.6%/49th) are ranked in 3-point FG%. Defensively,
James Madison is 7th in 3-point FG percentage defense (28.9%) and
College of Charleston is 48th (31.3%). Individually, NU’s
David Walker ranks 29th (2.96 pg) in 3-pointers per game and 43rd in 3-point FG percentage (42%).
HOFSTRA’S GUSTYS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN THREE CATEGORIES: Hofstra’s
Rokas Gustys ranks 7th nationally in rebounding (11.8 rpg), 10th in FG percentage (62.5%) and 14th in double-doubles (13) through games of Feb. 7. Hofstra’s
Juan’ya Green (6.8 apg) is 7th in assists and W&M’s
Terry Tarpey is 16th (2.27 spg) in steals. Delaware’s
Marvin King-Davis is 22nd in double-doubles (11) and 38th in rebounding (9.3 rpg).
College of Charleston
• Have won 5 of their last 6 after beating Towson (65-47) and Drexel (60-38) last week.
• Cameron Johnson tallied a team-high 16 points vs. Drexel, which was his 7th double-digit effort in the last 8 games.
• Marquise Pointer scored a team-high 19 points and made 4 steals vs. Towson. He’s averaging 12.8 ppg in CAA play and has hit double figures in 10 of the last 15 games.
• Jarrell Brantley posted his 2nd double-double (16 pts/11 reb) vs. Towson and had 11 points vs. Drexel, which was his 5th straight game in double figures. He leads all CAA freshmen in rebounding (6.5 rpg).
• Evan Bailey averaged 9.0 last week, including 10 points against Towson. It was his sixth game in double digits this season.
• CofC has limited 11 of its 12 CAA opponents to 65 points or less and is allowing just 58.0 ppg in CAA play.
• The Cougars held Drexel to 23.5% FG shooting and Towson to 36.2% shooting.
Delaware
• Remained winless in CAA play after losses to Elon (83-56) and W&M (90-64) last week.
• Kory Holden scored a team-high 24 points at W&M. He has a CAA-best 10 20+-point efforts this season and has reached double figures in 17 of his last 19 games.
• Marvin King-Davis, who ranks 2nd in the CAA with 11 double-doubles, tallied 22 points and 8 rebounds at W&M. He’s averaging 14.7 ppg and 9.6 rpg in CAA play.
• Anthony Mosley scored a team-high 23 points at Elon and has 10 double-digit efforts in the past 13 games. He’s averaging 13.7 ppg in CAA play.
• Devonne Pinkard had a career-high 17 points and a season-high 9 rebounds at Elon. He scored 10 points at W&M and has reached double digits in 3 straight games.
• Junior Barnett Harris tallied a career-high 12 rebounds in 19 minutes at Elon.
• UD committed a season-low four turnovers at W&M.
Drexel
• Suffered setbacks to JMU (78-56) and College of Charleston (60-38) last week.
• Sammy Mojica hit three treys and scored 12 points vs. JMU. He’s averaging 10.8 ppg over his past four games.
• Kazembe Abif posted his 4th double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. JMU. He’s scored double figures in five of the past six games.
• Senior Tavon Allen contributed 11 points vs. JMU. Allen has scored 20+ points four times this season.
• Rodney Williams had 9 points vs. JMU and a team-high 8 points at CofC. He’s averaging 11.9 ppg in CAA play.
• Drexel shot just 28.3% from the floor vs. JMU and 23.5% at CofC.
• Tyshawn Myles chipped in five points and a team-high 7 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench at CofC.
Elon
• Split a pair of home games last week, beating Delaware (83-56) but losing to Towson (81-77).
• Dmitri Thompson scored a team-high 21 points vs. Towson and is averaging 16.0 ppg over his past four contests.
• Brian Dawkins scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 FG shooting vs. Delaware.
• Tyler Seibring had 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals vs. Delaware. He’s averaging 11.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg in CAA play.
• Christian Hairston tallied 12 points on 6-of-6 FG shooting against UD.
• Dainan Swoope hit 2-of-3 treys and added 10 points against Towson.
• Tanner Samson is Elon’s career 3-point leader with 312 and is 2nd in the CAA with 70 treys this season.
• Elon, which tops the CAA with 9.8 threes per game, has made just 17 treys combined in its last three contests and is 2-1.
Hofstra
• Suffered narrow losses to UNCW (70-67) and JMU (98-95 in OT) last week.
• Juan’ya Green posted his 4th double-double (21 pts/10 reb) vs. UNCW and had 20 points and 8 assists at JMU. He’s scored double figures in 23 of 24 games, has eight 20+-point efforts and leads the CAA in assists.
• Rokas Gustys grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds vs. UNCW and had his 9th double-double (13 pts/18 reb) in 10 games at JMU. He ranks 7th nationally in rebounds (11.8 rpg) and 10th in FG% (62.5%). He’s had 10+ boards 18 times and has 13 double-doubles.
• Ameen Tanksley averaged 16.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg last week. He has reached double figures in 23 of 24 contests and 12 in a row.
