Home sweet home! Bobcats start home schedule with solid effort

By Kevin Lo

HAMDEN – The Bobcats returned home from a six-game road trip in which they went 3-3 to defeat the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 73-52 in their home opener on Saturday. Quinnipiac is now 4-3 overall, and 1-0 in the Northeast Conference. With the loss, Fairleigh Dickinson drops to 1-7 and 0-1 in the NEC.

Junior Justin Rutty led all scorers with 23 points, chipped in eight boards and recorded two steals. Junior James Feldeine finished with 22 points and five rebounds.

“First six games I’ve been on, he’s been off, he’s been on and I’ve been off; it was the first time we both connected on most of the shots we took today,” said James Feldeine.

Rutty attributed some of his 23 points to a noticeably improved 15 foot jump shot.

“I been playing all summer, it’s starting to come around,” Rutty explained, to which Feldeine jokingly replied, “’I’m teaching him, he’s under my wing.”

Bobcat fans were quickly introduced to more pleasant surprises including two of their newest recruits, Dave Johnson and Jamee Jackson.

Dave Johnson entered into the game with 16 minutes to go in the first half and made his presence felt immediately, connecting on a three-pointer. Feldeine hit another three-pointer on the ensuing possession, spurring an early Bobcats run.

“Dave Johnson, offensively, was fantastic early,” said coach Tom Moore. “He might have the highest offensive IQ out of anyone we have on the team.” Johnson established career highs in points (10), assists (6) and steals (3), while shooting 4-5 from the floor, 2-2 from three and committing no turnovers.

Feldeine was hot early, hitting all of his three shots from beyond the arc in the first half. The Bobcats were able to take a 14-4 lead seven minutes into the game, and never looked back.

The second half began with more of the same. The Bobcats stretched their 36-26 lead to a 16-point lead, 47-31, with 15 minutes left to play.

Quinnipiac’s lead continued to build, and with just over five minutes to play, the Bobcats had extended their lead to 28 points.

“We played with a little bit better focus in the second half,” said Moore. “I like how we took the lead from 10 and expanded on it. That’s a real dangerous team we played today, to hold them to 32 percent field-goal percentage is a pretty significant achievement.”

FDU surged late in the first half cutting the lead to six, the closest margin in the game, until Feldeine converted a three-point play on a fast break lay-up, stretching the lead back to nine.

FDU’s only lead was by two, a mere 10 seconds into the game.

Tom Moore’s squad is back in action on Tuesday when they hit the road for a non-conference tilt at Rhode Island. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. The game is set to be televised live on NESN.

Devils left blue in the face after loss

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – The Quinnipiac Bobcats celebrated Senior Day in fashion, doing something that hasn’t been done since 1981. For the first time in almost 30 years the Bobcats defeated the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at home, 69-55.

Head coach Tom Moore said the victory was, “a nice step for us.” When referring to the team’s accomplishments he tries to “sell them on being pioneers and setting milestones for this organization.”

James Feldeine finished with a game-high, 25 points including 5-6 shooting from behind the three point arc. “He’s always the first guy to jump in the pool,” said Coach Moore when referring to his teams occasional lack of aggressiveness in the half court set.

Senior Bryan Geffen added 12 points, five assists and four steals and senior Louis Brookins added five points respectively.

Despite shooting only 41 percent from the field in the first half, the Bobcats found themselves ahead 33-31 at the half.

With 18:40 to go in the second half the Bobcats found themselves down 34-33.

Over the course of the next six minutes Quinnipiac applied their signature full court press, stopping CCSU’s up-tempo offense.

The Bobcats led 44-36 with 11:53 to go thanks to a 6-0 run. Jeremy Baker finished a tough and-one play at the rim spurring Quinnipiac’s backcourt duo of Geffen and James Johnson. The two went on to connect on back to back layup establishing Quinnipiac’s largest lead since the first half.

With 7:55 to go CCSU cut the lead to 50-44. A 9-4 run capped off by a high arcing bank-shot from behind the 3-point line courtesy of Geffen allowed Quinnipiac to take the lead 59 48.

The Blue Devils would grow no closer to the lead as the Bobcats led 61-51 at the 2:22 mark.

A Geffen 3-pointer secured the lead, 67-54.

The Bobcats shot well from 3-point land all game long.

In the first half Feldeine was 4-for-5 from behind the line with 16 points. The team was 4-for-9 while CCSU struggled shooting 1-for-5.

The two James, Feldeine and Johnson, ignited Quinnipiac’s offense accounting for their first 11 points and  20 in the first half.

“Teams’ attention to Justin Rutty frees everyone else up creating an in and out game which allows us to play the other end of the court,” Moore said.

CCSU held a firm four-point lead for most of the first half.

Quinnipiac was able to take a 26-24 lead with 5:32 the first lead change since 19 min in the first half.

