Men's Basketball Weekly Honors - Jan. 15
Rob Washburn
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY REPORT - JAN. 15 (PDF format)
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Justin Wright-Foreman • Hofstra
Jr., G, 6-1, 185 - Queens, N.Y./High School of Construction
Wright-Foreman averaged 27.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds as Hofstra earned a pair of CAA road victories last week. The junior guard had 35 points, six assists and five rebounds as the Pride rallied for a 76-73 buzzer-beating win at Towson last Thursday, ending the Tigers’ 14-game home win streak. He followed with a team-best 20 points in a 91-86 triumph at Drexel on Saturday. For the week, Wright-Foreman shot 71% (20-of-28) from the floor, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range. For the season, he ranks second nationally in scoring with 25.6 ppg and has tallied double figures in 40 consecutive games.
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Tomas Murphy • Northeastern
Fr., F, 6-8, 220 - Wakefield, R.I./Northfield Mount Hermon
Murphy averaged 13.5 points and 3.0 rebounds off the bench as Northeastern split two CAA road games. The freshman forward scored a career-high 17 points in the Huskies’ 81-77 overtime victory at UNCW and had 10 points in a setback at Charleston. For the week, Murphy shot 64.7% (11-16) from the floor and was 5-of-6 at the FT line. He’s reached double figures in three straight games.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
WILD WEEK IN THE CAA: It was a wild week around the CAA with three games going to overtime and five others decided by six points or less. UNCW played a pair of OT contests, winning 80-78 at Elon on Marcus Bryan’s bucket with 23 seconds left, but falling to Northeastern, 81-77, as the Huskies scored 11 unanswered points in the extra session. William & Mary rallied from a 9-point deficit with 45 seconds left and beat JMU, 89-82 in OT. Hofstra overcame a 10-point deficit with 5:22 to go and topped Towson, 76-73, on Jalen Ray’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. Delaware scored the final 8 points to edge JMU, 61-60, on Ryan Daly’s jumper with 14 seconds left. Elon got two free throws from Dmitri Thompson with 9.3 seconds left and held off Charleston, 63-58. Of the 30 CAA games played thus far, five have gone to overtime and nine others have been decided by six points or less.
FOUR TEAMS IN TOP 94 OF RPI: Four CAA teams are ranked in the top 94 of the latest NCAA RPI through games of Jan. 14. Towson leads the way at #69, William & Mary follows at #74, Hofstra is ranked #80, and Elon is ranked #94. The CAA is one of only 9 conferences (American, ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West, Pac 12, SEC) with four teams ranked in the top 94. The CAA is ranked 13th out of the nation’s 32 Division I conferences.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: Offenses have taken center stage in the early portion of conference play. Through the first 30 league games, the winning team has scored at least 80 points in 20 of them. Eight squads are averaging 75.0 ppg or more in CAA action. Shooting percentages have been impressive as well. Seven teams are shooting better than 46% from the floor, five are hitting at least 37% from 3-point range, and three squads are shooting better than 80% from the free throw line in conference play.
ROAD TEAMS RISE UP: After home teams were dominant early in CAA play, road teams went 6-4 last week, including 4-1 on Saturday. Hofstra ended Towson’s 14-game home winning streak and UNCW snapped Elon’s seven-game home win streak last Thursday and Towson stopped William & Mary’s eight-game home win streak on Saturday. Charleston is the only remaining CAA team that is unbeaten (8-0) at home.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Young players are making a big impact in the CAA. There are six sophomores, one freshman and only three seniors among the CAA’s top 15 in scoring through games of Jan. 13. There are also just three seniors among the CAA’s top 10 in rebounding.
UNCW’S CACOK LEADS NATION IN REBOUNDING: UNCW junior Devontae Cacok leads the nation in rebounding (12.9 rpg) and Hofstra’s Rokas Gustys ranks 7th (11.5 rpg) through games of Jan. 14. Cacok has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in 14 of 18 games and is also 4th in the nation with 13 double-doubles. Several other CAA players are among the nation’s top 20 statisically. W&M’s David Cohn ranks 13th in assists (6.5 apg) and 7th in FT percentage (92%). Drexel’s Austin Williams is 18th (2.8 bpg) in blocks. W&M’s Connor Burchfield is 2nd in 3-point FG percentage (51.5%) while teammate Matt Milon is 6th (49.5%).