• Denton Koon had 19 points and 13 rebounds at JMU. He’s scored double figures 17 times and grabbed 10+ boards six times.
• Brian Bernardi, who scored a team-high 22 points at JMU, has made a team-high 63 threes on 38.9% shooting this season.
James Madison
• Went 2-0 last week with wins over Drexel (78-56) and Hofstra (98-95 in OT).
• Ron Curry hit 7 threes and scored a career-high 31 points vs. Hofstra and had 16 points at Drexel. He’s reached double digits in a league-best 17 straight games and has topped the 20-point mark nine times.
• Shakir Brown contributed 15 points and 6 rebounds vs. HU and is averaging 13.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg over his past three contests.
• Yohanny Dalembert posted double-doubles vs. Drexel (15 pts/12 reb) and Hofstra (15 pts/ 13 reb). He was 12-of-19 from the floor last week and also had six blocked shots.
• JMU out-rebounded Drexel 49-35, marking the 15th time it’s won the battle of the boards. The Dukes are 13-2 in those games.
• JMU, which held Drexel to 28.3% FG shooting, leads the league in FG% defense and 3-point FG% defense in CAA games.
• Joey McLean contributed 13 points and 6 assists off the bench vs. Hofstra.
UNCW
• Rallied from a 20-point deficit at Hofstra (70-67) and topped Northeastern 90-73 for their school-record tying 9th straight win.
• Chris Flemmings scored a team-high 25 points on 11-of-11 FG shooting at NU. He’s scored double digits in 13 straight games and is averaging 19.3 ppg in CAA play.
• Denzel Ingram scored 18 points at HU, including a game-winning 3, and had his first double-double (12 pts/10 ast) at NU. He’s reached double digits in 8 straight games and is averaging 14.9 ppg in CAA play.
• C.J. Bryce tied his career-high with 24 points at HU and followed with 15 points at NU. He leads all CAA freshmen with 11.7 ppg.
• UNCW’s 9-game winning streak is tied for the 4th-longest in the nation.
• Craig Ponder averaged 13.5 ppg and 5.0 apg in the two wins last week.
• UNCW shot 62.7% from the floor, including 66.7% in the 2nd half, at Northeastern.
Northeastern
• Dropped home games to W&M (86-77) and UNCW (90-73) last week.
• David Walker had 19 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds vs W&M and 12 points vs. UNCW. It was his 8th straight game in double digits and he has 10 games with 20+ points. He’s now 10th on NU’s all-time scoring list.
• Quincy Ford returned to action after missing four games due to injury and had 15 points vs. UNCW. He has scored double digits in 20 of 21 games and is among the CAA’s top six in scoring and rebounding.
• Freshman Jeremy Miller hit 4-of-6 threes and scored a career-high 23 points in only 19 minutes vs. W&M.
• T.J. Williams scored 11 points against W&M and 12 against UNCW, which was his sixth straight game in double figures.
• Zach Stahl scored a team-high 17 points on 7-of-8 FG shooting against UNCW.
• NU made 12 3-pointers vs. W&M, which was its 13th game with 10 or more treys.
Towson
• Rebounded from a 65-47 loss at College of Charleston by beating Elon 81-77. Have won 4 of their last 5 games.
• William Adala Moto poured in a team-high 27 points with 8 rebounds at Elon. He’s scored double digits in 18 of the past 20 games and is averaging 15.8 ppg and 8.9 rpg in CAA play.
• Mike Morsell scored a team-high 13 points at CofC and 15 points at Elon. He’s averaging 17.0 ppg over his last 4 contests and has 13 double-figure efforts in the last 14 games.
• John Davis scored 12 points at Elon, which was his 11th double-figure game.
• Towson out-rebounded Elon 34-27 and is a CAA-best +7.3 in rebound margin, which also ranks 24th nationally. The Tigers have beaten 10 straight foes on the glass.
• Timajh Parker-Rivera averaged 12.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg last week. He’s TU’s all-time leader in games played.
• Towson is 16-0 when leading at halftime.
William & Mary
• On a 4-game winning streak after rallying past Northeastern 86-77 and downing Delaware 90-64 last week.
• Omar Prewitt scored a season-high 28 points at NU and had a team-best 21 points vs. UD on combined 18-of-26 FG shooting (69.2%). He’s scored 20+ points nine times.
• Daniel Dixon added 20 points at NU. He tops W&M with 58 treys on 38.7% shooting.
• Terry Tarpey posted his 3rd double-double (12 pts/11 reb) vs. UD and had 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks at NU. He’s scored double digits in 9 of his last 10 games.
• David Cohn had 7 points, 10 assists and only 1 turnover vs. UD. He’s averaging 12.0 ppg and 5.8 apg in CAA play.
• Connor Burchfield hit 3-of-5 treys vs. UD and is shooting 62.5% (20-32) from 3 in CAA play.
• Sean Sheldon averaged 10.5 ppg on 10-of-13 FG shooting last week.
• Greg Malinowski scored a career-best 15 points vs. UD.