MBB: Little East

[amh63]

7express...your spread projection for UNLV vs. La Verne is quite good!  Score was 91 to 44.

[ECSUalum]

Please pray for the families who lost a child, father, mother, brother, sister or other relative/friend today in Newtown CT 11 days before Chrstmas

[7express]

Saturday schedule:
Westfield state 62 @ USM 65.
Tough game for USM.  Westfield state is 8-1 on the year and includes a win over a very good Springfield team.  However, Maine teams are extremely tough to beat in Maine, and this USM team looks good this year.
Plymouth 65 @ Lyndon state 61.
Lyndon state is 3-3 on the season, but 3-0 in their conference the NAC.  Unfortunately, for Lyndon this is a non league game.

[7express]

I agre ECSU, so sad that this terrible tragedy had to happen.  So senseless and unecessary.  Hits home too since I live 30 minutes away and West Conn is 15 minutes away      Thoughts and prayers with those all effected.

[7express]

Sat results:

Lyndon 69-68.
Kevin Eisenberg (new addition??) lead the Panthers with 18 points.  Petey Skevas had 14 off the bench for the Panthers, the first action he's seen in the last couple games.  Jason Gray lead all scorers for Lyndon with 19.
Westfield 80-79.
USM was up 7 with about 3 minutes left and up 5 with about 29 seconds left and lost on a buzzer beater from about halfcourt.   Alex Kee had a career high 29 points for USM, but only hit 1 of 2 free throws with 5 seconds to play with the Huskies up 1 which allowed Lee Vazquez to win the game for Westfield with about a 38 foot 3 to win instead of forcing OT.
LEC back under .500 27-28 OOC record

Next game Wed: RIC @ J&W.

[7express]

Wed schedule:

RIC 76 @ Johnson & Wales 75.
RIC 7-2, but have lost their last 2 games.  J&W is 4-5, but have been in pretty much every game this year.  They lost by 13 & 20 to Roanake & Lynchburg in Virginia, but hung with Middlebury and only lost by 8 (was tied with about 4 minutes left).  J&W's last game they lost in overtime against Dartmouth for Dartmouth's first win this year.  1 common opponent: J&W lost @ Salve by 4, RIC won @ Salve by 24.  City rivalry, think it will be close, but RIC wins.

[7express]

Wed results:

RIC 65-52 over J&W.
Nyheem Sanders had 20 points to lead J&W and Tahrike Carter (11) and Chris Burton (14) also scored in double figures for RIC.  RIC forced 25 J&W turnovers
28-28 LEC OOC record.

1 game Friday:
Eastern 72 vs. Buffalo state 71 (@ Miami, FL).
Hopefully Magicman can give us a scourting report on Buffalo state, but if not I know he'll have a more detailed preview of this game over on the SUNYAC board in the East region.  Also his predicted scorers are usually better and closer then mines.  Not knowing a lot about Buffalo state they are 6-2 and 3-1 in the SUNYAC a pretty good conference.  Their 2 losses are at home to a 7-3 Nazareth team and on the road to a 7-2 Plattsburgh team.   Buffalo state has scored 84+ in all 8 games this year and has cracked 97+ in 3 of 8 games, so they can score and score a lot.  However they give up a lot of points as well.  They've given up 65+ in 7 of 8 games and in their last 2 have given up 93 & 98.  Not knowing about the SUNYAC, Buffalo state or New Paltz, Buffalo state looks like a slightly better version then New Paltz: a team that also scored a lot, but gave up a lot as well.  Eastern beat that New Paltz team on the road, I think they get Buffalo state on a neutral site.

[LECFAN32]

very athletic, good program..polar opposite of eastern from what i can tell

[magicman]

Saw what 7express had to say about the Buffalo State-Eastern Connecticut game. Thought I would copy my post from the SUNYAC board over here to make it easier for the LEC fans.

