NEC Quarterfinals Recap: Quinnipiac Wins, CCSU and Sacred Heart Fall

It was a tough day for New England teams in the Northeast Conference, as two of the three area teams fell on the first day of the NEC Tournament. While fifth seeded Quinnipiac took down fourth seeded St. Francis (NY), Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart both lost by double-digits against the top two teams in the conference (Wagner and LIU Brookyln). In the other game of the night, Robert Morris ended Monmouth's season with a big win.

(5) Quinnipiac 80, (4) St. Francis (NY) 72

Senior guard James Johnson finished with a game-high 22 points and moved into first place all time in the Quinnipiac scoring book to help the Bobcats advanced to the NEC Semifinals for the fifth time in six years. Johnson hit just 4-of-14 field goal attempts, but knocked down 12-of-17 free throw attempts and added eight rebounds and six assists for Quinnipiac.

Sophomore forward Ike Azotam added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds and freshmen Zaid Hearst poured in 14 points for the Bobcats. St. Francis had four players finish in double figures, led by sophomore Brent Jones' 21 points but received almost nothing from junior Akeem Johnson. The team's leading scorer and second leading rebounder managed just three points and three rebounds, as Quinnipiac dominated the boards by a 42-29 margin.

After an even first 15 minutes, Quinnipiac went on a 14-0 run over a three minute span to open up the game and put the Terriers away. St. Francis managed to cut the deficit to 49-48 midway through the second half but the Bobcats responded with a 9-0 run behind five straight points from Evan Conti. The Bobcat's lead was cut to as few as four five minutes later, but another mini Quinnipiac run put the game out of hand.

The Bobcats will play at top-seeded LIU Brooklyn Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT.

(1) LIU Brooklyn 80, (8) Sacred Heart 68

Sophomore point guard Jason Brickman led the BlackBirds with 12 points and 13 assists and LIU Brooklyn overcame a pesky Sacred Heart squad to advance to the NEC semifinals. Brickman was one of four LIU Brooklyn players to finish in double figures, as LIU Brooklyn earned their third win of the year over the Pioneers. Sacred Heart saw their season come to an end with a 14-18 record.

Junior Jamal Olasewere finished with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds and NEC Player of the Year Julian Boyd chipped in with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Shane Gibson poured in 22 points for Sacred Heart and added five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore swingman Luis Montes added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for a Pioneers squad who controlled the boards with a 34-24 margin.

Fourteen point runs were a common occurrence Thursday night, as LIU Brooklyn used a 14-0 run to open up a 35-20 lead late in the first half and a 5-0 run in the second half to put the game away. Sacred Heart seniors Stan Dulaire and Steve Zazuri played their final games in a Pioneers uniform.

(2) Wagner 87, (7) Central Connecticut State 77

Less than a week after CCSU dominated Wagner 78-61, the Seahawks got their revenge and snapped their three-game tournament slide with a double-digit victory. Sophomore Kenneth Ortiz led five Wagner players in double-figures with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists and the host team used an 18-4 run to put away the Blue Devils.

Senior Tyler Murray and sophomore Latif Rivers chipped in 15 points apiece for Wagner who shot 50 percent (30-of-60) for the game. Senior star Ken Horton tried to keep his career alive with team-highs in points (25) and rebounds (nine). Rookie of the Year Kyle Vinales added 16 points and three assists but connected on just 5-of-17 field goal attempts.

The Seahawks and Blue Devils were close to even in almost every category, but Wagner held a huge edge in bench scoring (31-17). Four CCSU players saw their career come to a close in Staten Island, as Chris Baskerville, starters Robby Ptacek, David Simmons and Horton donned the Blue and White for the final time.

(3) Robert Morris 87, (6) Monmouth 68

It was the Coron Williams show Wednesday night at the Charles Sewall Center. The sophomore guard knocked down eight 3-pointers en route to 25 points as the Colonials tied a program-record with 16 made 3-pointers.

Lucky Jones (16 points), Anthony Meyers (12 points) joined Williams in double-figures, as Robert Morris finished with a season-high 87 points. Junior guard Velton Jones finshed with 12 points and 10 assists for his first career double-double. Hawks forward Ed Waite led the team with 14 points and junior guard Jessie Steele added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Robert Morris knocked down 16-of-29 (55.2 percent) shots from beyond the arc and eld a 38-23 rebounding advantage over the Hawks. After Monmouth cut the deficit to 53-48 with 15 minutes to play, Robert Morris used a 15-2 run to end Monmouth's season. The Hawks 2011-12 campaign ends with a 12-20 record.

The Colonials will look to get back to the title game for the fourth consecutive season, when they play at Wagner Sunday at noon.

2012 Northeast Conference Tournament: Quinnipiac Advances While Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart Fall

In a conference where only the winner has any hope of getting a taste of March Madness, the action was furious in the opening round of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Thursday night. Long Island dispatched Sacred Heart easily, while Robert Morris, Wagner and Quinnipiac all moved on as well.

