Men's Basketball Weekly Honors - Feb. 26
Rob Washburn
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY REPORT - FEB. 26 (PDF format)
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
David Cohn • William & Mary
Sr., G, 6-2, 168 - Elmhurst, Ill./York
Cohn averaged 19.5 points, 10.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in William & Mary’s 2-0 week. The senior point guard scored a career-high 30 points and dished out nine assists as the Tribe beat Charleston, 114-104 in OT, ending the Cougars’ nation’s-best 11-game win streak. He also had nine points and 11 assists in a 96-83 victory over UNCW. For the week, he shot 63.2% from the floor and was 12-of-12 at the free throw line, extending his consecutive made FT’s streak to 38.
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Tramaine Isabell • Drexel
Jr., G, 6-1, 180 - Seattle, Wash./Garfield
Isabell averaged 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals in Drexel’s two games last week. The junior guard nearly posted a triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as the Dragons posted the largest comeback in NCAA Div. I history and defeated Delaware, 85-83. He followed with a team-best 29 points, eight boards, six assists and two steals in an 83-82 setback to UNCW. For the week, Isabell shot 50% from the floor.
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Jalen Ray • Hofstra
Fr., G, 6-2, 175 - Hampton, Va./Hampton
Ray averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in Hofstra’s 2-0 week. The freshman guard doubled his season scoring average by tallying 15 points in a 77-61 victory at JMU and followed with 11 points as the Pride beat Towson, 91-86. For the week, Ray shot 57.1% from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three-point range.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
CHARLESTON, NORTHEASTERN SHARE CAA REGULAR-SEASON TITLE: Charleston and Northeastern shared the CAA regular-season title after both finished the year with 14-4 conference records. It’s the first CAA title for the Cougars and the third in the past six years for the Huskies, who also finished first in 2012-13 and 2014-15.
TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS TO BE FINALIZED ON MONDAY: Seven of the 10 seeds have been finalized for the 2018 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship, presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs. Charleston earned the #1 seed based on its two head-to-head wins over co-champion Northeastern, which will be the #2 seed. Hofstra is the #3 seed, followed by #4 William & Mary, #5 Towson and #6 UNCW. The final pairings will be determined following tonight’s regular-season finale between Elon and James Madison. If Elon wins, the Phoenix will earn the #7 seed, followed by #8 Drexel, #9 Delaware and #10 JMU. If JMU wins, Delaware will be the #7 seed, followed by #8 Drexel, #9 JMU and #10 Elon.
DREXEL RECORDS LARGEST COMEBACK IN NCAA HISTORY: Drexel recorded the largest comeback in NCAA Division I history last Thursday as it overcame a 34-point deficit to defeat Delaware, 85-83. The Dragons trailed 53-19 with 2:36 left in the first half before rallying to tie game at 78-78 with 3:50 to go. The game was still tied at 83 when Tramaine Isabell was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2.2 seconds remaining and hit two free throws. Isabell finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. The previous record for the largest comeback was 32 points by Duke against Tulane in 1950.
GUSTYS, CACOK CLIMB REBOUND CHARTS: Hofstra’s Rokas Gustys and UNCW’s Devontae Cacok are continuing their assaults on the record books. Gustys has 1,295 career rebounds and is just 19 behind Navy Hall of Famer David Robinson for the CAA’s all-time rebound record of 1,314. Cacok has broken the UNCW mark for rebounds in a season with 413, which is the 3rd-highest season mark in CAA history. Cacok’s current 13.8 per game rebound average would break the CAA record of 13.0 rpg shared by Gustys (2015-16) and Robinson (1985-86).
PILING UP THE WINS: Charleston (23-7, 14-4 in CAA) reached the 20-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009-10/2010-11 and tied its record for CAA wins in a season set last year. Northeastern (21-9, 14-4 in CAA) tied its record for CAA wins in a season and reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2014-15. Hofstra (12-6) has reached double-digit wins in CAA play for the third time in the past four years. William & Mary (11-7) has recorded double-digit CAA wins for the fifth straight season.
CAA GAMES MEAN CLOSE GAMES: Conference play has brought plenty of down-to-the-wire finishes. Nine of the league’s 10 teams had at least one conference game go into overtime, with UNCW and James Madison having four and Charleston, Towson and William & Mary each playing in three. Of the 89 CAA games played, 12 have gone to overtime and 34 others have been decided by six points or less.
