John Powell, a former Division II player, had a big week for Brandeis. Brandeis athletics photo

In a week full of surprises, Brandeis might have sent the biggest shockwave across the Division III landscape by clipping No. 2 Amherst, 78-58, on the road earlier this week. Winning was impressive but beating Amherst by 20 points while scoring a season-high point total is the real eye-opener.

“I’ll be honest, I knew we were moving in the right direction and that our record was deceiving,” Brandeis head coach Brian Meehan said. “I was really surprised about the way we went about winning the game. We played at a much higher level than I thought we were ready for. We went in to that game with a lot confidence. I don’t know it where it came from. It’s a really big step forward for us.”

Brandeis (3-5 overall) finished the first half of its schedule with some serious momentum having won three of their four previous contests.

Competing in the powerful UAA with the league standings resembling the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, the Judges feature 10 players that are either freshmen or sophomores.

They all figured in the win over Amherst. Brandeis was led by 17 points from sophomore center John Powell, who was 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from the line. Sophomore forward Tim Reale finished with 16 points as he hit 5-of-8 with a 3-pointer and was 5-of-7 from the line. The duo scored 21 of their 33 points in the second half as Brandeis outscored Amherst, 38-24.

Freshman forward Jordan Cooper finished with 15 points, 12 coming in the first half. Freshman Carlin Haymon made the most of his minutes by scoring 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench, including three huge 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Robinson Vilmont scored nine of his 11 points in the second half.

Even though the Judges started the season with four straight losses, they were in every game. They dropped a pair of two-point decisions to UMass-Dartmouth and Becker. Prior to its win over Amherst, Brandeis claimed a 52-50 victory over Tufts despite shooting 30 percent. Powell recorded a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) to lead the Judges in the win over Tufts.

The task of properly preparing for the season was made difficult by the numerous injuries that kept key players out most of preseason.

Meehan spent a majority of the preseason looking at injury reports instead of scouting reports. Cooper had an ankle injury in which he missed three and a half weeks of preseason. Point guard Colby Smith missed all of preseason while battling mononucleosis. Robinson Vilmont had a deep thigh contusion with fluid buildup that kept him out of the Judges’ first four games. He returned to help Brandeis defeat Framingham State for its first victory of the season.

“I have a lot of kids who know how to run the scoreboard,” Meehan quipped. “They know more about that then the plays and sets we run. I was less rattled with our 0-4 start. Our biggest problem is we had so many injuries and we couldn’t get them on the court. It wasn’t a fun preseason.”

Then when he thought he had a full team, he received the news that two key players would be lost for the season with injuries. Hayman broke his orbital bone and Kevin Troutman ruptured his Achilles. Despite those setbacks, Brandeis has positioned itself to enjoy a strong second half of the season.

A transfer from Division II Bloomfield, the 6-8 Powell had a week to remember as he averaged 16.5 points on 56 percent shooting. Even though his favorite place on campus is the library, he has enjoyed his time on hardwood lately. Powell has found his groove as he has scored 10 or more points in four straight games.

Brandeis has gotten the job this season by committee as no player averages double figures. Meehan isn’t worried about the break slowing down his teams’ momentum from beating Amherst.

“It’s OK,” Meehan said of the break. “It will give a lot of guys’ time to catch their breath and they’ll use it the right way. Plus it will make them more excited about coming back and we have a good start point heading into the second semester.”

The Judges visit Roger Williams on Friday, Jan. 2 in their next game. 

Jazmyn Robinson embodies the spirit of Division III. Keystone athletics photo by Erica Engle

Robinson's generosity lifting Keystone

Jazmyn Robinson is a special gift that keeps on giving.

The dynamic and benevolent 5-5 senior guard is Keystone’s all-time assist leader with 445. Her biggest asset is she’s somebody who enjoys bringing smiles to other people and lending a helping hand. She’s done that and more in changing the culture of the Keystone women’s basketball program.