WRIGHT-FOREMAN EXTENDS SCORING STREAK: Hofstra junior Justin Wright-Foreman, who leads the CAA and ranks second in the nation in scoring with 25.6 ppg, extended his double-digit scoring streak to 40 games last week. The streak is the fifth-longest active streak in the nation. Wright-Foreman has scored 20 or more points 15 times this season and has topped the 30-point mark in five games, including three CAA contests.
W&M AMONG NATION’S BEST OFFENSIVE TEAMS: William & Mary can make a strong case as the top shooting team in the nation. The Tribe ranks among the top 10 in the nation in field goal percentage (51.0%/8th), 3-point FG percentage (44.5%/2nd) and free throw percentage (81.9%/1st), and is 14th in scoring (86.4 ppg).
HOFSTRA’S GUSTYS MOVES TO 2ND ON CAA’S CAREER REBOUNDS LIST: Hofstra senior Rokas Gustys has moved into 2nd place on the CAA’s career rebounds list. With 1,140 rebounds, Gustys trails only Navy Hall of Famer David Robinson (1,314) on the CAA’s career caroms chart. He ranks second among all active Division I players in rebounds behind Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado.
THREE CAA PLAYERS ON HENSON AWARD MID-SEASON WATCH LIST: Three CAA players were selected to the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson Award, which is presented to the top Division I Mid-Major player by CollegeInsider.com. Named to the list were College of Charleston senior guard Joe Chealey, William & Mary sophomore forward Nathan Knight and Towson sophomore guard Zane Martin.
TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE: All-session tickets for the 2018 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship are now on sale at TicketMaster.com, the North Charleston Coliseum box office and the box office of all 10 CAA schools. Ticket books for all nine games start as low as $80. The tournament will be played March 3-6 at the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum.
College of Charleston (12-6, 3-3 in CAA)
• Improved to 8-0 at home with an 82-66 win over Northeastern, but fell 63-58 at Elon.
• Jarrell Brantley averaged 19.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg last week with a game-high 22 points vs. NU and a team-best 16 points at Elon. He’s averaging 20.5 ppg and 6.7 rpg in CAA play.
• Joe Chealey added 16 points against NU and 14 points at Elon, which was his 7th straight game in double digits. He ranks 5th in the CAA in scoring this season and moved into 7th place on CofC’s all-time points list.
• Grant Riller tallied 12 points vs. NU and 14 at Elon. He’s scored double figures in 11 of his last 12 games and is averaging 15.8 ppg.
• Jaylen McManus came off the bench to contribute 12 points on 5-of-5 FG shooting vs. NU. It was one point shy of his career high.
• CofC leads the CAA in scoring defense (65.8 ppg) and is 3rd in FG% defense (42.2%).
• CofC shot 60% from the floor, including 7-of-15 from three, against Northeastern, and went 9-of-9 at the FT line at Elon.
Delaware (11-8, 4-2 in CAA)
• On a 3-game win streak after beating Drexel (72-66) and JMU (61-60) last week. Scored the final 8 points to rally past the Dukes.
• Eric Carter averaged 13.0 ppg and 13.0 rpg last week, and posted his 5th double-double (17 pts/13 reb) vs. DU. He’s averaging 12.2 ppg and 9.7 rpg in CAA play.
• Ryan Daly scored a team-high 19 points at JMU, including the game-winning jumper with 14 seconds left. It was his 17th straight game in double figures. Daly ranks in the top 15 in the CAA in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals.
• Ryan Allen made five treys and averaged 14.5 ppg last week. He’s tallied double figures in 12 of the past 14 games and tops CAA rookies in scoring (13.9 ppg).
• UD is 3-1 in its past four road games and has started 4-2 or better in CAA play for just the fifth time overall and first since 2013-14.
• Darian Bryant added 11 points and a career-high tying 5 assists off the bench vs. DU.
Drexel (7-12, 1-5 in CAA)
• Dropped close games to Delaware (72-66) and Hofstra (91-86) last week.
