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For Immediate Release October 23, 2019

Shark Attack! LIU Picked As 2019-20 NEC Men’s Favorite

Somerset, NJ -- Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Sharks are ready to swarm once again. 2019-20 NEC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll LIU has been tabbed by the league’s head coaches as the Northeast Conference (NEC) men’s basketball favorite for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The Sharks, who 1. LIU (5) last won it all in 2018, received five of the 11 first place votes. 2. Sacred Heart (3) 3. Saint Francis U (1) The announcement of the annual preseason poll was made Wednesday during the 4. Fairleigh Dickinson (2) eighth annual NEC Basketball “Social” Media Day at Barclays in Brooklyn. 5. Robert Morris 6. Bryant Sacred Heart was voted second with three first place nods, followed by Saint Francis 7. Mount St. Mary’s U with one first place vote. Defending NEC champion Fairleigh Dickinson had its sup- 8. St. Francis Brooklyn porters as well, securing two votes for the top spot despite being picked fourth in the 9. Wagner poll. Robert Morris was tabbed fifth and Bryant sixth in the rankings. Mount St. Mary’s 10. Central Connecticut took the seventh spot, followed in order by St. Francis Brooklyn, Wagner, Central Con- 11. Merrimack necticut and NEC newcomer Merrimack. First place votes in parentheses

Conducted annually, NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the even- tual league champion two times in the last 20 years. Over the last 32 years, the coaches have proven inaccurate on 28 occa- sions or 88 percent of the time.

LIU Predicted NEC Finish: 1st 2018-19 Overall Record: 16-16 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 9-9/Tie-5th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4 Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0

Three Players to Watch: Raiquan Clark (R-Sr, G/F, 6’6”, 195 lbs.): 18.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 50.3 FG% Ty Flowers (R-Jr, F, 6’9”, 200 lbs.): 13.5 ppg, 6.6 apg, 75 3PFG Jashaun Agosto (Sr, G, 6’0”, 165 lbs.): 10.7 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.0 rpg

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG • DIGITAL NETWORK: WWW.NECFRONTROW.COM • SOCIAL MEDIA: @NECSPORTS

Bryant • Central Connecticut State University • Fairleigh Dickinson University • Merrimack • Mount St. Mary’s University • • St. Francis Brooklyn • • Wagner College Outlook Following an appearance in the NEC semis last March, returns a loaded outfit headlined by 6’6” redshirt senior and first team All-NEC honoree Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse), an elite scorer with a non-stop motor who could reach 2,000 career points by year’s end. Last season he led the NEC with 18.9 ppg on 50.3 percent shooting. Ty Flowers (Waterbury, CT/Sacred Heart HS (UMass)) is a 6’9” stretch four who opened the floor in his first season with the Sharks, averaging 13.5 ppg while knocking down 75 triples at an efficient 38.9 percent en route to third team All-NEC hon- ors. LIU also brings back a pair of three-year starters in the backcourt to provide veteran leadership in jet-quick Jashaun Agosto (Seattle, WA/Garfield) (10.7 ppg, 4.8 apg) and savvy two-guard Julian Batts (Pittsburgh, PA/Jeannette (St. Thomas More)) (9.0 ppg). Look for Akron transfer and long distance bomber Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, WI/Hillcrest Prep (Akron)) to make an immediate impact.

Sacred Heart Predicted NEC Finish: 2nd 2018-19 Overall Record: 15-17 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 11-7/Tie-3rd Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/2 Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1

Three Players to Watch: E.J. Anosike (Jr, G/F, 6’6”, 245 lbs.): 14.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 51.8 3P% Koreem Ozier (So, G, 6’1”, 180 lbs.): 14.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 44 3P Jare’l Spellman (R-Sr, 6’10”, 205 lbs.): 8.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 bpg

