Men's Basketball Set to Host USJ Holiday Tournament Sunday and Monday
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team is set to host its third iteration of the USJ Holiday Tournament, presented by Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, on Sunday December 29th and Monday December 30th. The two-day, four-game tournament will feature USJ, Farmingdale State College, Western Connecticut State University and Connecticut College. All games will be played inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. and admission is free of charge.
USJ and Farmingdale State are set to kick off the action on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., followed by Western Connecticut State taking on Connecticut College, which will tip off at approximately 3:00 p.m. The two losers in Sunday's games will face off in the consolation game on Monday at 1:00 p.m., while the two winners will go head-to-head in the championship game around 3:00 p.m.
Tournament Links
Sunday: WATCH HERE | USJ-FSC LIVE STATS | WCSU-CONN LIVE STATS
Monday: WATCH HERE | USJ-WCSU LIVE STATS | FSC-CONN LIVE STATS
Scouting USJ
The Blue Jays (6-3, 1-0 GNAC) are coming off a 70-66 road victory over Yeshiva back on December 16th. The hosts are led by a trio of scorers averaging just over 13 points per game: Senior guard Kevin Cummings (13.9 PPG), junior guard Lence Altenor (13.2 PPG) and junior forward Friedrich Feldrappe (13.0 PPG). Saint Joseph won the inaugural USJ Holiday Tournament back in 2019, but came in third place last year after falling to Lycoming in the first round and then defeating Wentworth in the consolation game.
Scouting Farmingdale State
The Rams (2-6, 0-1 Skyline) come into the tournament on a four-game losing streak with two of those losses by single digits, including a two-point loss in their last game at Swarthmore back on December 12th. Farmingdale State is led by junior guard Micheal Notias (15.6 PPG, 44.1% 3FG), junior guard Sean Conroy (10.7 PPG) and senior guard Jevon Santos who is the Rams' all-time assists leader with 393 career dimes entering the tournament. The Rams tied their program record with 27 wins last season and have won back-to-back Skyline Conference Tournaments.
Scouting Western Connecticut
The Wolves (6-4, 2-1 LEC) enter the tournament on a two-game winning streak, most recently defeating Plymouth State, 57-53, back on December 7th. WestConn started the season 1-3, but have bounced back, winning five of their last six games. The Wolves are led by junior forward Nick Boyce (11.9 PPG) and senior forward/center Jourdan Belcher (11.3 PPG). WestConn won 22 games last season and has reached back-to-back LEC Tournament Championship games.
Scouting Connecticut College
The Camels (5-5, 0-0 NESCAC) fell in their most recent game to Rhode Island College, 76-69, back on December 19th. Connecticut College is led by junior forward Elias Espinosa (14.3 PPG, 2024 All-NESCAC Second Team) and senior guard Cam Schianfeld (12.9 PPG, 2024 All-NESCAC Second Team). The Camels are 2-0 against GNAC teams this season after winning at Emmanuel, 82-68, on December 4th and taking down Mitchell College, 76-64, at home on December 9th. Current USJ Head Coach Glen Miller coached the Camels for six seasons from 1993-1999. Miller led Connecticut College to a No. 1 national ranking and program-record 28 wins during the 1998-1999 season. The Camels reached back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 1998 and 1999, including the program's only Final Four appearance in 1999. Miller finished with a 95-58 record during his time in New London.
Past Participants and Champions
2019: USJ (Champions), Old Westbury (Runner-Up), Fisher, Pine Manor
2023: UMass Dartmouth (Champions), Lycoming (Runner-Up), USJ, Wentworth
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