• Tramaine Isabell scored a game-high 25 points vs. Hofstra and posted his 3rd double-double at UD with team-highs of 14 points and 15 rebounds.
• Sammy Mojica averaged 17.5 ppg last week, including a career-best 22 points and 5 steals vs. Hofstra. He eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career.
• Kurk Lee had 12 points and 4 steals at UD, and has eight double-digit efforts in the last 11 games. He’s 16th in the CAA in scoring, 6th in assists and 10th in steals.
• Alihan Demir scored 13 points at Delaware and 12 points vs. Hofstra. He’s averaging 15.2 ppg in CAA play.
• Austin Williams had 15 points and a team-high 8 rebounds vs. Hofstra. He’s 4th in the CAA in FG%, 5th in rebounds (8.9 rpg) and 1st in blocked shots (2.8 bpg).
• Drexel had a season-low 8 turnovers at UD and only nine against Hofstra.
Elon (12-7, 4-2 in CAA)
• Split a pair of close games at home, falling 81-77 in OT to UNCW before bouncing back for a 63-58 win over Charleston.
• Tyler Seibring averaged 19.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg last week, including his 4th double-double (21 pts/12 reb) vs. UNCW. He’s averaging 18.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg in CAA play.
• Steven Santa Ana hit 6-of-8 treys and scored a season-high 23 points vs. CofC and added 15 points against UNCW. He’s made 20 three-pointers in six CAA games (3.3 pg).
• Dmitri Thompson posted his 2nd double-double with 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds vs. CofC. He’s averaging 14.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg in CAA play.
• Brian Dawkins contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks vs. UNCW. He’s shooting 52.9% from the floor in CAA play.
• Elon is 7-1 at home this season in its final year at Alumni Gym.
• Elon made 13 threes vs. UNCW and 11 vs. CofC, which was its 13th game with 10+ treys. EU is averaging 10.9 threes per game.
Hofstra (11-7, 4-2 in CAA)
• Posted road victories at Towson (76-73) and Drexel (81-76) last week. Have won four of their last five games.
• Justin Wright-Foreman averaged 27.5 ppg on 71% FG shooing last week, including a team-high 35 points and 6 assists at TU. He’s tallied 20+ points in 15 games, topped 30 points five times and ranks 2nd in Div. I in scoring with 25.6 ppg. His 40-game double-digit scoring streak ranks 5th nationally.
• Rokas Gustys posted his 8th double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds at Drexel. He’s 2nd on the CAA’s career rebounds list and has 10+ caroms in 12 games this year.
• Freshman Jalen Ray drained a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer vs. Towson. It was his second game-winner of the season. He followed with 12 points at Drexel.
• Eli Pemberton reached double figures for the 14th time in 17 games with 19 points at Drexel. He’s 11th in the league in scoring.
• Hofstra has had eight games decided by 3 points or less and another in OT. The Pride is 7-2 in those contests.
James Madison (4-15, 0-6 in CAA)
• Suffered heartbreaking losses to W&M (89-82 in ot) and Delaware (61-60) last week.
• Matt Lewis scored a team-high 22 points at W&M and had 14 vs. Delaware. He’s reached double digits in 5 straight games and is averaging 15.4 ppg over that stretch.
• Stuckey Mosley had a team-best 17 points and a career-high tying 7 rebounds vs. UD and added 11 points at W&M. He’s 3rd in the CAA in scoring (19.2 ppg) and has reached double digits in 12 straight games.
• Darius Banks contributed 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals at W&M and had a career-high with 8 boards vs. UD. He has 8 double-figure outings in the past 11 games.
• DeVelle Phillips scored 12 points on 6-of-7 FG shooting at W&M. He’s posted double figures in four of his past five contests.
• JMU leads the CAA in steals (8.1 spg) and has had six games with 10 or more thefts.
• Twelve of JMU’s last 14 games have been decided by 10 points or less.
UNCW (5-13, 2-4 in CAA)
• Picked up their first CAA road win with an 80-78 triumph in OT at Elon, but fell 81-77 in OT to Northeastern.
• Jaylen Fornes averaged 22.0 ppg last week, scoring a career-high 24 points vs. NU and a team-best 20 at Elon. He hit 9-of-12 treys and shot 63% overall. Fornes has tallied double figures in 6 of the last 7 games.