Outlook With all four starters and 11 letterwinners back in the fold, it could be a special year for the Pioneer faithful. In a league domi- nated by , will sport a pair of difference-making bigs in his lineup. Bruising 6’6” junior forward E.J. Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)) earned the NEC’s Most Improved Player award and was an All-NEC second teamer, while 6’10” redshirt senior Jare’l Spellman (Glen Allen, VA/Fork Union Military Academy (Florida Southern)) picked up NED Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. Anosike averaged 14.2 ppg on the year, and ranked second in the league with 8.1 rpg, while Spellman protected the rim to the tune of a league-leading 3.0 bpg. Koreem Ozier (Racine, WI/Scotland Campus Sports) and Cameron Parker (Beaverton, OR/Tilton School) underwent a trial-by-fire a year ago and passed the test with flying colors with both collecting NEC All-Rookie accolades. The high scoring Ozier averaged 14.0 ppg and Parker wowed fans with his court vision and elite passing skills, pacing the NEC and ranking seventh nationally with 6.8 apg.

Saint Francis U Predicted NEC Finish: 3rd 2018-19 Overall Record: 18-15 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 12-6/Tie-1st Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/6 Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2

Three Players to Watch: Keith Braxton (Sr, G, 6’5”, 210 lbs.): 16.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.8 apg Isaiah Blackmon (Sr, G, 6’1”, 170 lbs.): 12.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 60 3PFG Mark Flagg (Jr, F, 6’9”, 215 lbs.): 6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 51.3 FG%

Outlook After earning a share of the 2018-19 NEC regular season championship and hosting the program’s first conference final since 1991, Saint Francis U came up just short in its quest for NEC glory with a title loss to FDU. But with reigning NEC Player of the Year Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (The Lawrenceville School)) back in the fold, NEC Coach of the Year has merely reloaded in his quest to add to the trophy case in Loretto. The versatile guard has a chance to join Mount legend and NEC Hall of Fame inductee Chris McGuthrie as the only four-time All-Conference award winners in league history, and is on pace to become both the NEC’s all-time rebound leader and the first 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound player in conference annals. Braxton, who averaged 16.0 ppg and led the circuit with 9.8 rpg, will be joined by running mate Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte), back for a fifth year. A career 42.5 percent shooter from distance, Blackmon is another 1,000-point scorer who can elevate over defenders just as easily as he can knock it down from distance. Junior Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, PA/ Pennsbury) (6.5 ppg) is an emerging big with a refined post game and blue collar sophomore forward Myles Thompson (Camden, NJ/Camden) (5.6 ppg) comes off a promising freshman campaign.

Fairleigh Dickinson Predicted NEC Finish: 4th 2018-19 Overall Record: 21-14 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 12-6/Tie-1st Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/5 Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2

Three Players to Watch: Jahlil Jenkins (Jr, G, 6’0”, 160 lbs.): 13.6 ppg, 4.5 apg, 88.1 FT% Kaleb Bishop (Sr, F, 6’8”, 195 lbs.): 10.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 49.8 FG% Elyjah Williams (Jr, F, 6’7”, 220 lbs.): 8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 60.2 FG%

Outlook It was a magical run for FDU last season, with the Knights going on the road to capture the program’s sixth NEC title as a pre- lude to beating Prairie View A&M in the NCAA opening round game. While four-year linchpins and NEC all-stars Darnell Edge and Mike Holloway are off playing professionally, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare for and company. Junior point guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy) scored 20 points in the NEC title game, then wowed a national audi- ence with his 22-point, six-assist performance in the Knights’ NCAA win. The slick mid-range maestro contributed 13.6 ppg as a sophomore, and ranked fourth with 4.5 apg. Uber athletic 6’8” senior forward Kaleb Bishop (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony) has evolved into one of the NEC’s most versatile bigs, having hit 37 three-pointers last season while also pacing the team with 6.4 rpg. He’ll team up with junior forward Elyjah Williams (Evanston, IL/Evanston), an elite high flyer who shot 60.2 percent from the floor a year ago.