1. Long Island Vs. 8. Sacred Heart

In a game Long Island was expected to win, it did just that beating Sacred Heart, 80-68.

The Pioneers (14-18, 8-10) got a great effort from Shane Gibson who poured in 22 points on eight of 15 shooting. Louis Montes also accrued a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The main difference in the game was turnovers. Sacred Heart gave away its possession 16 times compared to just 10 Long Island turnovers.

Jason Brickman had a stellar game with 13 points and 12 assists, leading the way for the Blackbirds. Long Island (23-8, 16-2) showed off a balanced attack with five players in double-digits, including Jamal Olasewere who scored a team-high 20 points.

The Blackbirds will now move on to face Quinnipiac in the semi-finals.

4. St. Francis (NY) Vs. 5. Quinnipiac

Basketball is often a game of runs, and this one was no different. Quinnipiac beat St. Francis, 80-72, after blowing the contest open with a 14-0 streak late in the first half.

The game was tied at 23 when the Bobcats (18-12, 10-8) went off, taking a 37-23 advantage they would never relinquish. James Johnson was the top scorer with 23 points while Ike Azotam had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to compliment four blocks.

The Terriers (15-15, 12-6) valiantly tried to fight their way back into the game, but to no avail. Sophomore guard Brent Jones had 21 points and five assists in a wonderful performance, albeit in a losing cause.

The Bobcats advanced to earn a date with Long Island in the semi-finals.

2. Wagner Vs. 7. Central Connecticut State

Wagner took care of business, winning 87-77 over an over-matched Blue Devils team.

After being beaten badly by Central Connecticut (13-16, 10-8) less than a week ago, the Seahawks (25-5, 15-3) put their best foot forward and assured themselves of a longer season.

The Blue Devils saw senior Ken Horton have a monster game with 25 points and nine rebounds in his final collegiate performance.

Kenneth Ortiz had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds to pace Wagner.

3. Robert Morris Vs. 6. Monmouth

The Colonials beat up on Monmouth, 87-68, to advance into the semi-final round.

Coron Williams was the unquestioned star of the show, scoring 25 points. Lucky Jones also gave Robert Morris (23-9, 13-5) some punch, adding 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The Hawks (12-20, 10-8) were led Jesse Steele who had a nice all-around game of 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Ed Waite was the top-scorer for Monmouth with 14 points.

-- For more coverage of the Northeast Conference Tournament, be sure to check out this stream and SB Nation Boston.

Northeast Conference Basketball Tournament 2012: Thursday Lineup Includes Four Games

The Northeast Conference tournament kicks off on Thursday with quarterfinal action set to begin at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Both Central Connecticut State and Quinnipiac will travel as the lower-seeded team in their respective match-ups, with CCSU headed to Staten Island to take on Wagner and Quinnipiac off to play St. Francis (NY). The Blue Devils should be feeling confident, having upset Wagner last Saturday, 78-61.

The entirety of Thurday's schedule is as follows:

1. Long Island Vs. 8. Sacred Heart

2. Wagner Vs. Central Connecticut State

3. Robert Morris Vs. Monmouth

4. St. Francis (NY) Vs. Quinnipiac

The winners of Thursday's action will be reseeded for Sunday's quarterfinals, as the top remaining seed with play the lowest remaining seed, with the other semifinal pitting the second and third highest remaining seeds.

The finals will be played next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST, and can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN3.

For a full bracket with schedule, seeding and TV information, click here.

Northeast Conference Overview: Quinnipiac, Central Connecticut State, Sacred Heart Look To Open Eyes

The Northeast Conference has already trimmed their numbers from 12 to eight heading into the conference tournament, with seven more teams destined to fall before March Madness begins in two weeks. Three Connecticut teams made the cut for the tournament, but they will face steep odds to come away with even one victory. Over the past six years the top three seeds are 18-0 in the quarterfinal round, and the fourth seed is 3-1 over the past four years.

1. Long Island University Brooklyn BlackBirds (22-8, 16-2): Outside of two road losses to Robert Morris and Monmouth, the BlackBirds were perfect in NEC play and will look to defend their title from the safety of the Wellness Center. LIU Brooklyn was a perfect 12-0 at home this season and the BlackBirds current 24-game home winning streak is the second longest in the country, behind Kentucky's 21 game win streak. The BlackBirds success is predicated upon their offense, as the team is fourth in the nation, averaging 81.8 points per game. Northeast Conference Player of the Year Julian Boyd leads the conference in rebounding and double-doubles and also pours in 17.3 points per game.

2. Wagner Seahawks (24-5, 15-3): Wagner enters the tournament just as hot as LIU Brookyln, as both teams have won 17 of their past 19 games dating back to mid-December. While Wagner may not have won the regular season crown, the Seahawks did earn huge non-conference wins against the likes of Pittsburgh, UPenn and earned a program-record 24 wins. Senior guard Tyler Murray and sophomore guard Latif Rivers made the NEC Second Team; Murray leads the team with 14.4 points per game and Rivers is knocking down a conference-best 49.3 percent of his 3-point shots.