Case in point, Thursday afternoon Robinson drove one of her teammates to Sears after she experienced some car issues and stayed with her while everything was being worked on. It helped that they passed time by eating at Red Robin. Later this month, Robinson will spend some time volunteering at the Community Intervention center in Scranton.

Perhaps, she should star alongside Chris Paul in the next State Farm commercial.

“That’s how I’ve always been,” Robinson said. “I was raised in the church. My mother pushed and motivated me. I am very humble and I don’t like recognition.”

However, it’s hard to stay anonymous when you have posted impressive digits. A two-time second team All-CSAC performer, Robinson is also poised to become the Giants’ all-time leader in steals. With 291 career thefts, she needs nine entering Monday’s game at Wilkes University to become the all-time steals queen at Keystone. 

Last weekend, Robinson added another accolade to her growing collection by scoring her 1,000th career point as Keystone stormed back from a 28-point deficit to defeat Rosemont, 86-84. She made two pressure-packed foul shots with 1.2 seconds remaining to provide the winning margin.

Making the win more meaningful was her mom, Odette Forrest, was in attendance to witness her milestone afternoon that concluded with a her season-best scoring performance. Robinson credits God, her mom and grandmother, Beverly Thomas, with having the biggest influences in her life and nurturing her kind heart.

Robinson may be embarrassed by the attention, but her selfless attitude is a refreshing change in a me-first society.

Immediately, Robinson gave credit to her talented teammates and coaching staff for the victory over Rosemont as if she had nothing to do with the incredible rally by supplementing her scoring with seven steals and six assists. Robinson said the team fed off of head coaches’ Kristen Vasta’s energy during its comeback.

The Giants trailed Rosemont by 28 points with 5:06 left in the first half, 22 at halftime, 23 with 15:49 remaining, 17 at the 9:06 mark and 10 with 4:37 left before making their final push. It was the largest Keystone comeback since it became a member of the CSAC in 2008-09.

For the season, Robinson is one of four players averaging double figures for the Giants. Ashley Evans leads the team with a 20.3 point per game average. Alysa Cuomo contributes 15.4 points per contest. Robinson scores at a 12.4 point per game clip and averages 6.0 assists per game. Evans, Cuomo and Robinson are second, fifth and 10th respectively in the CSAC in scoring. Keystone is the only school in the conference with three players among the top 10 in scoring.

Ciera Hensley adds 10.4 points a game for the Giants, who lead the CSAC in scoring offense.

What’s nice about Robinson is she’s a double-double threat in steals and assists each time she takes the court. A lockdown specialist, Robinson leads the conference in steals (3.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) and is second in assists (6.0).

Since Robinson doesn’t consistently singe the nets for 20 or more points a game and is quiet force on the court, she’s easily overlooked. She leads by example on and off the court, likes to shop and have fun with her teammates.

Robinson’s textbook type of game is blast to watch for basketball purists.

“I’ve always been a pass first and shoot second player,” Robinson said. “When the opportunity is given to shoot the ball, I will shoot. It’s not always about stats for me. It’s just part of my persona. My team pushes me all the time and when I don’t score or shoot more, they get on me.”

From Prince Georges County, Maryland, Robinson was recruited to Keystone by its former coach. She knew that Keystone had a rough history in women’s basketball having won a combined 12 games in the two years before her arrival.

However, she knew that she could be part of building something nice and leaving her mark by the time she earns her degree in recreational management in May. Since Robinson has arrived on campus, the Giants have won an average 14.3 games, including 18 in her sophomore year, over the last three years. They are 4-4 this season and have their sights on winning the conference tournament; a goal Robinson believes is attainable.

“It’s good to go from winning four games to be able to contend with the CSAC champs,” Robinson said. “It’s been a blessing to be here and accomplish everything we have so far. The best part of my experience at Keystone has been the relationships with my teammates. We’re like sisters and have become close in the last four years. I wouldn’t give them up for the world and I know we’ll always be there for each other.”

A fan of Kevin Durant and Allen Iverson, Robinson would like to be a head coach one day or play basketball overseas. There’s always a place for somebody who loves playing defense and has a knack for looking for the open player.

