• 399 CAMPUS DR. • SOMERSET, NJ 08873 • PH: (732) 469-0440 • FAX: (732) 469-0744 • WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG

For Immediate Release www.twitter.com/NECsports www.facebook.com/NECsports October 21, 2014 www.youtube.com/NECsports

Terrier First! St. Francis Brooklyn Tops 2014-15 NEC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Somerset, NJ -- For the first time in the history of the St. Francis Brooklyn men’s bas- ketball program, the Terriers will enter a season with the bullseye on their back. Named 2014-15 NEC Men’s Basketball the preseason 2014-15 NEC favorite by league head coaches, St. Francis Brooklyn will Preseason Coaches Poll look to bookend its year with another, more meaningful first: the program’s first-ever NEC Tournament championship. 1. St. Francis Brooklyn (6) 2. Central Connecticut (3) The announcement of the annual preseason poll was made Tuesday morning during 3. Robert Morris NEC Basketball “Social” Media Day at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. St. Francis Brook- 4. Saint Francis U (1) lyn claimed six first place votes to finish ahead of Central Connecticut, which earned 5. Mount St. Mary’s three first place nods. 6. Bryant 7. Wagner Perennial contender Robert Morris was chosen third in the poll, followed by western 8. LIU Brooklyn Pennsylvania counterpart Saint Francis U in fourth. The Red Flash were awarded one 9. Fairleigh Dickinson first place vote. Defending NEC Tournament champion Mount St. Mary’s was picked 10. Sacred Heart fifth, followed by Bryant in sixth and Wagner in the seventh spot. LIU Brooklyn, Fair- First place votes in parentheses leigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart occupied spots eight through ten.

Conducted annually, NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion two times in the last 15 years. Over the last 27 years, the coaches have proven inaccurate on 23 occasions or 85 percent of the time.

St. Francis Brooklyn (18-14, 9-7 NEC) While the and the Terriers find themselves in unfamiliar territory selected as the preseason favorite for the first time in the 34-year history of the NEC, there is good reason league head coaches tapped the Brooklyn Heights-based program to the top spot. With a host of key players back in the fold from an 18-win team, St. Francis Brooklyn fans could be dancing on Remsen Street for the first time this coming March.

Braica, now in his fifth year, has stressed defense and rebounding since taking over the program in 2010, a strategy that has certainly paid off for the Terriers. Last season, St. Francis Brooklyn led the NEC in scoring defense (66.8), and ranked second in field goal percentage defense (.410), three-point percentage defense (.333) and blocked shots (5.3). Likewise, the Terri- ers paced the league in rebound margin (+3.2/game). The defense-first mantra was particularly evident in SFBK’s stunning season-opening win at Miami last November, in which the Terriers outrebounded the Hurricanes and held the ACC opponent to 31 percent shooting from the floor. Likewise, Braica’s troops limited Syracuse to 35 percent shooting in a near upset of the Orange in the Carrier Dome.

Bryant University • Central Connecticut State University • Fairleigh Dickinson University • LIU Brooklyn Mount St. Mary’s University • • Sacred Heart University St. Francis Brooklyn • Saint Francis University • Wagner College Braica will build around two of the NEC’s premier talents in senior power forward (Allentown, PA/William Al- len) and senior point guard Brent Jones (Brooklyn, NY/Bedford Academy). A fierce post player and elite rebounder, Cannon has spent the last three years dominating the paint for the Terriers. A year ago, he averaged 14.9 ppg, a league-leading 8.2 rpg and recorded nine double-doubles. Cannon needs 208 more rebounds to become the fourth player in NEC history to reach 1,000 for his career and 241 boards to set a new conference record. Jones came into his own last season, emerging as an elite-level floor general. The cat-quick guard ranked third in the league with 6.0 apg and tossed in 7.5 ppg. Junior forward Amdy Fall (New York, NY/Wings Academy) stood out as a defensive presence in his first year in Brooklyn Heights, ranking third in the league with 1.7 blocks per game. Fall’s enormous potential was on full display in a late-season win over Bryant, when he posted a near triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds and 10 blocks. Senior forwards Kevin Douglas (Bronx, NY/ Frederick Douglass Academy) (4.0 ppg) and Lowell Ulmer (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) (3.5 ppg) are seasoned veterans who will help assimilate SFBK’s seven newcomers to the roster.