FOUR TEAMS IN TOP 105 OF RPI: Four CAA teams are ranked in the top 105 of the latest NCAA RPI through games of Feb. 25. Northeastern leads the way at #60, followed by Charleston at #71, William & Mary at #91 and Hofstra at #115. The CAA is one of nine conferences (American, ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West, Pac 12, and SEC) with four teams ranked in the top 105. The CAA is ranked 12th out of the nation’s 32 Division I conferences.
LONG STREAKS FOR CHARLESTON, NORTHEASTERN: Charleston has won 16 consecutive games at TD Arena dating back to last season. The home court win streak is tied for the 3rd-longest in the nation through games of Feb. 25. Northeastern has won seven straight games overall, which is tied for the 9th-longest active streak in the nation.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Home teams are 55-34 (.618) in CAA play, but Charleston (9-0) is the only squad that finished unbeaten. Northeastern (7-2), Hofstra (6-3), Charleston (5-4) and William & Mary (5-4) were the only teams with winning records on the road. For the season, CAA teams are a combined 94-42 at home.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: Offenses have taken center stage in conference play. Through 89 league games, the winning team has scored at least 80 points in 54 of them. Seven squads are averaging 77.0 ppg or more in CAA action. Shooting percentages have been impressive as well. Five teams are shooting better than 47% from the floor, four are hitting at least 37.8% from 3-point range, and seven squads are shooting at least 71% from the free throw line in conference play.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Young players have made a big impact in the CAA. There are six sophomores, one freshman and only two seniors among the CAA’s top 15 scorers through games of Feb. 24. There are also just three seniors among the CAA’s top 10 in rebounding.
UNCW’S CACOK LEADS NATION IN REBOUNDING: UNCW’s Devontae Cacok leads the nation in rebounding (13.8 rpg) and Hofstra’s Rokas Gustys ranks 3rd (12.1 rpg) through games of Feb. 25. Cacok has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in 23 of 30 games and is also 2nd in the nation with 22 double-doubles. Several other CAA players are among the nation’s top 15 statisically. W&M’s David Cohn ranks 12th in assists (6.7 apg) and 6th in FT percentage (92.3%). Drexel’s Austin Williams is 9th (2.9 bpg) in blocks. W&M’s Connor Burchfield is 1st in 3-point FG percentage (52.2%).
WRIGHT-FOREMAN EXTENDS SCORING STREAK: Hofstra junior Justin Wright-Foreman, who leads the CAA and ranks fifth in the nation in scoring with 24.2 ppg, extended his double-digit scoring streak to 52 games last week. The streak is the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. Wright-Foreman has scored 20 or more points 23 times this season and has topped the 30-point mark in seven games. He’s the first player since Towson’s Gary Neal in 2007 to score 35 or more points in three CAA games in a season.
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 leads the nation in 3-point FG percentage (43.5%) and free throw percentage (80.9%), 4th in field goal percentage (51.2%), 7th in 3-pointers per game (10.9) and 6th in scoring (85.6 ppg). W&M is on pace to become the first team in NCAA history to shoot better than 50% from the floor, 40% from 3-point range and 80% from the free throw line in a season.
SEIBRING, ROWLEY NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: Elon junior forward Tyler Seibring and William & Mary junior forward Paul Rowley were chosen to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 team. Both will be placed on the ballot for Academic All-America honors.
College of Charleston (23-7, 14-4 in CAA)
• Beat Elon 79-58 to clinch a share of their 1st CAA regular-season title. Fell 114-104 in OT at W&M, ending an 11-game win streak.
• Grant Riller scored a team-high 30 points vs. Elon and a team-best 29 points at W&M. He has four 30-point efforts and 12 games with 20+ points this season. He’s averaging 28.0 ppg over his last seven games.
• Joe Chealey tallied 22 points and 7 rebounds vs. Elon and 24 points at W&M. He has 17 double-digit outings in the past 19 games and 11 games with 20+ points.
• Jarrell Brantley posted his 3rd double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds at W&M. He’s averaging 18.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg in CAA play.
• CofC was 17-of-37 from 3-point range vs. Elon. The 17 treys were the most in four years under coach Earl Grant.
• CofC has scored at least 79 points in seven consecutive games.
• CofC leads the CAA in scoring defense (68.7 ppg) and is 2nd in FG% defense (43.1%).
Delaware (13-18, 6-12 in CAA)
• Rebounded from an 85-83 loss at Drexel by rallying past JMU, 68-66. Five of UD’s past 7 losses have been by five points or less.
• Ryan Allen hit 6-of-10 threes and scored a team-high 21 points at DU and added 11 points vs. JMU. He’s reached double figures in 15 straight games and has been UD’s top scorer in 8 of 12 contests. Allen has set a UD freshman record with 83 three-pointers.