Robert Morris Predicted NEC Finish: 5th 2018-19 Overall Record: 18-17 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 11-7/Tie-5th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/5 Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1

Three Players to Watch: Josh Williams (R-Sr, G, 6’2”, 195 lbs.): 14.5 ppg, 103 3P, 37.9 3P% Charles Bain (Jr, F, 6’8”, 200 lbs.): 10.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 46 3P Jon Williams (Jr, G, 6’1”, 175 lbs.): 6.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, 84.9 FT%

Outlook Moving into the state-of-the-art UPMC Events Center, the setting will be different but the goal remains the same for and his charges: to bring home a ninth NEC championship trophy to Moon Township. The Colonials ended the 2018-19 season strong, coming up just short in a nail biting NEC semifinal against FDU, before going on to beat Cornell in the CIT. RMU will be without fan favorite Matty McConnell, but Toole has the luxury of penciling the Williams brothers back into the lineup. In his first season after transferring from Akron, Josh Williams (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron)) led RMU with 4.5 ppg and drained a league-high 103 trifectas, including an NCAA single-game season-high 15 in one November game. The redshirt senior guard will team with Jon Williams (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary), a pass first point guard who ranked fifth in the NEC with 4.3 apg, but also hit 48 3P. At 6’8”, junior forward Charles Bain (Freeport, Bahamas/St. John’s North- western Military Academy) can do it all, including stretch the floor. Bain hit 46 shots from beyond the arc, while contributing 10.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Bryant Predicted NEC Finish: 6th 2018-19 Overall Record: 10-20 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 7-11/8th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/7 Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2

Three Players to Watch: Adam Grant (Sr., G, 6’1”, 180 lbs.): 15.6 ppg, 80 3P, 38.6 3P% Ikenna Ndugba (R-Jr., G, 6’0”, 185 lbs.): 13.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 51 3PFG (2017-18 stats) SaBastian Townes (Sr, F, 6’5”, 260 lbs.): 15.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 29 3P

Outlook The excitement level in Smithfield could reach a fever pitch this winter based on the potential of this Bulldogs’ squad. Second year head coach has the luxury of returning a pair of All-NEC honorees in senior guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School) and senior forward Sebastian Townes (Chesapeake, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School), but the key piece of the puzzle could be the return of redshirt junior point guard Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, MA/Brooks School), who missed the entire 2018-19 season with an injury after contributing 13.8 ppg and 4.6 apg the year prior. With Ndugba’s abil- ity as a floor general and on-the-ball defender, it will take some of the pressure off of Grant, a two-time NEC all-star who has racked up over 1,300 points and 200 three-pointers in three years. Grant ranked seventh in the NEC in scoring (15.6 ppg) with the burly Townes two spots behind (15.1 ppg) last season. Senior forward Juan Cardenas (Apartadó, Colombia/First Love Christian (PA) (Midland College)) came on strong down the stretch in his first season at Bryant, finding his niche as both a rim protector (1.6 bpg) and outside threat (38.3 3PFG%).

Mount St. Mary’s Predicted NEC Finish: 7th 2018-19 Overall Record: 9-22 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 6-12/9th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/1 Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0

Three Players to Watch: Vado Morse (So, G, 6’0”, 155 lbs.): 14.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 58 3P Jalen Gibbs (Jr, G, 6’3”, 180 lbs.): 12.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 47 3P Malik Jefferson (So, F, 6’9”, 230 lbs.): 8.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 59.2 FG%