At the 1:16 mark in the first the Bobcats led 31-30 finishing with a 33-31 lead at the half.

The Bobcats shot 49.0 percent (25-for-51) while their defense on the other end held the Blue Devils to a 39.3 percent (22-for-56) clip. In the second half QU shot 64.7 percent (11-for-17) compared to CCSU’s 29.6 percent (8-for-27). The Bobcats shot 50 percent
(7-for-14) to 22.2 percent (2-for-9) from 3-point land.

The fifth-seeded Bobcats take the court Thursday, when they travel to No. 4 Long Island for the first round of the NEC Tournament.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Fairleigh easy victory for Bobcats

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – Jeremy Baker finished with a career-high 20 points to lead the Bobcats men’s basketball team to a 78-62 romping of the Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. With the win the Bobcats are now the proud owners of the fifth position in the NEC standings at 12-14 (8-7 NEC). The Knights fall to 7-20 (6-10 NEC).

James Feldine, Bryan Geffen and Justin Rutty also finished in double figures. Eric Coggins finished with nine point and six rebounds, setting a new career-high in points scored.

Cameron Tyler was the game’s second leading scorer with 17 but only shot 6-for-18 from the field.

A Bobcats’ 9-0 run at the end of the first half eventually led to a 17-point lead to start the second.

Despite much improved play the FDU in the second half, a 35-34 point disparity, the Bobcats were able to hold onto their lead.

Quinnipiac got off to a six-point lead in the second half to stretch the lead to 23 points, 50-27, at the 17:53 mark.

Good defense and strong 3-point shooting helped ignite several runs by the Bobcats. Quinnipiac held FDU to a 37 percent field goal percentage and made seven of their 3-point attempts compared to FDU’s one.

A 20-11 differential in offensive rebounds led to several easy second chance opportunities for the Bobcats. Quinnipiac had 44 points in the paint compared to a mere 22 by FDU.

FDU was much better from the line as they shot 21-for-28 from the stripe, compared to Quinnipiac’s 7-for-19.

The Bobcats resume play on Saturday, when they travel to Brooklyn, N.Y., to take on Long Island University. The game will be live on MSG, with the tip scheduled for 4 p.m.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Bulldogs best Bobcats

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – The Bryant Bulldogs tasted a little bit of what the NEC might be like today and by the looks of things, they might like it.

The future NEC program, Bryant, defeated Quinnipiac 72-68, in a non-conference game at the TD Banknorth Sports Center Saturday. The Bobcats fall to 10-13 with the loss, while the Bulldogs improve to 7-17.

Bryant’s Nick Pontes led all scorers with 21 points, while four starters from Quinnipiac finished with double figures.

James Feldeine led the way with 15 points followed by James Johnson’s 14 and Bryan Geffen’s 12. Justin Rutty continues to establish himself as one of the most dangerous players in the NEC compiling his league-leading 10th double double.

The two teams battled for much of the first half and the game remained close but the second half was a different story.

Head coach Tom Moore noted his team’s hot offensive start in the first half may have led to a lull in defensive intensity in the second.

“A couple guys in their mind became offensive players. We are not an offensive team, we can’t beat teams in shootouts,” Moore said.

The Bobcats led 33-32 at the half but opened up the second down four just five minutes into the game eventually leading to an 11-3 Bryant run.

“We played so poor defensively all game. We had a bad first half defensively and played even worst second half defense,” Moore said.

With 8:40 to go, the Bobcats had put together an 8-2 run and eventually tied the game at 55.

At the four-minute mark, Bryant found themselves up three. The Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 5-0 run over the next minute to lead 67-59.

The Bobcats wouldn’t go down without a fight. James Feldine stole the ball with just under two minutes to go and finished with a lay-up. Just after that possession James Johnson recorded his second steal of the game and was sent to the line where he went 1-2.

Geffen was fouled on the rebound and made his trip to the line where he also missed one of two with his second missed attempt being rebounded and put in by Justin Rutty making the score 70-68.

Bryant was fouled and sealed the game with two free-throws taking the lead for good 72-68.

Quinnipiac returns to action Thursday, when they travel to Pennsylvania to take on St. Francis. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at DeGol Arena.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Bobcats defeat LIU at home

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.)  – The Quinnipiac Bobcats men’s basketball team stumbled out of the gate but were still able to defeat Long Island University 69-63, Saturday afternoon at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. The win improves their record to 9-12 on the year – 5-6 in the NEC – and snaps a four-game skid.

Bryan Geffen finished with 16 points after a stellar first half. Justin Rutty, the game’s second-half star, finished with his fourth consecutive double-double, netting 16 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high five assists.

Quinnipiac rallied back from an early 10-point deficit in the first to take the lead at the half 31-28.