• Ryan Daly averaged 15.5 ppg last week, including 17 points at Drexel. He’s scored double figures in 24 straight games and ranks among the top 15 in the CAA in scoring, rebounds and steals.
• Eric Carter posted double-doubles vs. DU (15 pts/12 reb) and JMU (11 pts/11 reb) and has 11 for the season. He’s scored double digits in 8 of his last 9 games and ranks 3rd in the CAA in rebounding (9.2 rpg).
• Anthony Mosley had 14 points and 6 assists vs. DU, and just missed a double-double (11 pts/9 reb) in the win over JMU.
• Delaware tied its season high by making 11 three-pointers at Drexel.
Drexel (12-19, 6-12)
• Posted the largest comeback in NCAA Div. I history, rallying from a 34-point deficit to beat Delaware, 85-83. Fell 83-82 to UNCW.
• Tramaine Isabell had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists vs. UD and followed with 29 points, 8 board and 6 assists vs. UNCW. He has five 30-outings, five double-double and ranks among the CAA’s top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
• Troy Harper contributed 13 points in 23 minutes off the bench vs. UD.
• Sammy Mojica averaged 13.0 ppg last week. He made five treys and leads the Dragons with 58 three-pointers this season.
• Austin Williams grabbed 14 rebounds vs. UNCW. He ranks 2nd in the CAA in FG%, 5th in rebounds and 1st in blocks.
• Drexel has shot at least 47% from the floor in five of their past seven games.
• Kurk Lee added 12 points vs. UD and 11 vs. UNCW. He’s tallied double figures in 7 of his past 8 games. He also went over 100 assists (102) for the season.
Elon (14-16, 6-11 in CAA)
• Suffered setbacks to Charleston (79-58) and Northeastern (81-59) last week.
• Tyler Seibring contributed 15 points and 6 rebounds at CofC and added 12 points vs. NU. He’s reached double digits in 18 straight games and is averaging 18.2 ppg and 7.3 rpg while shooting 52% from the floor and 46.8% from 3 in CAA play.
• Dmitri Thompson tallied a team-best 16 points at CofC, which was his top scoring effort since Feb. 1, and followed with 10 points and a team-high 8 boards vs. NU.
• Brian Dawkins, who missed 3 games due to a hand injury, scored 12 points at CofC and had a team-high 13 points and 7 rebounds vs. NU. He was 10-of-17 from the floor.
• Steven Santa Ana grabbed a season-high tying 8 rebounds at CofC and chipped in 10 points and 6 boards vs. NU.
• Elon has made 10+ treys in 20 games and is averaging 10.5 threes per game for the year, which ranks 15th nationally.
Hofstra (19-11, 12-6 in CAA)
• Ran their winning streak to four by beating JMU (77-61) and Towson (91-86) last week.
• Eli Pemberton scored a team-high 22 points with 6 assists at JMU and added 15 points vs. Towson. It was his 9th 20-point effort of the year. He’s averaging 20.2 ppg over the past eight games.
• Justin Wright-Foreman poured in a team-best 27 points vs. Towson. He’s scored double digits in 52 straight games, has tallied 20+ points in 23 contests and has topped 30 points seven times.
• Rokas Gustys had 15 points and 8 rebounds vs. Towson. WIth 1,295 rebounds, he’s 19 shy of the CAA’s career record. He has 13 double-doubles this season and has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in 20 games.
• Freshman Jalen Ray hit 5-of-10 treys and averaged 13.0 ppg last week.
• Desure Buie averaged 11.0 ppg and 5.5 apg in the two wins last week.
• Hofstra has won at least 10 CAA games in three of the past four seasons.
James Madison (9-21, 5-12 in CAA)
• Fell to Hofstra (77-61) and Delaware (68-66) last week. 14 of JMU’s 17 CAA contests have been decided by single digits or in OT.
• Matt Lewis scored a team-high 23 points with a career-high 8 rebounds vs. HU and followed with 23 points at UD. He’s scored at least 13 points in 16 straight games and is averaging 17.9 ppg in CAA play.
• Lewis has scored 434 points this season, which is the 4th-most by a JMU freshman.
• Stuckey Mosley scored 12 points vs. Hofstra, and has 21 double-digit efforts in the past 23 games. He has topped the 20-point mark 12 times and has three 30-point efforts.
• Darius Banks matched his career-high with 20 points at Delaware. He ranks third in the CAA in steals with 1.6 spg.