Outlook With a roster comprised entirely of underclassmen last season, the Mount exceeded expectations and then some. With a league record five players collecting a combined 12 NEC Rookie of the Week honors, these Mountaineers grew up fast, and ended the season winning four of their last six conference outings. With the entire starting lineup and 12-of-13 letterwinners back, second year head coach has the program on an upward trajectory. Electric sophomore guard Vado Morse (Suitland, MD/Bullis School) was named the 2018-19 NEC Rookie of the Year after he paced all freshman with 14.7 ppg, while displaying a strong mid-range game, the ability to splash from distance (58 triples) and a flair for the dramatic. Junior guard Jalen Gibbs (Waldorf, MD/North Point (Drake)), a Drake transfer, fit right in upon his arrival in Emmitsburg, ranking second on the Mount with 12.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Sophomore Malik Jefferson (Hopewell, VA/Hopewell) led the team with 6.1 rpg and was a three-time NEC Rookie of the Week, and sophomore walk-on guard Damian Chong Qui (Baltimore, MD/ McDonogh) quickly earned the starting point guard spot and wowed fans with his playmaking ability, finishing eighth on the circuit with 3.7 apg. St. Francis Brooklyn Predicted NEC Finish: 8th 2018-19 Overall Record: 17-16 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 9-9/Tie-5th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/3 Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2

Three Players to Watch: Chauncey Hawkins (Jr, G, 5’8”, 155 lbs.): 11.1 ppg, 1.9 apg, 77.6 FT% Rosel Hurley (Sr, G, 6’5”, 191 lbs.): 9.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 50.4 FG% Deniz Celen (Sr, F, 6’8”, 235 lbs.): 7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 51.6 FG%

Outlook Having finished in the top half of the NEC standings in five of the last six years, and the Terriers are always in the mix and this year should be no different in what looks to be a wide open conference race. With the ability to score points in bunches, junior Chauncey Hawkins (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional) will take on a featured role this season after ranking third on the Terriers with 11.1 ppg in 2018-19. As quick as they come, the 5’8” guard can finish in traffic and gets to the line with regularity. Athletic senior wing Rosel Hurley (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights (Kent State)), who averaged 9.0 ppg on 50.4 percent shooting, was a welcome addition to the roster last season and possesses the skill set to fill a number of roles on both ends of the court. Senior forward Deniz Celen (Ankara, Turkey/özel gürçag okullari) started turning heads in NEC play with his refined offensive game. He paced the Terriers in rebounding (5.4) and lifted his scoring average from 4.7 ppg at the conclusion of the non-conference campaign to 9.4 ppg against league competition. Expect UMass grad transfer Unique McLean (Brooklyn, NY/The MacDuffie School) to contribute immediately after starting 28 games for the Minutemen the last two years.

Wagner Predicted NEC Finish: 9th 2018-19 Overall Record: 13-17 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 8-10/7th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 3/10 Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3

Three Players to Watch: Nigel Jackson (Jr, F, 6’7”, 215 lbs.): 6.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 33 3P Chase Freeman (Jr, G, 5’11”, 165 lbs.): 6.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 85.4 FT% Tyrone Nesby IV (So, 6’5”, 180 lbs.): 3.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg

Outlook Most everything will seem new this season at Wagner with just three returning letterwinners taking the court for . While the names will be different, the effort - especially on the defensive end of the court and on the boards - will be the same for one of the NEC’s grittiest teams year-in and year-out. The Seahawks have paced the circuit in scoring defense four straight years and finished in the top-two in rebound margin in each of the last seven seasons. Mason will look to juniorNigel Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Mount St. Joseph) for both leadership and offense this season. The springy 6’7” wing is the Green & White’s leading returning scorer after he netted 6.8 ppg and sank 33 shots from downtown a year ago. Junior guard Chase Freeman (Gallatin, TN/Station Camp) brings energy to the lineup and is one of the league’s top floor burners. He ranked second on the Seahawks with 3.0 apg last season. Curtis Cobb (Fall River, MA/ Wilbraham & Monsoon Academy (UMass)), a grad transfer from UMass, will jump right into the mix after contributing 8.4 ppg for the Minutemen in 2018-19. Central Connecticut Predicted NEC Finish: 10th 2018-19 Overall Record: 11-20 2018-19 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 5-13/10th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/9 Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3

