2017–18 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball team

2017–18 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball
ConferenceNortheast Conference
Record18–14 (12–6 NEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Will Holland
  • Graham Bousley
  • Julian Boatner
Home arenaKnott Arena
Seasons
2017–18 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Wagner 14 – 4   .778 23 – 10   .697
Saint Francis (PA) 12 – 6   .667 18 – 13   .581
Mount St. Mary's 12 – 6   .667 18 – 14   .563
LIU Brooklyn † 10 – 8   .556 18 – 17   .514
St. Francis Brooklyn 10 – 8   .556 13 – 18   .419
Robert Morris 9 – 9   .500 16 – 17   .485
Fairleigh Dickinson 9 – 9   .500 13 – 18   .419
Central Connecticut 7 – 11   .389 14 – 18   .438
Sacred Heart 5 – 13   .278 10 – 21   .323
Bryant 2 – 16   .111 3 – 28   .097
† 2018 NEC tournament winner

The 2017–18 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball team represented Mount St. Mary's University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mountaineers, led by sixth-year head coach Jamion Christian, played their home games at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Maryland as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC). They finished the season 18–14, 12–6 in NEC play, to finish in a tie for second place. As the No. 2 seed in the NEC tournament, they were upset in the quarterfinals by Robert Morris.

On May 2, 2018, Jamion Christian left his alma mater to take the head coaching job at Siena.[1][2] One week later, the school hired former Mountaineer assistant coach Dan Engelstad from Division III Southern Vermont.[3][4]

Previous season

The Mountaineers finished the 2016–17 season 20–16, 14–4 in NEC play, to win the regular-season NEC championship. The Mountaineers defeated Sacred Heart,[5] Robert Morris[6] and Saint Francis (PA) to win the NEC tournament championship.[7] As a result, the received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As a No. 16 seed in the East region, the defeated New Orleans in the First Four[8][9] before losing to #1 Villanova in the first round.[10]

Preseason

In a poll of league coaches at the NEC media day, the Mountaineers were picked to finish in fourth place.[11] Senior guard Junior Robinson was named the preseason All-NEC team.[12]