• DeVelle Phillips tallied 10 points on 5-of-7 FG shooting vs. Hofstra. He’s shooting 62.3% from the floor in CAA play.
• Freshman Dwight Wilson contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds at Delaware.
UNCW (10-20, 7-11 in CAA)
• Went 1-1 on the road, losing 96-83 at W&M but beating Drexel 83-82 to earn the #6 seed and a 1st rd. bye for the CAA Tourney.
• Devontae Cacok posted double-doubles at W&M (18 pts/12 reb) and DU (16 pts/21 reb) at DU to up his total to 22. He leads the nation with 13.8 rpg and his 413 rebounds are the 3rd-most in a season in CAA history.
• Jaylen Fornes hit 6-of-10 threes and poured in a career-high 27 points at W&M and added 12 points at Drexel. It was Fornes’ 5th 20-point effort of the season.
• Jordon Talley had 21 points and 8 assists at DU, including the game-winning shot with 8 seconds to play. He also tallied 18 points and 9 assists at W&M. Talley has scored double digits in 21 consecutive games.
• Ty Taylor scored a team-best 23 points at Drexel and is averaging 16.6 ppg over his last 8 games.
• UNCW grabbed 18 offensive rebounds at Drexel and 15 at W&M. The Seahawks rank 7th in the nation with 14.1 offensive rebounds per game.
Northeastern (21-9, 14-4 in CAA)
• Earned a share of their 3rd CAA regular-season title in 6 years after victories over Towson (80-76) and Elon (81-59) last week. On a 7-game winning streak and won their most regular-season games since 1986-87.
• Vasa Pusica averaged 24.0 ppg last week, including a career-high tying 31 points at Elon. He’s reached double digits in 16 straight games and is in the CAA’s top 10 in points and assists. He’s averaging 23.5 ppg during NU’s 7-game win streak.
• Shawn Occeus scored a career-high 24 points with 7 rebounds vs. Towson and had 13 points and a career-high tying 6 steals at Elon. He leads the CAA in steals (2.0 spg).
• Anthony Green is shooting 72.6% from the floor for the season.
• Bolden Brace posted his 2nd double-double (10 pts/11 reb) vs. Towson and scored 11 points at Elon. He’s shooting 42.9% (33-of-77) from three in CAA play.
• NU has held 12 of its last 13 opponents to 6 treys or less. The Huskies rank 7th in the nation in 3-pt FG% defense (30.1%).
Towson (18-13, 8-10 in CAA)
• Dropped road games at Northeastern (80-75) and Hofstra (91-86) last week.
• Justin Gorham posted double-doubles at NU (career-high 28 pts/12 reb) and Hofstra (20 pts/12 reb). He has 4 double-doubles and 4 20-point efforts this season and is averaging 7.3 rpg in CAA play, which ranks 7th.
• Zane Martin poured in a career-high 36 points and added 6 rebounds and 6 assists at Hofstra. It was his third 30-point outing and 18th game with 20+ points. It was the most points ever by a TU sophomore.
• Mike Morsell averaged 11.0 ppg last week and went over 1,500 career points. He’s scored double figures in 13 straight games and is 8th on Towson’s career scoring list.
• Eddie Keith had 11 points and 3 steals at NU. He reached double figures in 12 of Towson’s 18 CAA games.
• Dennis Tunstall tied his career-high with 13 rebounds at Hofstra.
• Towson has won at least 18 games in five of the past six seasons under Pat Skerry.
William & Mary (18-11, 11-7 in CAA)
• Recorded double-digit wins in CAA play for the fifth year in a row after victories over UNCW (96-83) and Charleston (114-104/ot).
• David Cohn scored a career-high 30 points with 9 assists vs. CofC and dished out 11 assists vs. UNCW, which was his 6th game with 10+ dimes. He went over 1,000 points and 500 assists for his career last week.
• Justin Pierce hit 5-of-7 treys and scored 22 points vs. UNCW and added 16 points and 8 boards vs. CofC. He’s averaging 21.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in the past 10 games.
• Connor Burchfield averaged 19.5 ppg last week and made 6-of-9 treys. He leads the nation in 3-point FG%.
• Matt Milon averaged 17.0 ppg last week and has 6 double-digit efforts in 7 games.
• Nathan Knight averaged 18.5 ppg last week. He ranks among the top 7 in the CAA in scoring, rebounding, FG% and blocks.
• W&M shot 59.3% vs. CofC, which was its 19th game shooting at least 50%.
• W&M leads the CAA in scoring, FG%, FT%, 3-point FG% and 3-pointers per game.