Three Players to Watch: Jamir Coleman (Sr, G/F, 6’7”, 215 lbs.): 12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 84.3 FT% Ian Krishnan (So, G, 6’2”, 180 lbs.): 12.0 ppg, 71 3P, 84.3 FT% Karrington Wallace (So., F, 6’7”, 200 lbs.): 3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Outlook There will be plenty of new faces taking the court for Donyell Marshall this season in New Britain, but the former NBA star has two key pieces back to build around. Senior swingman Jamir Coleman (San Antonio, TX/South Plains College) is a do-it- all player that can help a team in so many ways. Last year, he averaged 12.1 ppg, ranked second on the Blue Devils with 6.2 rpg, made 25 three-pointers and shot 84.3 percent from the line. He’ll team up with NEC All-Rookie selection Ian Krishnan (Boyds, MD/Proctor Academy (NH)), who gave notice to the conference with a 28-point outing at Georgetown in just his third collegiate game. With one of the quickest releases and smoothest strokes on the loop, Krishnan ranked second among NEC freshman with 12.0 ppg and led all first year players with 71 makes from outside the arc. Marshall added seven freshmen to the roster in the offseason with an eye on building from the ground up.

Merrimack Predicted NEC Finish: 11th 2018-19 Overall Record: 22-10 2018-19 NEC10 Record/NE10 Finish: 14-7/2nd Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/2 Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1

Players to Watch: Juvaris Hayes (Sr, G, 6’0”, 185 lbs.): 19.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.6 apg, 3.9 spg Idris Joyner (Sr, F, 6’5”, 215 lbs.): 9.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 61.2 FG% Jaleel Lord (Sr, G, 6’4”, 170 lbs.): 10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 74 3P

Outlook Newcomer Merrimack may have been picked 11th by the league’s head coaches, but with four starters and 10 letterwinners back from their NE10 championship team, the Warriors may climb the NEC ladder sooner, rather than later. And if that’s the case, it’s because head coach Joey Gallo - a former Robert Morris assistant - has an ace up his sleeve in senior guard Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, NJ/St. Anthony). Ready to take the conference by storm, Hayes earned DII Honorable Mention All-American honors last season and sports career numbers that would make even the most elite players jealous. In three years, he has ac- cumulated 1,619 points, 595 rebounds, 754 assists and 336 steals. Last season, the 6-footer averaged 19.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.6 apg and led the nation in steals for the second straight season with 3.9 per outing. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by former high school teammate Jaleel Lord (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony), a senior who hit 74 three-pointers and shot 90.5 percent from the stripe last season. Senior forward Idris Joyner (Plainfield, NJ/St. Anthony’s (Western Oklahoma State)), a third player from the fabled St. Anthony program, averaged 9.4 ppg on 61.2 percent shooting, and ranked second on the Warriors with 6.2 rpg. About The Northeast Conference Now in its 39th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 11 institutions of higher learning located throughout seven states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States - (#1), Boston (#9), Pittsburgh (#24), Baltimore (#26), Hartford/New Haven (#33) and Providence (#53). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 23 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU, Merrimack, 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 Snapchat, all @NECsports.

NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll History (last 32 years)

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

2018-19 Saint Francis U (1st) Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd) 2017-18 Saint Francis U (tie 2nd) LIU (6th) 2016-17 Fairleigh Dickinson (tie 5th) Mount St. Mary’s (4th) 2015-16 Mount St. Mary’s (5th) Fairleigh Dickinson (9th) 2014-15 St. Francis Brooklyn (1st) Robert Morris (3rd) 2013-14 Wagner (2nd) Mount St. Mary’s (6th) 2012-13 LIU (3rd) LIU (1st) 2011-12 LIU (1st) LIU (1st) 2010-11 Quinnipiac (2nd) LIU (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) Monmouth (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 (1st) Fairleigh Dickinson (2nd) 1996-97 Monmouth (3rd) LIU (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