Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field


Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field Volleyball


2009-10 NE-10 Directory About NE-10 Admin Login Championships Compliance Corporate Partners Directions FAR Council Hall of Fame NCAA National Champions Newspapers News Releases SAAC SID Downloads Staff Directory Video Vault Weekly Reports





2007-2008 NE-10 Men's Basketball


PHONE: (508) 230-9844
FAX: (508) 230-9845
WEBSITE: WWW.NORTHEAST10.ORG

March 19, 2008

For Immediate Release

[Click Here For Full Release]



Northeast-10 Player of the Week

Nate Fritsch, Bentley (Sr., F, Durham, N.C.) - Was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Northeast Regional after averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and four assists for the champion Falcons. Shot 53 percent from three (9-17) and 79 percent from the line (11-14), and played 89 minutes in the tournament without a turnover. Scored 17 points against both Bryant and Assumption, and 16 versus Merrimack.

Northeast-10 Freshman of the Week

Mike Quinn, Bentley (Fr., G, Oakdale, Conn.) - Erupted for 18 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, in the NCAA regional championship game against Assumption. Nailed four of five three-pointers, and staked the Falcons to the early lead with 11 points in the first 7:20. Overall, averaged 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the regional, and didn’t commit a turnover in 102 minutes.

Weekly Honor Roll:

Corey Diethorn, Assumption (Sr., C, Pittsburgh, Pa.) - In the NCAA Regional, averaged 15.7 points (18-36 FG), 10.3 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks to earn all-tournament honors. Scored 22 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and had five blocks in a first round overtime victory over Holy Family. Had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks in a semifinal victory over Saint Rose. Finished with 10 points (5-9 FG), four rebounds, and three blocks in the regional final against Bentley.

Greg Twomey, Assumption (Sr., F, Groton, Mass.) - In the NCAA Regional, averaged 12.7 points 5.3 rebounds, and three assists while shooting 65.2 percent (15-23 FG, 4-7 3FG) from the floor. Had 11 points (4-6 FG), five rebounds, and two assists in a first round overtime win over Holy Family. Had seven points (3-5 FG), three rebounds, and five assists in a semifinal victory over Saint Rose. Scored 20 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3FG), grabbed eight rebounds, and had two assists in the regional final against Bentley.

Yusuf Abdul-Ali, Bentley (Sr., G, Springfield, Mass.) - Averaged 13 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals during the NCAA regional while shooting 50 percent overall (14-28) and 100 percent at the line (9-9). Had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in an opening round win over Merrimack, and 15 points and four assists in the finals against Assumption. Was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Jason Westrol, Bentley (So., G, Brielle, N.J.) - Was Bentley's top scorer in the NCAA regional, averaging 17 points along with five rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.2 assists. In the championship game against Assumption, filled the stat sheet with 22 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals. Was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Jon Ezeokoli, Bryant (Sr., G, South Orange, N.J.) - Averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game in the NCAA Regional this past week. Scored 16 points and had nine rebounds in an opening round win over C.W. Post. Followed with eight points and eight rebounds against Bentley. For the tournament, connected on 15-of-17 free throws.

Cecil Gresham, Bryant (So., F, Bloomfield, Conn.) - Averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game in the NCAA Division Northeast Regional last week. Had 13 points and 10 rebounds in an opening round win over C.W. Post. Added nine points and six rebounds in a loss to top-seed Bentley in the second round.

Darren Duncan, Merrimack (So., G, Briarwood, N.Y.) – Scored 25 points and recorded eight assists, five boards and three steals against Bentley in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.


Steve Dagostino, Saint Rose (Sr., G, Schenectady, N.Y.) - Averaged 26 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week, while shooting 20-for-22 from the foul line. Poured in 37 points in an 85-75 quadruple overtime victory over Philadelphia in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Also came up with five rebounds and five steals, while going 15-for-16 from the stripe. Contributed 15 points, four boards and two assists in a 52-51 loss to Assumption in the second round.

Evan Lane, Saint Rose (Jr., F, Sharon Springs, N.Y.) - Averaged a double-double behind 14 points and 12.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week. Tossed in 14 points and pulled down 11 boards in an 85-75 quadruple overtime victory against Philadelphia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Ended up with 14 points and 14 rebounds in a 52-51 setback to Assumption.

Weekly Notes:

ASSUMPTION: Senior center Corey Diethorn finished his career at Assumption with 1,175 points (24th on scoring list), 717 rebounds, 168 blocks (4th on list), and 24 double-doubles.

BENTLEY: The Falcons earned a return trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after outscoring Merrimack, Bryant and Assumption by an average of 16 points. Remarkably, it is the second straight year in which the Falcons have reached the Elite Eight without a loss, and this year's club actually improved on last year’s 32-0 record by winning 33 games (the longest winning streak in New England men's basketball history). Bentley has now won 63 straight against Northeast Region opponents, and 37 in a row at the Dana Center. Senior forward Nate Fritsch was selected as the Most Outstanding Player in the regional, and sophomore guard Jason Westrol and senior guard Yusuf Abdul-Ali were named to the All-Tournament Team. Fritsch, Bentley's all-time leader in games played, became the 16th player in school history to reach the 1,400 career point plateau. He’s also just the sixth Bentley player to have 1400 career points and 700 rebounds. Fritsch was named to the NABC All-District first team, and Westrol and Lew Finnegan (Lexington, Mass.) were selected to the All-NABC second team. In addition, Jay Lawson was named the NABC District Coach of the Year for a record fifth time. The regional championship game was his 500th as Bentley's head coach. Over the past four seasons, Bentley is an incredible 100 games over .500 (116-16). Westrol now has 72 steals this season, second most in school history.

MERRIMACK: Making its sixth career NCAA appearance and first since 2000, Merrimack became the first team to lead Bentley by more than 10 points this season, leading by 12 at halftime and leading by as much as 14 in the first half.