Buffalo State vs Eastern Connecticut at Miami Florida 3:00 PM

As my friend 7express, from the LEC wrote, this should be a good one. The Warriors and Bengals have played a common opponent in New Paltz and both teams came away with a 4 point win over the Hawks. Buffalo won at home while Eastern won at Hawk Center. Both teams with 6-2 records, with quality wins and tough losses. I think the Bengals will be hard to slow down, but Eastern can play an up tempo game as well. Buff State guards, Rod Epps (25.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 25x67 3's) and Jake Simmons (19.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 23x61 3's) are the heart of the Bengals offense and it's hard to shut them down. The Bengals 3rd guard is Anthony Hamer, who averages 7.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 6.0 apg. The Warriors counter with a solid backcourt as well in Brian Salzillo and Joe Ives. SUNYAC fans may remember Salzillo as he was the Eastern player who hit the big bucket against Oswego last year in the 2nd round of the NCAA's. Down 69-67 in the 2nd overtime, Salzillo came down and nailed a 3 pointer with about 5 seconds left to give Eastern a 70-69 win. There is a question about Salzillo's availability for today's game. He has missed the past 2 games for a rules infraction and I don't know if his temporary suspension will carry over to the Florida trip or not. The Warriors will start freshman Trachone Preston in place of Salzillo if he can't go. Salzillo averages 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg and leads the team in 3 point shooting with 26x61 (42.6%). Preston averages 7.5 ppg, and is 10x18 from downtown. Preston may start even if Salzillo plays but Salzillo gets 32 minutes a game to only 20 minutes for Preston. Ives is 3rd on the team in scoring with 12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 12x29 from long distance. I have to give the edge to the Bengals in the backcourt not only for the scoring differential but for the ball hawking abilities of their 3 guards as well. Epps, Simmons and Hamer have combined for 55 steals in 8 games. Salzillo, Ives and Preston have 11 in 8 games. Eastern has the edge with their big men and if the Bengals' bigs get in early foul trouble that could prove to be a difference maker. The Warriors leading scorer is 6'4" jr forward Mike Garrow (16.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and 6'5" sr. forward Chris Robitaille is also hitting for double figs at 11.1 ppg with 7.3 rpg. A starter in 5 of 8 games this year, Tyler Hundley a 6'6" sr. forward gives them 5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg. The Warriors also bring in occasional starter Brandon Yarborough who has 4.0 ppg and 6.8 rpg while averaging 22 minutes of floor time. Buffalo State counters with 6'7" soph Anyar Majak (10.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and 6'8" sr. Seth Runge (6.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Ryan Carny comes off the bench and adds 5.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 21 minutes per game.

This is a tough game to predict and it really is a pick em game. Three point shooting, a solid weapon for both teams, will be the deciding factor, I think. I've seen Jake Simmons light it up in person and believe he or Epps will be the difference makers. Plus I think the Bengals will win the turnover battle to offset any rebounding deficit. Like 7express I'm going with a homer pick and taking the Bengals to win this one over the Warriors 83-80.           

[magicman]

Just got off the phone with a member of the Buffalo State coaching staff. He said the final score was Buffalo State 89 Eastern Connecticut 85. Eastern was up by 1 at the half, the Bengals scored something like 8 of the final 11 points in the game to pull out the win. He was driving back to the hotel and said he would call me with some stats in about 30 minutes. Said it was a great game.

[ECSUalum]

From Buffalo State Athletics:
MIAMI, Fla.—Sophomore Anyar Majak (Rochester/Jefferson) netted a career-high 31 points and had seven rebounds and five blocks to lead Buffalo State (7-2) to an 89-85 victory over Eastern Connecticut (6-3) today in the Adidas Holiday Slam at Florida Christian School.

Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) added 22 points and five rebounds, and Jake Simmons (Rochester/School of the Arts) scored 19 points, including 16 in the second half.

Buffalo State will remain in the "Sunshine State" to take on Coe (Iowa) tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Sounds like it was a great game, congrats to Buffalo State!!  Hope the LEC and SUNYAC can continue to play interconference!!! Oswego St was a great game last year in the Sweet 16, and New Paltz this year was a tough win as well.  ECSU and Cortland St have played some great baseball in the past!!!! Both Conferences with fine set of teams!!

BTW, magic, pretty close on the final score

[magicman]

From Buffalo State Athletics:
MIAMI, Fla.—Sophomore Anyar Majak (Rochester/Jefferson) netted a career-high 31 points and had seven rebounds and five blocks to lead Buffalo State (7-2) to an 89-85 victory over Eastern Connecticut (6-3) today in the Adidas Holiday Slam at Florida Christian School.

Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) added 22 points and five rebounds, and Jake Simmons (Rochester/School of the Arts) scored 19 points, including 16 in the second half.

Buffalo State will remain in the "Sunshine State" to take on Coe (Iowa) tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Sounds like it was a great game, congrats to Buffalo State!!  Hope the LEC and SUNYAC can continue to play interconference!!! Oswego St was a great game last year in the Sweet 16, and New Paltz this year was a tough win as well.  ECSU and Cortland St have played some great baseball in the past!!!! Both Conferences with fine set of teams!!

BTW, magic, pretty close on the final score

Thanks ECSU alum,
I was hoping to have some stats from the Eastern side of the scorebook by now and just spoke with a Buff State coach again, but they are still in vehicles heading to downtown Miami to get some supper. All I gleened from him was that Eastern had eight 3 pointers and the Bengals had 4. That surprised me a bit. Buffalo State won the rebounding battle and had 10 turnovers to 14 I think for Eastern. The Majak kid is the real deal as I witnessed his previous breakout performance against Plattsburgh several weeks ago. I just didn't think he would surpass that effort today against the Warriors. I'll post more info if I get it.

As you stated it would be nice to continue these interconference games in the years to come. Possiblity of Eastern meeting Plattsburgh on Jan. 3rd at Franklin & Marshall's tournament. I'm hoping that works out. We both need to win our 1st game, (or both lose our 1st game, but I don't like the sound of that). 

[ECSUalum]

From Buffalo State Athletics:
MIAMI, Fla.—Sophomore Anyar Majak (Rochester/Jefferson) netted a career-high 31 points and had seven rebounds and five blocks to lead Buffalo State (7-2) to an 89-85 victory over Eastern Connecticut (6-3) today in the Adidas Holiday Slam at Florida Christian School.

Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) added 22 points and five rebounds, and Jake Simmons (Rochester/School of the Arts) scored 19 points, including 16 in the second half.

Buffalo State will remain in the "Sunshine State" to take on Coe (Iowa) tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Sounds like it was a great game, congrats to Buffalo State!!  Hope the LEC and SUNYAC can continue to play interconference!!! Oswego St was a great game last year in the Sweet 16, and New Paltz this year was a tough win as well.  ECSU and Cortland St have played some great baseball in the past!!!! Both Conferences with fine set of teams!!

BTW, magic, pretty close on the final score

Thanks ECSU alum,
I was hoping to have some stats from the Eastern side of the scorebook by now and just spoke with a Buff State coach again, but they are still in vehicles heading to downtown Miami to get some supper. All I gleened from him was that Eastern had eight 3 pointers and the Bengals had 4. That surprised me a bit. Buffalo State won the rebounding battle and had 10 turnovers to 14 I think for Eastern. The Majak kid is the real deal as I witnessed his previous breakout performance against Plattsburgh several weeks ago. I just didn't think he would surpass that effort today against the Warriors. I'll post more info if I get it.

As you stated it would be nice to continue these interconference games in the years to come. Possiblity of Eastern meeting Plattsburgh on Jan. 3rd at Franklin & Marshall's tournament. I'm hoping that works out. We both need to win our 1st game, (or both lose our 1st game, but I don't like the sound of that).

+1K for your efforts on the stats on the ECSU-BS game

[7express]

As my friend Magic already stated, Buffalo state with the close 89-85 win over Eastern.  Apparantly, Buffalo scored 8 of the final 11 points of the game to pull off the win.
28-29 OOC record.

Eastern 69 vs. Messiah 61.
Last game for Eastern in Florida, last game for the LEC before Christmas, and one of the last games in division 3 before Christmas.  Messiah is 5-4 and plays in the MAC freedom conference where 7 of the 10 teams are at .500 or better.  The 4 teams Messiah lost to are a combined 27-11 this year.    I think Eastern goes home with the W.

[magicman]

Box score from the Eastern-Buffalo St. game is now available on their D3hoops team page.

In the first game of the Adidas Holiday Slam tournament this afternoon, Buffalo State defeated Coe College 83-67.