Central Connecticut (11-19, 7-9 NEC) As the dean of NEC head coaches and one of the league’s most enduring and popular figures, CCSU’s has been to the mountaintop on three occasions - winning conference championships in 2000, 2002 and 2007 - and taken the Blue Devils to 16 straight NEC Tournaments, two shy of the league record. Returning one of the NEC’s most experienced lineups, Blue Devils fans are already buzzing about the possibility of a fourth title trophy coming home to New Britain.

The centerpiece of Dickenman’s plans remains senior guard Kyle Vinales (Detroit, MI/Phelps School). A scintillating scorer with unshakable confidence, Vinales missed nine games with a broken finger last season, but upon his return helped CCSU win five of its last seven games to lift the Blue Devils into the NEC playoffs once again. The third team All-NEC pick led CCSU in scoring (17.3), assists (3.9) and three-pointers (56), and enters the year with 1,514 career points, most among active NEC players. Vinales has a realistic chance to become just the seventh player in conference annals to rack up 2,000 career points. Classmate Malcolm McMillan (Baltimore, MD/John Carroll) is one of the league’s top returning floor generals after averaging 10.8 ppg and 3.2 apg last season and promising sophomore guard Matt Mobley (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) (6.8 ppg, 88.1 FT percentage) was tabbed to the NEC All-Rookie team a year ago. Sophomore Khalen Cumberlander (Washing- ton, D.C./Coolidge) started 19 games as a freshman and chipped in with 6.5 ppg. A strong frontcourt features senior Faronte Drakeford (Wilmington, NC/Pinecrest (Cape Fear CC)), a third team NEC all-star who contributed 13.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg in his first year with the Blue Devils last season. Active in the paint, Drakeford posted eight games with 20+ points and ranked seventh in the NEC in field goal percentage, hitting 48.7 percent of his shots from the floor. JuniorBrandon Peel (Forestville, MD/Riverdale Baptist) provides an interior presence for CCSU. Peel finished second in the NEC with 2.0 blocks per game and sixth with 6.3 rebounds per outing. Displaying an improved touch around the hoop, Peel knocked down 54.6 percent of his shots and averaged 7.1 ppg as a sophomore.

Robert Morris (22-14, 14-2 NEC) The winningest program in NEC history continues continued to build on its tradition last year with yet another NEC regular championship and trip to the postseason. The Colonials have now compiled a remarkable 163-81 (.668) record and made seven postseason appearances in the last eight years, the last three of which have come under , the reigning NEC Coach of the Year. Following a four-year stretch that saw Robert Morris win its sixth and seventh NEC championships (2009 & 2010) and reach a pair of NEC title games (2011 & 2012), the Colonials have been tripped up in the semifinals the last two seasons, but in each case regrouped to post marquee victories in the Postseason NIT. RMU captivated the college basketball world in 2013 by beating Kentucky in the Sewall Center, then went on the road to knock off St. John’s last season.

If an eighth title is in the cards for Toole and Co., the Colonials will need to replace the offensive production of 2013-14 NEC Player of the Year Karvel Anderson while seamlessly integrating eight newcomers into the mix. While the spotlight fell on Anderson last season, preseason All-NEC swingman Lucky Jones (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony) will serve as RMU’s do-it-all per- former in 2014-15. The senior averaged 13.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg and hit 70 shots from long range last season, and in a testament to his versatility ranked in the NEC top-10 in five different individual categories. With 72 wins in their first three years, Jones and classmate David Appolon (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) (4.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg) are 20 wins away from becoming winningest NEC men’s basketball players of all-time. Senior sharpshooter Charles Oliver (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains (Lakeland CC)) (6.3 ppg, 35 3PFG) is another experienced hand who may be given a shot to help replenish Anderson’s output at the two spot. Sophomore Kavon Stewart (Paterson, NJ/Hudson Catholic) looks to be the heir apparent at the point after ending his freshman season averaging 4.9 ppg and 2.8 apg in a reserve role. Up front, the Colonials return junior Stephan Bennett (Lake Station, IN/Bowman Academy) (4.6 ppg) and senior Aaron Tate (New Bern, NC/West Craven (Dodge City CC)) (3.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg), a pair of steady producers for the Colonials. Look for 6’8” local product Elijah Minnie (Monessen, PA/Lincoln Park) and 6’9” transfer Lionel Gomis (Dakar, Senegal/Blair Academy (NJ) (Cloud County CC)) to challenge for frontcourt minutes. Saint Francis U (10-21, 7-9 NEC) While Saint Francis U was greatly improved last year and returned to the NEC postseason after a two-year absence, it was a four-day period in March that became the talk of the conference and sparked a renewed sense of optimism for Red Flash fol- lowers heading into the 2014-15 campaign. It started when SFU went on the road to beat Bryant in the NEC quarterfinals, the first tourney win for the program since 1995. And to prove it was no fluke, the Red Flash took NEC regular season champion Robert Morris down to the wire in the semis before falling short by three points. With 100 percent of his scoring returning this season and three newcomers bringing some needed size up front, third year head coach appears to have the necessary chemistry to build an NEC contender this season in Loretto.

