CACC Tournament Central
CACC Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 1 – 2 p.m.
#4 Post (11-15, 11-8 CACC) at #1 Philadelphia (22-6, 16-3 CACC)
Gallagher Center – Philadelphia, Pa.
Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video |
WATERBURY, Conn. – The Post University men's basketball team will make its ninth-straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament appearance on Saturday, March 1 against Philadelphia. The Eagles earned the fourth seed in the North Division while the Rams garnered the top-overall seed. The teams square off in the CACC Quarterfinals for the third consecutive season, with Philadelphia taking the previous two.
Eagles in the CACC Tournament
Post has been to the CACC Tournament every year since 2006 and has compiled a 1-8 record in the postseason during that time. The lone victory came in the 2011 tournament as the #2 Eagles defeated #3 Dominican 71-68. Last season the Eagles were defeated by Philadelphia, 68-62, in the quarterfinals. Post won the CACC Tournament back in 2003.
Scouting the Rams
Philadelphia enters the tournament as the top-overall seed with a record of 22-6 overall and 16-3 in CACC play. The Rams have won 11 of their last 12 heading into the weekend with the only loss coming on Feb 18 at USciences, 72-65. Peter Alexis leads the team in scoring (18.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg). Philadelphia shoots 47.9 percent from the field, which is the best in the conference. The Rams also turn the ball over just 10.4 times per game to lead the CACC.
All-Time Series Against Philadelphia
The Eagles are 2-11 against the Rams dating back to 2005 and have dropped the last five meetings between the two. Earlier this year, Post fell 81-73 at home despite turning the ball over just four times.
Stephen Perry Jr. and
Devin Willis led the Eagles with 15 points each.
Previous Results
2/8/14 ................... H .......... L, 81-73
3/2/13 .............A (CACC) .. L, 68-62
1/5/13 ................... A .......... L, 77-53
2/25/12 ............A (CACC) . L, 74-52
1/7/12 ................... H........... L, 86-75
2/19/11 ................. A .......... W, 69-44
2/20/10 ................. H........... L, 70-67
1/31/09 ................. A .......... L, 58-48
1/26/08 ................. H........... L, 70-67
1/27/07 ................. H........... W, 83-67
Last Time Out: Post 96, Georgian Court 70 – Box Score | Recap
Behind a season-best 60.3 shooting percentage from the field, the Eagles closed the regular season with a road victory at Georgian Court. Senior
Derrick Strong (St. Louis, Mo.) contributed 18 points, a career-high 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals in the victory. Senior
Stephen Perry Jr. (Westhampton, N.J.) was 5-for-6 from distance for 19 points. The Eagles made 16 three-pointers, their most since 2009 and the tied for the third-most in a single game in CACC history.
Post grabbed control with a 16-3 run out of the gate and never looked back, leading by double-digits the rest of the way. Perry Jr. hit three from behind the arc over the first three minutes to get the Eagles going. Post was on fire in the first half as it shot at a 71.4 percent clip. A jumper by senior
Jerry Cummings (Queens, N.Y.), who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, with 9:10 left in the second gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game at 79-50.
Juggling The Lineup
Post has used nine different starting lineups this season and a total of 12 players have made at least one start.
Derrick Strong has started 25 of the Eagles' 26 games, only coming off the bench in the opener against Southern New Hampshire.
Eagles Among The Leaders
Post boasts four of the top eight three-point shooters in the conference.
Stephen Perry Jr. (44.3%) and
Effrin Ellison (43.4%) are third and fourth, respectively.
Devin Willis is sixth at 40.5% and
Derrick Strong is eighth at 38.8%. Strong is also second in the CACC at 2.4 steals per game, which is good for 11
th in the nation. Post leads the league with a 38.1 shooting percentage from distance and is second at 7.8 steals per game. The Eagles are 30
th in the country with 8.9 threes made per contest.
Honored For Defensive Prowess
Josh Tatum earned CACC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Feb. 17. He became the third Eagle to receive the honor this season. Tatum swatted a season-high five shots in an 82-80 victory over Caldwell.
Derrick Strong earned the honor twice this year on Dec. 9 and Jan. 20. Strong tied a career-high with six steals in Post's 79-50 victory over Concordia on Jan. 14. The senior also had six steals in Post's victory over Wilmington on Dec. 7. In his Eagles debut against Southern New Hampshire on Nov. 9,
AJ Harris recorded seven steals, which was the highest single-game total since the 2006-07 season.
The Road Ahead
The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals on Friday, March 7 in Caldwell, N.J against the winner of #2 Dominican and #3 USciences.
