Bobcats run over FDU before NECs

By Kyle Brennan, QBSN Staff Writer

HAMDEN — It might have been just what Tom Moore and Quinnipiac wanted, and they got it.

The Bobcats used a 26-2 run that stretched from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second and four starters scored in double figures as Quinnipiac beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 71-60, Saturday at the TD Bank Sports Center in its final tune-up before next week’s NEC tournament.

Moore lauded his team’s intensity and solid play in all facets of the game.

“It’s always encouraging and uplifting to a head coach when he feels like his team is sorta complete,” the fourth-year Quinnipiac head coach said. “You wanna shine in three phases—you want to be good offensively, good defensively, good rebounding.”

Quinnipiac (21-8, 13-5 NEC) got the job done offensively, especially during its 26-2 run that blew the game open.

The Bobcats trailed, 26-20, with 4:24 left in the first half before senior guard Deontay Twyman made a layup and a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to two with 3:31 to play.

Senior forward Justin Rutty gave Quinnipiac its first lead since the 12:14 mark of the half on a 15-footer, making it 27-26 with 1:18 left in the first. He upped the lead to 31-28 with a pair of put-backs, including a tip-in off a missed 3-pointer by freshman guard Dominique Langston just before time expired.

Quinnipiac continued its 11-2 run to end the half with a 15-0 run out of the locker room, started again by a layup and a transition 3-pointer by Twyman. Freshman guard Lance Brown, who added 12 points and seven rebounds, contributed three buckets during the spurt to make it a 46-28 QU lead.

“A lot of times the first four minutes of the second half is what possibly determines the game,” said Twyman, who finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists. “Coach talked to us and we wanted to jump on them fast and wanted to hold them down and we did that.”

Fairleigh Dickinson (5-24, 3-15 NEC), led by senior guard Mike Scott and his game-high 27 points, started 5-of-6 from long range and led by as many as six. But that was before the Bobcats buckled down on defense, which Moore thought helped spur the 26-2 run that lasted 9:45.

“The thing I liked most about our offense is that it was generated by our defense,” said Moore, who especially liked his team’s 21 assists on its 29 field goals. “We looked like a hungry defensive team and then we looked like a hungry transition team. Our defense fueled our offense.”

Junior guard James Johnson, who scored 13 points with six rebounds and four assists, was in the middle of several successful transitions, either making a steal to start fast breaks or dishing to open shooters.

“We just wanted to dig in and play defense,” Johnson said. “We just wanted to play our brand of defense and be more focused on edges and screens. We wanted to dig down and play harder.”

The Bobcats finished the regular season winning nine of 10 and earned the No. 2 seed in next week’s NEC tournament. Quinnipiac will host No. 7 Mount St. Mary’s Thursday at 7 p.m. The teams split during the regular season with each team winning on its home court.

There won’t be any questions about Rutty, who led the team Thursday with 14 points and 10 rebounds, giving him 999 career boards. The reigning NEC Player of the Year said his previously injured elbow is “fine.”

The rest of the team feels fine, too, and is ready for revenge in the postseason.

“We always think about last year and how we were so close and didn’t make it,” Johnson said. “We’re that much more confident and know what it takes to win.”

QBSN Athlete of the Week: Dave Johnson

QBSN Athlete of the Week: Dave Johnson

By: Marc Schwartz QBSN Staff Writer

This week’s QBSN Athlete of the Week honors are presented to Dave Johnson (Jackson, N.J) of Quinnipiac University’s men’s basketball team.

The sophomore guard stepped up his game big time in the most important weekend to date for the Bobcats. Johnson came in off the bench against Bryant University Thursday night, tallying 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a winning effort.

Johnson has made a habit of coming in off the bench in crucial moments this season and contributing in a big fashion. This trend continued in the ensuing Quinnipiac game, a Saturday afternoon matchup against fellow Connecticut and Northeast Conference rival Central Connecticut State University.

