Men's Basketball Heads to St. Joseph's (Maine) for GNAC Quarterfinals

BOSTON – The sixth-seeded Suffolk men's basketball team makes the trip to Stadish, Maine, Tuesday, Feb. 20 to open action in the 2018 GNAC Men's Basketball Tournament at the field's third seed, Saint Joseph's (Maine). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

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2018 GNAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 20
Game 1: #8 Anna Maria at #1 Albertus Magnus – 7:00 PM
Game 2: #5 Regis at #4 Lasell – 7:00 PM
Game 3: #6 Suffolk at #3 St. Joseph's (Maine) – 7:30 PM
Game 4: #7 Norwich at #2 Johnson & Wales – 7:00 PM

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 22
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 1
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 24
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5

LAST TIME OUT
Thomas Duffy scored 21 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:20 remaining in overtime, to lift the Suffolk men's basketball team to an 87-84 overtime win over Mount Ida Saturday afternoon at the Mustangs' Athletic Center.

MORE READING: Balanced Attack Leads Men's Basketball to Overtime Thrilling Win at Mt. Ida, 87-85

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk put together the winningest season since 2001-02 (17-10) with a 14-11 overall record and a 9-7 league record, which marks the most victories in conference contests since 2005-06 (9-9). 

The Rams' 71.7 ppg offense sees a trio of players produce double digits in Thomas Duffy (16.0 ppg), Michael Hagopian (14.6 ppg) and Brendan Mulson (14.6 ppg). The trifecta is also instrumental to Suffolk's 32.9 rpg. Mulson leads the effort on the boards with a team-high 6.2 rpg with Duffy sitting second at 4.6 rpg and Hagopian rounding out the three at 3.4 rpg. 

George Grillakis (6.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg) contributes on both ends of the hardwood, while Jim Djema (7.7 ppg) and Kevin Querusio (4.6 rpg) add to the offense and defense, respectively.

POSTSEASON PUSH
Suffolk will make its 14th appearance, sixth straight, in the GNAC Tournament. The Rams, who earned their highest ranking since being seeded sixth in 2013, have advanced to the semis three times and one just one championship in 2002.

MONKS MENTIONABLES
Thanks to a 16-9 overall mark and an 11-5 league ledger, Saint Joseph's (Maine) picked up the third seed in the tournament. The Monks enter the conference postseason on a two-game win streak after taking down Lasell, 76-65, and Norwich, 84-68, to wrap up the regular season. 

Darian Berry and Ian Mileikis anchor the Monks' 73.5 ppg offense with 17.5 ppg and 14.4 ppg, respectively. Jack Casale pitches in 11.8 ppg with Aaron Hall just shy of double figures with 9.5 ppg. 

That quartet of student-athletes is the force on the glass as well with all four bringing down over 5.0 rpg. Casale's 5.7 rpg leads the way with Berry and Mileikis each adding 5.5 rpg. Hall rounds out the foursome with 5.3 rpg.

WE MEET AGAIN
The Suffolk men's basketball team overcame a 16-point half-time deficit to secure a 68-56 win over Saint Joseph's (Maine) in the GNAC opener Dec. 2 inside Regan Gymnasium.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk and SJC will meet for the 32nd time overall and the second time in the conference postseason. The Rams have taken down the Monks just five times including December 2nd's victory. In the lone postseason contest, Suffolk fell to SJC in the 2014 quarterfinal 80-72 with identical rankings of Tuesday's tilt.

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Tuesday's tilt will advance to the semifinals and take on the victor of #2 Johnson & Wales and #7 Norwich.