MEDFORD, MA-The Saint Joseph's College of Maine Men's Basketball team will make their first NCAA Tournament appearance in several years, as they square off against the University of Redlands in the opening round on Friday, March 7, at 4:05 p.m.. The game will take place at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
The Monks, have compiled an impressive 24-4 record, earned an automatic bid to the tournament by capturing the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship with a victory over Lasell University. Saint Joseph's roster features several standout players, including Remijo Wani, who leads the team with 18.2 points per game and ranks among the national leaders with 187 field goals made. Wani also ranks 112th in scoring nationally. Additionally, John Paul Frazier has been exceptional from beyond the arc, shooting 41.7% from three-point range, which places him 20th nationally, while his 3.26 three-pointers made per game rank 11th. Silvano Ismail, with 4.3 assists per game, a 57.1% field goal percentage, and a remarkable triple-double to his name, ranks 3rd nationally for the rare feat.
Teagan Hynes has also been a key contributor with a 2.26 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Wani Donato rounds out the leadership group with an efficient 56.9% field goal percentage and a strong 75th national ranking in assist-to-turnover ratio. Collectively, the Monks have demonstrated a well-rounded, dynamic approach to the game throughout the season.
On the other side, the University of Redlands, with a 22-4 record, earned an at-large bid after finishing 26th in the NPI rankings. The Bulldogs feature several notable players, including Omari Ferguson, who was named SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year and earned All-SCIAC honors alongside teammates Chozen Amadi, Lucas Gordon, and Kendrick Currey.
Both teams come into the tournament with impressive statistical rankings. Redlands ranks 4th nationally in steals per game, 7th in turnover margin, and 11th in scoring offense. Meanwhile, Saint Joseph's ranks 2nd in assists, 5th in total rebounds, and 7th in scoring offense, setting the stage for an exciting and high-paced matchup between two of the tournament's top teams.
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The winner of this first-round contest will advance to the second round, where they will face the victor of the game between Tufts University and Yeshiva University on Saturday, March 8. The time for that second-round matchup will be determined following the completion of the first-round games.