• Devontae Cacok recorded his league-leading 13th double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds at Elon. He leads the nation in rebounding (12.9 rpg), ranks 6th in the CAA in scoring (17.5 ppg) and is 1st in FG%.
• Jordon Talley posted his 3rd double-double with 14 points and 10 assists at EU and added 17 points vs. NU. He’s 8th in the CAA in scoring and 2nd in assists. He’s scored double figures in 16 of the last 17 games.
• Ty Taylor had 17 points with a career-high six steals at Elon. He also made 3 FT’s with .4 seconds left to force OT against NU.
• Marcus Bryan grabbed 11 rebounds and scored the game-winning bucket at Elon.
Northeastern (11-7, 4-2 in CAA)
• Split its Southern road swing, losing 82-66 at CofC, but winning 81-77 in OT at UNCW.
• Vasa Pusica tallied team-highs of 15 points and 6 assists at CofC and had 12 points and 5 assists at UNCW. He’s reached double digits in 13 of the last 14 games and ranks 10th in the CAA in scoring and 3rd in assists.
• Shawn Occeus had 15 points and 3 steals at UNCW and chipped in 10 points at CofC. He has 7 double-figure efforts in the past 9 games and leads the CAA in steals (1.8 spg).
• Bolden Brace averaged 11.0 ppg and hit 6-of-11 treys over the two games. He’s shooting 42.4% from three in CAA play.
• Tomas Murphy averaged 13.5 ppg last week, including a career-high 17 points at UNCW.. It was his 3rd straight game in double digits.
• Devon Begley contributed 7 points and a career-high 9 rebounds at UNCW.
• All 11 players who saw action against CofC scored in the game.
Towson (13-6, 3-3 in CAA)
• Rebounded from a 76-73 loss to Hofstra by earning a 99-73 win at W&M.
• Mike Morsell hit 5-of-6 treys and poured in a team-best 23 points at W&M. He’s now 12th on TU’s all-time points list (1,322).
• Justin Gorham scored a career-high 20 points on 7-for-7 FG shooting vs. HU and added 10 points in 18 minutes at W&M.
• Zane Martin tallied 20 points at W&M and 17 vs. Hofstra. He’s had 10 20-point outings and has hit double digits in 13 straight games. He’s 4th in the CAA with 18.2 ppg.
• Eddie Keith II scored 15 points on 7-of-9 FG shooting at W&M and had 10 points and a season-best 5 assists vs. Hofstra. He’s scored double figures in all six CAA games.
• Towson shot a season-best 64.4% from the floor at W&M and 54.3% vs. Hofstra. It was the fourth time in the past five games they’ve shot better than 50%. The Tigers lead the league in FG% (51.9%) in CAA play.
• Towson leads the CAA in FG% defense (40.4%) and are 2nd in 3-point FG% defense (31.8%), and scoring defense (66.8 ppg).
William & Mary (12-5, 5-1 in CAA)
• Rallied from 9 points down in final 45 seconds to beat JMU, 89-82 in OT, but fell 99-73 to Towson, ending a 5-game win streak.
• Nathan Knight scored 21 points vs. JMU and 22 vs. TU, and has eight 20-point efforts for the year. He’s among the top 7 in the CAA in scoring, rebounding, FG% and blocks and is averaging 22.3 ppg and 9.8 rpg in CAA play.
• David Cohn tallied 21 points vs. JMU and had 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3 vs. TU . He leads the CAA with 6.5 apg and is 2nd on W&M’s career assists list (393).
• Matt Milon tallied 18 points vs. JMU, including a 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left that forced OT. He’s 2nd in the CAA in 3’s per game (2.9) and 2nd in 3-point FG% (49.5%).
• Justin Pierce tied his career-high with 17 rebounds vs. JMU and scored 16 vs. Towson. He ranks 4th in the league with 9.0 rpg.
• Connor Burchfield tops the CAA in 3-pt FG% (51.5%) and is 2nd in 3’s per game (2.9).
• W&M leads the CAA in scoring (86.4 ppg), FG% (51.0%), FT% (81.9%), 3-point FG% (44.5%) and 3-pointers per game (11.1).