The straw that stirs the drink for SFU remains senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter), the NEC’s Most Improved Player back in 2012-13. A terror on the glass and in the paint, Brown is equally adept at running the floor and finishing on the break. The Philly native earned second team All-NEC plaudits last season after he ranked eighth in the league in scoring (14.4), and third in rebounding (8.0), field goal percentage (.531) and double-doubles (nine). Another player who earned postseason honors was lightning quick point guard Malik Harmon (Queens, NY/Christ the King), the 2013-14 NEC Rookie of the Year. Harmon immediately claimed a spot in the starting lineup and contributed 8.7 ppg, a team-high 2.9 apg and 45 three-pointers on the season. The Red Flash certainly don’t lack outside shooters. Along with Harmon, junior Ben Millaud-Meunier (Montreal, Quebec/Vanier) (56 3PFG, 8.3 ppg)) will team up with seniors Dominique Major (Woodbridge, VA/Forest Park) (55 3PFG, 6.9 ppg) and Ollie Jackson (Dallas, TX/Pinkston) (29 3PFG, 5.1 ppg) in a deep backcourt. Junior Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, OH/Greenview) joins Brown to form one of the top one-two frontcourt punches in the NEC. Drinnon exploded for 20 points and 18 boards in SFU’s playoff win over Bryant and ended the year averaging 7.4 ppg and 5.7 rpg while converting 53.1 percent of his shot attempts. Krimmel’s nine-man rotation from last season also included veteran guards Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) (5.4 ppg) and Greg Brown (Odenton, MD/Archbishop Spalding) (4.1 ppg).

Mount St. Mary’s (16-17, 9-7 NEC) They dub it #MountMayhem in Emmitsburg, but over the last two years #MarchMayhem would be just as appropriate. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from ’s first two years at the helm of the Mount program, is that the season is a marathon, not a sprint. Mount St. Mary’s has now posted an 18-6 record against NEC competition in February and March under Christian, including an appearance in the 2013 NEC title game and the program’s fourth NEC championship last season despite entering the tournament as a #4 seed. With the team’s three 1,000-point scorers - NEC all-stars Julian Norfleet and Ra- shad Whack, along with swingman Sam Prescott - lost to graduation, Christian has brought in the next wave of athletic, three- point shooting, full-court pressing players to carry on what has quickly become a trademark style of play for the Mountaineers.

