Conference

Now a two-time winner of the Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week award, Francis averaged 21.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while helping Bryant sweep its trip to the Garden State and remain one game ahead of the pack in the NEC standings with an 8-2 record.  Against FDU on Thursday, the Harlem, NY product dropped a season-high 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting from field, and grabbed nine rebounds in just 27 minutes worth of action in the 78-63 victory that was broadcast on NEC-TV. Two days later at Monmouth, Francis recorded 21 points and 10 boards to mark his 21st-career double-double as the Bulldogs downed the Hawks by a 77-62 count. A staple among NEC statistical leaders, Francis ranks fifth in scoring (16.7 ppg), sixth in rebounding (8.4 rpg) and fourth in field-goal percentage (.551) for the Bulldogs, who have set a new program record for league wins and are guaranteed a winning regular season in their first year of postseason eligibility.

Burbage put on two of his best performances of the season last week as Central Connecticut defeated Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson on the road last week to move into a four-way tie four third place in the NEC standings. In a 78-58 victory over the Hawks on Thursday night, he scored 21 points while dishing out three assists and grabbing five rebounds. He hit five three-pointers and also posted a pair of steals in his 40-minute campaign. On Saturday at FDU, Burbage recorded his fifth 20-plus point effort of the season, netting 24, as the Blue Devils stopped the Knights, 80-71. He knocked down three more shots from long range, and finished the evening with a pair of rebounds, two assists and a steal. For the week, the Orlando, FL native averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals.  He is third on the Blue Devils with 11.7 ppg, and ranks among the NEC top-10 in three-pointers per game (2.3) and three-point percentage (.387).