The second half started similarly to the first as LIU went on a 5-0 run and turned the 31-28 deficit into a 5-point lead.

The game remained close all night long. Quinnipiac had a 43-42 lead at the 10:33 mark in the second half and was unable to pull away. With 7:48 to go the Bobcats only led by two, 48-46.

With 3:45 to go the Bobcats found themselves down 54-52, not having scored since the 5:50 mark.

Quinnipiac’s sleeping giants responded with a run of their own. After a slow offensive first half where Rutty was 1-6 from the floor, he finished 4-10 from the field and 8-11 from the line.

“Rutty’s practiced his free-throw shooting more the past 10 days then he has the entire year,” said coach Tom Moore. “If he goes 3-7 or 3-10 we don’t win today’s game.”

The Bobcats physical defense was able to hold LIU’s leading scorers, Jaytornah Wisseh and Kyle Johnson to seven and eight points respectively.

At one point in the game, Quinnipiac’s tallest player was 6-7 Rutty and their second tallest player was 6-4 James Feldine. Despite the lack of size Moore said he’s comfortable with a small lineup.

The game was physical all night long. In the first half alone there were 27 total fouls. Quinnipiac was already in the bonus, 10 minutes into the game.

Quinnipiac fought back from an early 10-point deficit thanks to the strong first half play of Geffen. Geffen’s 11 points in the first half points helped the Bobcats stay in the game despite the offensive struggles of Rutty and Feldine.

“I’ll always have a place in my heart for him,” Moore said. “He could go for 16 on any given night, I love the confidence, and you got to have him on the court.”

Quinnipiac’s next game will be on Thursday when they travel to Fairfield, Conn., to take on the Pioneers of Sacred Heart at 7 p.m.  The game will be televised on MSG.

Click here to view the boxscore from this game.

Mountaineers mount win over Bobcats

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – Despite a strong lead, the Quinnipiac Bobcats men’s basketball team fell to Mount St. Mary’s 60-42, dropping to 8-12 (4-6 NEC) on the year. The defending NEC Tournament Champion Mountaineers improve to 12-9 (7-3 NEC).

Justin Rutty recorded his third straight double-double, 12 points and 16 rebounds, and James Feldeine pitched in with 11 points of his own.

Despite an early 10-point lead and a back and forth first half, Quinnipiac was unable to hold the lead after the 6:39 mark. A Mounts’ run at the 3:29 mark eventually lead to a six-point lead at the half, 29-23.

Quinnipiac was outscored 31-19 in the second half. The Mounts’ size and athleticism caused problems on Quinnipiac’s offensive end, leading to several turnovers.

Quinnipiac came out sloppy in the second. A Quinnipiac turnover led to a wide open three and a 32-23 deficit.

The Bobcats made several attempts to cut at the led but at the 15 minute mark the Mounts had stretched the lead to 41-28, and never looked back.

At the five minute mark the Mounts led 50-35, eventually finishing the game 60-42.

The Mounts bench helped spur the rally early. Will Holland chipped in with nine of the bench and Jeremy Goode finished with 19 for the Mounts.

The Mountaineers were far better than the Bobcats from beyond the three-point arc, (7-19) to (2-10), as well as from the charity stripe hitting 91.7 percent (11-12) to Quinnipiacs’ 46.2 percent (6-13).

The Bobcats will host Long Island Saturday. Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the TD Banknorth Sports Center.

Bobcats soar over Hawks

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – Despite early struggles on the defensive end, the Bobcats men’s basketball team blew out the Monmouth Hawks 65-51 for their first Northeast Conference win, improving to 4-3 on the year.

Justin Rutty and James Johnson both recorded double-doubles. Rutty finished with 20 points and 10 boards while Johnson just missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

The Hawks relied on their outside shooting early on but failed to play as well in the post. They were outrebounded down 49-22 and only scored 18 points in the paint compared to Quinnipiac’s 28.

The two teams continued to exchange baskets back and forth in the opening minutes of the second half, leaving the score at a 40-40 tie with close to 13 minutes remaining.

After numerous lead changes, the Bobcats proceeded to go on a 16-5 run to take a 56-45 lead with less than six minutes to play. James Feldeine contributed nine points during the stretch while Rutty’s presence down low caused a problem for Monmouth’s offense. Feldeine finished the game with 18 points and eight rebounds.

The Bobcats smartly switched to man-to-man defense with around 10 minutes to play in the first half. Good shooting and a new defensive scheme allowed them to take the lead 24-23 with close to four minutes to go in the first.

Steve Robinson’s 3–pointer at the end of the half gave them the lead 31-30 after being down by as many as 12 in the first half.

Monmouth was able to take advantage of some poor Quinnipiac zone defense early and led 16-4 in the first six minutes. Yaniv Simpson’s hot hand from behind the arc led the way with 11 points during this stretch, but he was unable keep it up in the second half.