No less than eight newcomers have been added to the mix a lineup that will be the league’s biggest top-to-bottom with eight players measuring at 6’7” taller. The tallest member of the Mount - and the NEC for that matter - is junior center Taylor Da- naher (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg Christian School), a seven-footer who came into his own on both ends of the floor last season. With a sweet touch stretching out to the perimeter, Danaher sank 60.4 percent of his shots from the floor and 84.4 percent from the line while averaging 7.1 ppg. He also snared 5.0 rpg and blocked 44 shots on the year. Classmate Gregory Graves (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) was a solid contributor off the bench and like Danaher, could be poised for a breakout season. Graves led the team with 5.4 rpg and chipped in with 6.5 ppg. After going down with a season-ending knee injury seven games into his senior year, 6’11” center Kristijan Krajina (Osijek, Croatia/Blue Ridge School (VA)) returns for a sixth season. Krajina averaged 5.7 ppg and 4.3 rpg in the seven-game stint a year ago. Sophomore forward Will Miller (Dallas, TX/Highland Park) wasted little time in establishing himself as a top three-point threat last season, knocking down 55 trifectas on the year at a team-best 39.9 percent clip. Under the national spotlight, Miller hit seven three-pointers in a career-high 21-point effort against Albany in the NCAA Tournament. Returning in the backcourt are sophomores and part-time starters Byron Ashe (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate), who tallied 7.0 ppg and 48 3PFG, and defensive specialist Khalid Nwandu (York, PA/Northeastern). Keep and eye on Marshall transfer Chris Martin (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Patrick (NJ) (Marshall)) and Butler transfer Andrew Smeathers (Bargersville, IN/Center Grove), a pair of juniors who practiced with the team last season. Bryant (18-14, 10-6 NEC) With 37 wins over the last two seasons, seventh year head coach Tim O’Shea has not only positioned the Bulldogs as an NEC contender, but paved the way for the Chace Center to become perhaps the toughest and most raucous arena to play in within the conference. With fan support at an all-time high, the Bulldog faithful will be without crowd favorite Alex Francis, who graduated following a stellar career that produced over 2,000 points and nearly 1,000 rebounds. Francis, a two-time first team All-NEC honoree, and third team all-star Corey Maynard were two of the building blocks in Bryant’s DI renaissance, but despite their departure to the professional ranks, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare for O’Shea and the Bulldogs.

This year’s Bryant squad will revolve around senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN/Duluth East), the NEC’s leading return- ing scorer. The Duluth, MN native can string together baskets in a hurry and possesses the confidence to take - and make - big shots. Starks, who dropped 35 points against Gonzaga last season, finished third in the NEC with 18.9 ppg as a junior and hit 88 three-point shots. The second team All-NEC selection will be joined in the backcourt by senior Joe O’Shea (Bur- lington, VA/Burlington (Holy Cross)) and junior point guard Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, NJ/Choate Rosemary Hall). One of the more versatile players on the circuit, O’Shea could see a boost in offensive production this season as Bryant looks to fill the 32+ points lost with the graduation of Francis and Maynard. A solid mid- and long-range shooter, O’Shea knocked down 35 3PFG, and averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg in his junior campaign. The steady McLaughlin earned 16 starts, sported a nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season and drained 45.7 percent of his shots from distance. Bryant faithful have to be excited about the potential of sophomore Dan Garvin (Bethel, CT/Bethel), who averaged 6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg and blocked 36 shots in his first year in black and gold. An active defensive presence, the 6’6” forward can play above the rim and finish on the break. Junior swingman Curtis Oakley (South Euclid, OH/Charles F. Brush) (3.8 ppg) provides Bryant with a solid mid-range shooter off the bench.

Wagner (19-12, 12-4 NEC) The hoops renaissance on Grymes Hill the last three years has also been one of the NEC’s most compelling stories. Wagner has posted 63 wins in that span, including a 39-13 mark in league play, and produced a slew of All-NEC performers. While the Seahawks have enjoyed tremendous success, an NEC championship has proved elusive with the Seahawks falling in the tournament semifinals in each of the three seasons. Still the nation’s youngest DI head coach at 30 years of age, Bashir Ma- son’s first two teams have taken on his own personality as tough, gritty, defensive-minded units that give opponents fits for 40 minutes. With the departure of three-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year Kenneth Ortiz and former All-NEC standout Latif Rivers in the backcourt, along with three key frontcourt losses, the third-year head coach overhauled his roster in the offseason with seven new faces set to suit up this winter.

Mason brings back a pair of key returnees in senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) and junior guard Dwaun Anderson (Suttons Bay, MI/Suttons Bay (Michigan State)). One of the NEC’s top sixth-men the last two years, Burton will take on a more prominent role with Ortiz’s exit. Burton finished third on Wagner in scoring last season with 11.0 ppg despite playing just 22 minutes per contest. He sank 47 three-pointers, and shot 37.3 percent from outside the arc and 86.8 percent from the stripe. Anderson, a former Michigan State transfer, is among the NEC’s most athletic players and a SportsCenter Top-10 regular for his highlight reel jams. He started 21 games a year ago, averaging 5.5 points per outing. To bolster his guard unit Mason brought in four freshman who will be given the opportunity to contribute right off the bat. Look for sophomores Nolan Long (Waterford, CT/Waterford (South Kent School)) and Greg Senat (Elmont, NY/Elmont (Mari- anapolis Prep (CT))) to assume feature roles in the frontcourt after seeing limited action as freshmen. The 6’10” Long, who doubles as a starting pitcher on the Wagner baseball team, displayed a nice touch from mid-range while Senat, at 6’8” and 240 lbs., has the size and athleticism to become a solid interior player for the Seahawks.