Roster

2017–18 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 0 Junior Robinson 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sr Mebane, NC
F 5 Chris Wray 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Shelby, NC
G 23 Greg Alexander 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Hampton, VA
C 54 Ryan Gomes 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Westminster, MD
G 15 Brandon Leftwich 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 177 lb (80 kg) So Brooklyn, NY
F 30 Jack Vukelich 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Fr Mechanicsburg, PA
G 3 Jonah Antonio 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Fr Perth, Australia
G 10 Donald Carey 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Upper Marlboro, MD
G 12 Odri Dedolli 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 177 lb (80 kg) Fr Tirana, Albania
F 13 Omar Habwe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Lexington, VA
F 22 Nana Opoku 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 186 lb (84 kg) Fr Woodbridge, VA
F 1 Bobby Planutis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Hazleton, PA
F 11 Ace Stallings 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Miami, FL
G 4 James IV West 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Woodbridge, VA
F 14 Ross Young 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Fr Atlanta, GA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Will Holland
  • Graham Bousley
  • Julian Boatner
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: July 21, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2017*
9:40 p.m. 		Delaware
Hurricane relief charity exhibition 		W 84–82 OT
 27 – Robinson   8 – Planutis   8 – Robinson  Knott Arena (1,048)
Emmitsburg, MD
November 4, 2017*
4:00 p.m. 		Hood W 93–78 
 38 – Robinson   7 – Carey   6 – Carey  Knott Arena (1,120)
Emmitsburg, MD
Non-conference regular season
November 10, 2017*
9:00 p.m., FS Wisconsin/MASN2 		at Marquette
Maui Invitational 		L 59–80  0–1
  20 – Robinson   5 – Antonio   6 – Robinson  BMO Harris Bradley Center (13,324)
Milwaukee, WI
November 13, 2017*
7:00 p.m., ACCNX 		at No. 13 Notre Dame
Maui Invitational 		L 62–88  0–2
  14 – Robinson   7 – Planutis   3 – Carey  Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,633)
South Bend, IN
November 15, 2017*
7:00 p.m., FS2 		at Georgetown L 68–102  0–3
  26 – Robinson   5 – Antonio   6 – Carey  Capital One Arena (5,064)
Washington, D.C.
November 18, 2017*
4:00 p.m. 		vs. North Florida
Maui Invitational 		W 84–81  1–3
  20 – Robinson   7 – Planutis   7 – Carey  Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (300)
Spartanburg, SC
November 21, 2017*
7:00 p.m. 		York (PA) W 91–80  2–3
  27 – Robinson   10 – Antonio   12 – Carey  Knott Arena (1,290)
Emmitsburg, MD
November 24, 2017*
7:00 p.m. 		at Ohio L 77–96  2–4
  21 – Robinson   7 – Antonio   10 – Robinson  Convocation Center (4,099)
Athens, OH
November 27, 2017*
7:00 p.m. 		Morgan State L 63–69  2–5
  13 – tied   8 – Carey   8 – Robinson  Knott Arena (1,420)
Emmitsburg, MD
December 2, 2017*
4:00 p.m., MASN 		Loyola (MD) W 80–75 OT 3–5
  39 – Robinson   6 – Antonio   5 – Carey  Knott Arena (2,480)
Emmitsburg, MD
December 5, 2017*
7:00 p.m., ACCN Extra 		at Pittsburgh L 78–82 OT 3–6
  24 – Robinson   7 – Carey   9 – Robinson  Petersen Events Center (2,333)
Pittsburgh, PA
December 9, 2017*
2:00 p.m. 		at Lehigh L 60–75  3–7
  20 – Robinson   7 – Wray   4 – tied  Stabler Arena (694)
Bethlehem, PA
December 15, 2017*
7:30 p.m. 		Washington College W 89–67  4–7
  30 – Robinson   8 – Wray   5 – Robinson  Knott Arena (1,225)
Emmitsburg, MD
December 18, 2017*
7:00 p.m. 		at American W 59–56  5–7
  13 – Robinson   12 – Wray   5 – Robinson  Bender Arena (283)
Washington, D.C.
December 22, 2017*
7:00 p.m. 		at Coppin State W 66–53  6–7
  23 – Robinson   11 – Wray   8 – Robinson  Physical Education Complex (725)
Baltimore, MD
NEC regular season
December 29, 2017
7:00 p.m. 		at Wagner L 57–76  6–8
(0–1) 		 19 – Robinson   5 – Wray   3 – tied  Spiro Sports Center (1,722)
Staten Island, NY
December 31, 2017
2:00 p.m. 		at LIU Brooklyn L 57–71  6–9
(0–2) 		 12 – tied   8 – Wray   4 – Wray  Steinberg Wellness Center (597)
Brooklyn, NY
January 4, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		Bryant W 96–80  7–9
(1–2) 		 25 – Robinson   10 – Wray   9 – Robinson  Knott Arena (1,348)
Emmitsburg, MD
January 6, 2018
4:00 p.m. 		Central Connecticut W 78–51  8–9
(2–2) 		 27 – Robinson   9 – Wray   7 – Carey  Knott Arena (2,384)
Emmitsburg, MD
January 11, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		Sacred Heart W 81–75  9–9
(3–2) 		 23 – Robinson   7 – Wray   4 – tied  Knott Arena (1,448)
Emmitsburg, MD
January 13, 2018
2:00 p.m. 		at Saint Francis (PA) W 81–80 OT 10–9
(4–2) 		 22 – Wray   8 – Wray   10 – Robinson  DeGol Arena (954)
Loretto, PA
January 18, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		at St. Francis Brooklyn L 73–81  10–10
(4–3) 		 21 – Robinson   8 – Wray   6 – Carey  Generoso Pope Athletic Complex (385)
Brooklyn, NY
January 20, 2018
4:30 p.m. 		at Fairleigh Dickinson L 72–73  10–11
(4–4) 		 19 – Robinson   13 – Wray   7 – Robinson  Rothman Center (486)
Hackensack, NJ
January 25, 2018
9:00 p.m., CBSSN 		LIU Brooklyn W 86–80  11–11
(5–4) 		 24 – Robinson   9 – Wray   7 – Wray  Knott Arena (2,231)
Emmitsburg, MD
January 27, 2018
4:00 p.m. 		St. Francis Brooklyn W 86–72  12–11
(6–4) 		 27 – Robinson   8 – Antonio   7 – Wray  Knott Arena (3,005)
Emmitsburg, MD
February 1, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		at Robert Morris W 67–42  13–11
(7–4) 		 15 – Alexander   13 – Wray   6 – Wray  PPG Paints Arena (804)
Pittsburgh, PA
February 3, 2018
4:00 p.m. 		Saint Francis (PA) W 59–56  14–11
(8–4) 		 20 – Robinson   7 – Wray   3 – tied  Knott Arena (3,045)
Emmitsburg, MD
February 8, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		at Central Connecticut W 71–57  15–11
(9–4) 		 32 – Robinson   8 – Wray   5 – Robinson  William H. Detrick Gymnasium 
New Britain, CT
February 10, 2018
1:00 p.m. 		at Bryant L 77–79  15–12
(9–5) 		 30 – Robinson   7 – Wray   5 – Wray  Chace Athletic Center (560)
Smithfield, RI
February 15, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		Fairleigh Dickinson L 79–80  15–13
(9–6) 		 23 – Robinson   8 – Planutis   8 – Wray  Knott Arena (2,322)
Emmitsburg, MD
February 17, 2018
1:00 p.m. 		at Sacred Heart W 74–69  16–13
(10–6) 		 30 – Robinson   13 – Wray   7 – Wray  William H. Pitt Center (404)
Fairfield, CT
February 22, 2018
7:00 p.m., CBSSN 		Robert Morris W 72–53  17–13
(11–6) 		 16 – Wray   7 – Planutis   8 – Robinson  Knott Arena (2,908)
Emmitsburg, MD
February 24, 2018
4:00 p.m. 		Wagner W 73–62  18–13
(12–6) 		 22 – Robinson   9 – Wray   5 – Wray  Knott Arena (3,072)
Emmitsburg, MD
NEC tournament
February 28, 2018
7:00 p.m. 		(2) (7) Robert Morris
Quarterfinals 		L 56–60  18–14
  15 – Robinson   7 – Planutis   5 – Wray  Knott Arena (2,129)
Emmitsburg, MD
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East Region.
All times are in Eastern.