3. Robert Morris Colonials (22-9, 13-5): The 2009 and 2010 NEC Tournament Champions will look to reclaim their title behind junior guard Velton Jones. Jones was named to the NEC First Team after leading the Colonials with 16.5 points and 4.3 assists per game. Robert Morris owns the conference's best defense, as they held opponents to just 62.8 points per game, en route to their fourth 20 win season in the past five years. The Colonials aren't quite as hot as LIU Brooklyn or Wagner, but they have won 10 of their past 13 games entering Thursday's quarterfinals.

4. St. Francis (NY) Terriers (15-14, 12-6): After a rough non-conference where they won just 3 of 11 games, the other Terriers came alive with a fourth place showing in the NEC. It's certainly been a surprising ride for St. Francis, which will be hosting their first postseason game since 1997, after winning their most league games since the 2003-04 season. Junior forward Akeem Johnson leads the team with 11.6 points and is second in rebounding with 5.2 boards per game, he also leads the conference with a 57.7 field goal percentage.

5. Quinnipiac Bobcats (17-12, 10-8): Quinnipiac will look to make an improbable run to their first ever NEC Championship behind the strength of their rebounding. The Bobcats are second in the nation in rebounding margin (10.8) and rebounding per game (43.4) and will look to ride some late season momentum, that saw Quinnipiac win eight of their final 11 league games. Senior guard James Johnson leads the Bobcats with 16.3 points and adds 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Boston native Ike Azotam is one of many above average athletes on the squad, as the sophomore center averages 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

6. Monmouth Hawks (12-19, 10-8): No team had a more surprising finish to the season than the Hawks, who nearly doubled their win total with victories in five of their final six games to finish in a three-way tie for fifth. After only earning wins over Fordham and Rutgers in the non-conference (2-11), Monmouth finished the season with back-to-back victories over St. Francis (NY) and LIU Brookyln in a three-day span. Junior point guard Jesse Steele leads the team with 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game, while knocking down two 3-pointers per game.

7. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (13-15, 10-8): After a 7-3 start to their NEC slate, the Blue Devils tailed off significantly, winning just three of their final eight conference games and losing all three games against the teams they finished tied with in the standings. The good news is that CCSU is used to postseason play, the Blue Devils are making their fourteenth straight appearance (longest active streak), and head coach Howie Dickenman has led the program to three NEC titles. Last season's NEC Player of the Year Ken Horton and this year's Rookie of the Year Kyle Vinales will look to lead CCSU to their first title since 2007.

8. Sacred Heart Pioneers (14-17, 8-10): Sacred Heart comes into the tournament as the least experienced team by far, after missing out on postseason play the past two years. Junior guard Shane Gibson, one of just two players with postseason experience, will be relied upon heavily to carry the load. The First Team Member is the nation's fourth leading scorer, as he's averaging 22 points per game behind 2.7 made 3-pointers per game and an 85.7 free throw percentage. The Pioneers lost three of their final four to close the regular season, but all three losses came by single digits to teams amongst the top four in the NEC standings.

March 1st Quarterfinal Round (Hosted By Higher Seed)

(1) LIU Brooklyn Over (8) Sacred Heart: Sacred Heart did manage to take the Blackbirds to overtime on LIU Brooklyn's home floor, but this is a BlackBirds team that has won 24 in a row at home and Sacred Heart's offense isn't good enough to keep up in a shootout.

(2) Wagner Over (7) Central Connecticut State: Yes CCSU beat Wagner 78-61 Saturday but that was in Connecticut and the Blue Devils are just 3-11 on the road, although a lot of those losses have been close. (Disclaimer I have little to no confidence in this prediction)

(3) Robert Morris Over (6) Monmouth: Monmouth wasn't even supposed to be in the NEC Tournament this season and despite a very nice run, I don't see them putting enough points against a veteran Robert Morris team.

(5) Quinnipiac Over (4) St. Francis (NY): Two of the best rebounding teams in the NEC will square off and the battle on the glass will likely be the difference. Quinnipiac is a tough, gritty team with plenty of talent and that should be enough to squeak by the Terriers.

Sunday March 4 Semifinal Round (Hosted By Higher Seed)

(1) LIU Brooklyn Over (5) Quinnipiac: LIU Brookyln already has one win over the Bobcats at home this season (99-89) and the team's strong rebounding and even better offense will be too much for Quinnipiac.

(3) Robert Morris Over (2) Wagner: Wagner earned an 80-69 win the first time these two teams met on Staten Island but the Colonials defense will slow down the Seahawks to a much lower total this time around.

Wednesday March 7 Final Round (Hosted By Higher Seed)

(3) Robert Morris Over (1) LIU Brooklyn: In the classic battle of offense versus defense, Robert Morris will move to 2-0 against the Regular Season champion BlackBirds. Robert Morris has been the most consistently successful program recently and become just the third three seed in 31 years to win the NEC Tournament Title.