LIU Brooklyn (9-20, 4-12 NEC) The winds of change are in the air in downtown Brooklyn. Following a history-making three-year NEC title run from 2011- 13, LIU Brooklyn suffered through an injury-riddled 2013-14 season that resulted in the Blackbirds missing out on the NEC Tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign. Likewise, with the graduation of NEC all-time assist leader Jason Brickman, senior guard Gerrell Martin (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) is the lone player remaining with a connection to the LIU three-peat. Third-year head coach Jack Perri hopes his young team with seven newcomers and nine underclassmen merely reflects a changing of the guard that leads to another extended run and talked about chapter in the school’s rich basketball history.

One of just three seniors on the Blackbirds, Martin is without question one of the NEC’s top marksmen. He ranked second in the conference in three-point percentage last season, with a 44.0 percent success rate on his 59 makes from long range. The Bronx native is also LIU’s leading returning scorer at 12.2 ppg. Sophomore guards Joel Hernandez (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and Iverson Fleming (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) were both solid contributors as freshman. Hernandez battled injuries and missed the first 12 games of the year, but showed steady improvements upon his return, netting 4.8 ppg off the bench. Fleming backed up Brickman and averaged 3.9 ppg, including a 22-point performance in December that earned him Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week honors. Senior Landon Atterberry (Detroit, MI/Southfield (Cape Fear CC)) provided LIU with some consistency in the frontcourt in his first year with the Blackbirds. The inside-outside threat put up 10.8 ppg on 52.0 percent shooting from the field along with 4.1 rpg. SophomoreGlenn Feidanga (Bangui, Central African Republic/ The Rock School (FL)) came on strong the second half of the season and twice earned NEC Rookie weekly honors. The 6’8” forward finished his freshman year with 4.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg. Among the bevy of newcomers this season for LIU are a pair of guards from Iceland - Elvar Friðriksson (Reykjanesbaer, Iceland/Njardvik) and Martin Hermannsson (Reykjavik, Iceland/ Reykjavík) - and 6’6” twin forwards Trevin and Trevon Woods (Houston, TX/Fort Bend Austin) out of Texas.

Fairleigh Dickinson (10-21, 6-10 NEC) Talk about making a splash. Coming off three subpar seasons for the historically strong program, the era got off to a flying start with the Knights knocking off in-state programs Rutgers and Seton Hall in back-to-back games early on in non-conference play. The wins put FDU back on the college basketball map and signaled to conference brethren that the Knights would provide a stiff test once NEC play rolled around. With do-it-all senior guard Sidney Sanders Jr. leading the way, FDU improved its league win total by four and qualified for the NEC Tournament for the first time since 2010. Heading into his second year, Herenda will need to replace the All-NEC guard, but there are enough pieces already in place for the Knights to exceed expectations once again this season.

Senior guard Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann Goretti) (Hartford)) is an elite outside shooter with an itchy trigger finger. The Philly native came into his own last year, and could develop into one of the NEC’s top scoring threats this year as the Knights attempt to fill the offensive void left by Sanders’ graduation. Jones made 74 three-point shots at a 39.6 percent rate last season to rank sixth in the conference in makes (2.39/game) and seventh in accuracy. FDU’s leading returning scorer (9.7 ppg) will be flanked by All-NEC rookieMatt MacDonald (Buffalo, NY/Canisius). McDonald led all NEC freshman with 53 three-pointers and averaged 8.6 ppg. His late trifecta proved to be the game-winner in the upset win over Rutgers. Sophomore Malachi Nix (Evanston, IL/Niles North) will have an opportunity to assume the starting point guard role. The super-quick Nix cracked the rotation as a freshman last season, contributing 3.7 ppg off the bench. Junior Xavier Harris (Philadelphia, PA/ Constitution) is a key returnee up front. The burly 6’6”, 230 lb. forward shot 55.6 percent from the field, and contributed 4.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg in a reserve role last season. Herenda added six freshman in the offseason along with Iowa transfer Darius Stokes (Marion, IA/Linn-Mar (Iowa)), who will compete for frontcourt minutes.