Source:[13]

References

  1. ^ Stoetzer, Pat (May 2, 2018). "Men's Basketball: Christian leaving Mount St. Mary's for Siena College". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Stoetzer, Pat (May 2, 2018). "Men's Basketball: Christian leaving Mount St. Mary's for Siena College". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Dan Engelstad Named Mount St. Mary's Men's Basketball Head Coach" (Press release). Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers. May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Steinberg, Russell (May 10, 2018). "Mount St. Mary's introduces Southern Vermont's Dan Engelstad as head coach". Mid-Major Madness. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  5. ^ "Mount St. Mary's tops Sacred Heart 76-73 in NEC quarterfinal". USA Today. March 1, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Stoetzer, Pat (March 4, 2017). "Men's Basketball: Mount St. Mary's one win away from NEC title". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mount St. Mary's downs Saint Francis to win NEC tournament". USA Today. AP. March 7, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Mount St. Mary's staves off New Orleans in NCAA tournament First Four opener". USA Today. Associated Press. March 14, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Lopresti, Mike (March 15, 2017). "Mount St. Mary's 5-5 Junior Robinson leads Mountaineers to March Madness First Four victory". NCAA.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Brady, Erik (March 16, 2017). "Villanova avoids Mount St. Mary's bid at March Madness' greatest upset". USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Spread The Red! Saint Francis U is the Unanimous Pick To Win the #NECMBB Title". northeastconference.org. October 25, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Saint Francis U Lands Two Players On Preseason All-NEC Men's Basketball Team". northeastconference.org. October 25, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "2017-18 Men's Basketball Schedule". mountathletics.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.