Tag: Antwon Portley

MAAC 2016-17 Season Preview: All-MAAC Teams

Monmouth junior Justin Robinson delivered 14 points in the Hawks victory.

Only five of the 16 players named to the All-MAAC teams at the end of last season will not make a return to the court. With plenty of young talent yet to reach their full potential, along with some fresh new faces by way of recruits and transfers, and there is sure to be a fight to secure those limited all-conference spots come March. Continue reading “MAAC 2016-17 Season Preview: All-MAAC Teams” →

Monmouth 82, Saint Peter’s 75 (OT): Robinson, Hawks Barely Escape

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Like many of the smaller guards in college basketball, we may never know what Justin Robinson’s real height is, but he’s listed at 5’8”, so we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for the purposes of this narrative.

While he’ll get some competition from A.J. English, he’s certainly in the running for MAAC Player of the Year at 20.3 points, 3.8 assists, and .430 three-point percentage. But Sunday, he was struggling. With 3 minutes left in a tie game with Saint Peter’s, Robinson had just 5 points on 2-8 shooting and looked – like the rest of his Monmouth team – as if the length of the season and pressure they’ve been under was wearing on him.

Continue reading “Monmouth 82, Saint Peter’s 75 (OT): Robinson, Hawks Barely Escape” →

Saint Peter’s 77, Fairfield 71: Check Your MAAC Radar, Please

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With Monmouth and Iona doing their thing, Saint Peter’s has been able to glide under the MAAC radar for most of the season. In fact, while Monmouth was beating Notre Dame and USC in Orlando (and scaring Dayton), the Peacocks were losing four straight, including to Lafayette, Hartford, and Fairleigh Dickinson, none of which can be mistaken for a national power.

But, although they haven’t been heard or seen by most, the Saint Peter’s Express has been registering on the MAAC screen. That approaching red dot and accompanying beep you heard Tuesday night was the Peacocks registering another conference win, this one 77-71 at Fairfield’s Alumni Hall. Saint Peter’s is now a game ahead of Iona and tied with Monmouth atop the conference at 6-1, and with a showdown at Jordan Washington-less Iona looming Friday night, the MAAC may have to deal with the Peacocks sooner rather than later.

Continue reading “Saint Peter’s 77, Fairfield 71: Check Your MAAC Radar, Please” →

Saint Peter’s 56, St. Francis Brooklyn 45: Time For A Break

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Sometimes, we all just need a break, don’t we? College basketball teams have been going since late September, and with Christmas fast approaching, almost everyone appeared in need of some time off Wednesday afternoon at the Yanitelli Center. Saint Peter’s and St. Francis Brooklyn had plenty of will, and eventually it will go down as a solid 56-45 win for the Peacocks, who will resume MAAC play next week at 2-0, but it was far from pretty.

To be fair, when we talk about taking a little break, we’re talking about everybody. It was not the best of days for the officials. This is the time of year where it will become difficult to continue with the freedom of movement initiative as the game was marred with interesting calls, numerous lengthy reviews, and technical fouls. Neither John Dunne nor Glenn Braica are among the more demonstrative coaches around (although Dunne does have his moments, it’s usually not directed at the officials).

Continue reading “Saint Peter’s 56, St. Francis Brooklyn 45: Time For A Break” →