Sacred Heart (5-26, 2-14 NEC) With a nice blend of youth and experience, the pieces seem to be falling into place for Sacred Heart and second year head coach . In a year with so many NEC teams in flux, Latina knows he can count on the contributions of his three- man, battle-tested senior backcourt, along with NEC All-Rookie forward De’von Barnett (Waldorf, MD/Riverdale Baptist School). A host of promising Pioneers newcomers will compete for playing time in an attempt to become the next generation building blocks for a program that has experienced a great deal of success over the last decade.

How far Sacred Heart moves up the standings this season could depend on the contributions both on and off the court of tri-captains Evan Kelley (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk), Phil Gaetano (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (Choate Rosemary)) and Steve Glowiak (New Britain, CT/New Britain), who will mentor a bevy of backcourt newcomers. When healthy, there is little Kelly can’t accomplish on the court. He can score in a variety of ways and last season tied for team-high honors with 12.8 ppg. Gaetano’s super power is his court vision, as it has enabled him to rank in the top-10 in the nation in assists in each of the last two years. As a junior, he dropped 6.3 dimes per contest and enters the year ranked tenth on the NEC career assists list with 545. Glowiak’s possesses seemingly endless range on his shot. Last year he ranked fourth in the conference in made three-pointers (2.71 per game, 84 on the year) and eighth in three-point percentage (.384). Barnett, who lost the first seven games of the year due to injury, came on strong for the Pioneers, winning three Choice Hotels/NEC Rookie of the Week awards by year’s end. He shot a team-best 52.8 percent from the floor, while averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.6 rpg. His 17.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg over the season’s last four outings could be a harbinger of things to come from the athletic small forward. Look for junior forward Tevin Falzon (Newton, MA/Newton North (Winchendon School)) (3.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) to be a fixture on the front line along with Hofstra transfer Jordan Allen (Bayshore, NY/Long Island Lutheran (Hofstra)). Allen, a graduate student with two years of eligibility remaining, contributed 6.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg while making 30 starts for the Pride in 2013-14. NEC Preseason Coaches Poll History (last 27 years)

Year Preseason Favorite NEC Tournament Champion (actual regular season finish) (preseason selection)

2013-14 Wagner (2nd) Mount St. Mary’s (6th) 2012-13 LIU Brooklyn (3rd) LIU Brooklyn (1st) 2011-12 LIU Brooklyn (1st) LIU Brooklyn (1st) 2010-11 Quinnipiac (2nd) LIU Brooklyn (3rd) 2009-10 Mount St. Mary’s (3rd) Robert Morris (tie 3rd) 2008-09 Mount St. Mary’s (tie 2nd) Robert Morris (3rd) 2007-08 Sacred Heart (3rd) Mount St. Mary’s (4th) 2006-07 Monmouth (tie 8th) CCSU (tie 4th) 2005-06 Fairleigh Dickinson (1st) Monmouth (2nd) 2004-05 Monmouth (1st) Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd) 2003-04 Quinnipiac (10th) Monmouth (3rd) 2002-03 CCSU (3rd) Wagner (2nd) 2001-02 Monmouth (4th) CCSU (4th) 2000-01 CCSU (tie 5th) CCSU (3rd) 1999-00 Mount St. Mary’s (tie 7th) CCSU (3rd) 1998-99 Mount St. Mary’s (tie 5th) Mount St. Mary’s (1st) 1997-98 LIU Brooklyn (1st) Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd) 1996-97 Monmouth (3rd) LIU Brooklyn (4th) 1995-96 Monmouth/Rider (tie 2nd/4th) Monmouth (tie 1st) 1994-95 Rider (1st) Mount St. Mary’s (3rd) 1993-94 Fairleigh Dickinson (tie 5th) Rider (3rd) 1992-93 Wagner (2nd) Rider (3rd) 1991-92 Monmouth (tie 2nd) Robert Morris (2nd) 1990-91 Monmouth (4th) Saint Francis U (3rd) 1989-90 Fairleigh Dickinson (6th) Robert Morris (3rd) 1988-89 Monmouth (3rd) Robert Morris (5th) 1987-88 *Marist (tie 1st) Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd)

* Marist was ineligible for the NEC Tournament in 1987-88

About The Northeast Conference Now in its 34th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30). Founded in 1981 as the basketball- only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www. necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Google+, all @NECsports.