Quinnipiac will travel to Staten Island, N.Y., on Saturday, Dec. 13 for a Northeast Conference game against the Seahawks of Wagner College at 7 p.m. at the Spiro Sports Center.

Bearcats barrage of baskets bests Bobcats

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team and Binghamton exchanged baskets throughout much of the first half Monday night at the TD Banknorth Sports Center, but foul trouble and poor free-throw shooting in the second half led to a 74-58 Bobcat loss.

Binghamton’s D.J. Rivera and Dwayne Jackson scored 17 apiece and on the other end, Quinnipiac’s James Feldeine and Justin Rutty finished with 15.

The Bearcats full court pressure defense proved to be too much for the Bobcats as they committed nine turnovers on the night, compared to the Bearcats three. The Bearcats were also far better from the three-point arc in the second half shooting 4-for-9 from the field.

James Johnson and Feldeine picked up their fourth fouls just three minutes into the half, leaving Quinnipiac without two of their starting five. Johnson’s loss proved to be a huge one for the Bobcats as his seven first-half assists led the half as a well as the game.

The two teams continued to trade baskets until Binghamton took the lead five minutes into the second half, 36-34, and never looked back. Good pressure defense and much improvement on the boards in the second half allowed the Bearcats to continue to build on their lead.

The Bobcats were outrebounded 22-13 in the second half and were guarded tightly on the perimeter. After shooting 2-for-6 from three-point distance they did not attempt a three-pointer in the second half.

At the half way mark, the Bobcats trailed by 10 points. With three minutes to go the deficit grew to 15.

The Bearcats full court defense plagued Quinnipiac early limiting their transition offense and opportunities at easy baskets.

In the first half Quinnipiac was able to crash the boards leading to numerous second chance points, out-rebounding the Bearcats 26-13 but failed to do the same in the second.

The two teams battled back and forth in the first half and no team led by more than four at any given point in the game. In the first half alone there were 13 lead changes and the score was tied four times.

The Bearcats applied the full court pressure early as Binghamton’s Brandon Herbert guarded Johnson all throughout the backcourt. Rivera recorded three steals in the first half alone.

The Bobcats start conference play Saturday at home against Monmouth and will look to improve on their 3-3 record.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Quinnipiac leaves Army unarmed

By Kevin Lo

(HAMDEN, Conn.)  – With just 2.2 seconds left on the clock, Jeremy Baker crashed the boards, tipping in a missed lay-up, giving Quinnipiac its first home victory of the season, 66-64 in overtime. Coincidentally this happened to be many of a first for Quinnipiac as it was also their first time in Division I history starting the season 2-0.

“We’re just trying to change the culture brick by brick trying to build a program,” said Coach Tom Moore.

The two teams were neck and neck the whole way in overtime. With 1:24 left to go the score was 64-62. Army hit a baseline jumper with 20.2 seconds to play to tie it at 64. In the last play of the game, Queens bred point guard James Johnson came off a pick and roll drawing a bigger slower defender and blew by him for a chance at a lay-up. It was off but Baker was there for his eighth board of the game as well as the winning tip-in.

Baker finished the night 8-for-11 from the field with 18 points and eight boards. James Feldeine went 8-for-12 from the field (4-for-6 from three-point territory) led the team in scoring with 24 points.

Army had a chance to capitalize off a Quinnipiac turnover and take the lead in regulation but failed to score. Instead Quinnipiac took a timeout with 46.3 to go and Johnson hit a pull up jumper with 24.9 to go making it 56-53.  Army refused to give in hitting a 3-pointer to send it into overtime.

The two teams  exchanged buckets deep into the second half as Quinnipiac was only able to muster a one point lead with 1:32 left in the half despite leading by as many as 14 at the start of the half. Moore contributed the Black Knights comeback to a lack of stamina.

“We hit the wall physically in the second half,” Moore said. “We were terrible defensively because of the fatigue, but offensively we never looked panicked on offense, I like that about these guys.”

Quinnipiac looked shaky out of the gates as Army got off to a 15-4 run to start the second half.

The Bobcats struggled on the offensive end and failed to pressure Army’s shooters on the opposite end of the floor. The Bobcats were careless with the ball, committing several turnovers allowing the Black Knights to creep back into the game.

The Bobcats led at the half by a score of 39-25. Good defensive play was key during the first half as Quinnipiac was able to pull away thanks to a slew of steals and hard-nosed defense. Feldeine helped provide most of the offense in the first half as he contributed 16 points, hitting two threes in a row in the first half, while Johnson took care of things on the other end with three steals in a physical first half.

The Bobcats next travel to New York, N.Y., for the Columbia Tournament hosted by Columbia University. They will take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. The Bobcats will then face either Bryant University or Columbia the following day.

Click here to view the box score from this game.