In the biggest game of the season for the Bobcats, Johnson helped will the team to a win, leading the team in minutes with 30. Johnson had an extremely efficient game, going 5-6 of the field and 6-8 from the free throw line to lead the Bobcats in scoring with 17, all the while coming off the bench.  The 17 point outing was a career high for Johnson. His previous career high was 14 points, which he had achieved on 3 separate occasions.

Johnson is currently enjoying a very productive sophomore season. On the year, Johnson is currently third on the team in assists, averaging 3.1 a game, to go along with 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

The Bobcats are back in action tonight, as they try to finish the season on a 6 game winning streak and clinch the 2^nd seed in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament. Tonight, Quinnipiac faces off against the Monmouth Hawks at 7 p.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center. The game will be broadcasted live on the Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network, with Marc Schwartz and Zack Daly on the call.

Pre-Game Show Videos!

This is the first 2 installments of our pre-game show last Friday at the Bank!
Thanks to Marc Schwartz and Mike Auletta

QBSN Athlete of the Week: Lance Brown

This week’s QBSN Athlete of the Week honors are presented to Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J.) of Quinnipiac University’s men’s basketball team.

Recently, Brown earned a spot in the starting lineup for the Bobcats, and the move has paid off with big dividends. Brown elevated his game to a new level during the Northeast Conference Rivalry Week against Sacred Heart University.

In the first matchup against Sacred Heart on February 9^th, Brown experienced a career game with 13 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Brown’s performance, which reached an apex with a steal and breakaway dunk with 11 seconds left to cap the game, helped will the Bobcats to a win in a game where their leading scorer, James Johnson (Queens, N.Y.), was held without a field goal made.

Five days later, Brown backed up his career night with another solid effort against Sacred Heart. The sophomore guard tallied 12 points, to go along with a team-leading 8 rebounds. In another ugly win for Quinnipiac, Brown was one of the lone bright spots.

Since joining the starting lineup against LIU three games ago, Brown has averaged over 25 minutes a game, while also averaging 11.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest.

A sophomore transfer student from Fordham, Brown was not expected to play for Quinnipiac this season. Fortunately for the Bobcats, Brown gained an exception from the NCAA, and is now fully eligible to play this year.

(Courtesy of Marc Schwartz)

Pre-Game Show from the Lobby!

Hey Bobcat fans,

Listen in at 7 pm to the pre-game show from the lobby of the TD Bank Sports Center. It will be a 30 minute show with a bunch of interviews and give-aways! If you're going to the game, stop by and say hi and try to win a t-shirt and a coupon for Griff's Chicken Shack.

QBSN Athlete of the Week

QBSN Athlete of the Week: Brittany McQuain

By: Marc Schwartz, QBSN Staff Writer

This week’s athlete of the week honors are presented to Brittany McQuain (Independence, Mo.) of Quinnipiac University’s women’s basketball team.

The upstart freshman forward continued her excellent play with a career week in Northeast Conference play.  McQuain recorded her third career double-double this past Saturday at Long Island University with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The 14 points at the time were a new career high for McQuain. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they wound up losing that game by a score of 70-58.

(quinnipiacbobcats.com)

Two days later, McQuain stepped up again with another career night; this time against St. Francis (NY). McQuain put up 17 points, a new career high, to go along with 7 rebounds. 

Her efforts against the Terriers helped earn the Bobcats their 8^th NEC win of the season and put an end to the three game losing streak.

McQuain on the year is averaging 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Bobcats in rebounding as a freshman, an impressive feat considering the return of Courtney Kaminski (Dudley, Mass.) to the team this year. Kaminski, a senior center for the Bobcats, led the team in rebounding last year, averaging 7.6 rebounds a game.

Next up for the Bobcats are the Sacred Heart Pioneers, who they host at the TD Bank Sports this Saturday at 1 p.m. That game can be heard live here on the Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network, with Zack Daly and Luke Mauro on the call.

Women's Hockey Tonight!

Hey Bobcat fans,

Catch the women's hockey team in action tonight versus New Hampshire.

The Bobcats are coming off of a 3-2 loss to #10 Harvard in which they had a two-goal lead going into the third. They are 10-8 in the ECAC, and 18-10-1 overall.

Brian Farrell and Alex Birsh have the call for QBSN.