As a coach, Robinson would make an impact just like she has at Keystone.

Specialist Maurice Edwards. surprised his little brother, Westminster senior guard Verdis Lee Jr., prior to the start of the men's basketball game. Wesminster (Mo.) athletics photo

A special reunion

This is reason number gazillion why we love Division III hoops. Prior to the start of the Westminster (Mo.)-Central game Tuesday night, senior Verdis Lee Jr. received an unexpected but very pleasant surprise.

After being in Afghanistan since April, Verdis’ older brother, Specialist Maurice Edwards of the U.S. Army, arrived at the game to surprise Verdis. The two were reunited on the court prior to the game starting.

“It surprised the hell out of me first and foremost,” Verdis commented about the surprise. “I'm glad my mom and granny got to see him, and his daughter most of all.”

Outside of Verdis' mother and father, his whole family did not know about his brother's early return from Afghanistan.

“It meant a lot to see my brother since I haven't seen him for about six or seven months,” Verdis Lee Jr. said about the surprise. Specialist Edwards was not due home until March. “Over that time, I've been getting a lot closer to my family and he's been the only one missing, especially over Thanksgiving. I was actually just asking about him the other day because I don't like spending holidays without everyone there, and it has been visible to me not having him around.

“I don't think it affected my play, but it did kind of throw me off," commented Verdis about having his brother there to watch him. “I'm just glad he's back. Hopefully I can play better now that he is.”

Lee is averaging 8.0 points per game for the Blue Jays, which is third on the team behind Brandon Moore’s 14.3 point per game average and Matt Murphy’s 8.3 points. Westminster is off to a tough 1-6 start entering its conference opener Saturday against Blackburn. However, the results and statistics are irrelevant when compared with reuniting with your brother.

‘Biggs’ hits 800

One of the most incredible streaks in Division III doesn’t involve a coach or a player.

Nope that honor belongs to the heart-and-soul of the George Fox athletics department, Mike "Biggs" Wirta. He will attend his 800th consecutive George Fox basketball game when the Bruins visit Seattle Pacific Friday night. It’s a streak that dates back to 1985.

The staff of George Fox will recognize Wirta’s special achievements in January when school is back in session.

“Biggs wears so many hats around campus, but his primary responsibilities are to handle all of the custodial work for the athletics department,” George Fox Director of Sports Marketing Sarah Reid said. “That means on any given day, he's helping set up and tear down the gym for athletic contests, cleaning the bathrooms at the soccer complex, making sure the Duke Athletic Center is clean for donor events that happen on football game days, etc. He takes such ownership and pride in caring for our beautiful facilities. Additionally, he's helped take stats for the men's basketball team for several decades and drives the team bus to away games. 

“Biggs is a fixture on the George Fox campus -- it's impossible for me to imagine a version of this university that doesn't include him. He loves being here -- it's his true home away from home. He takes pride in the fact that he can stretch an eight-hour day of work into 12. He loves spending time in the library combing through the archives. He can point to pictures of famous moments in George Fox athletics history and tell you where he was sitting or standing. He drives a Delorean with "Bruins" on the license plate. He has a servants’ heart and the sharpest mind for stats and data that I've ever come across.”

Games of note

In a pair of delicious men’s basketball games this week involving nationally-ranked teams No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan plays at No. 3 Washington U. on Saturday. No. 16 North Central meets No. 10 Dickinson Friday night in a game at Juniata.

Put a ring on it

The FDU-Florham women’s basketball team received its national championship rings Tuesday night prior to its 88-51 victory over Drew. Winners of 41 consecutive games, the Devils (8-0) will be back in action when it competes in the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas against UW-Stevens Point and UW-Platteville. All eight of FDU-Florham’s wins this season have been by double figures. The Devils have five players averaging double figures led by Alyssa McDonough’s 12.1 points per game.

Mountaineers riding high

Southern Vermont extended its winning streak to five games by defeating Vassar 83-72 Wednesday night. The Mountaineers enter finals and the holiday break with a 7-2 record and .778 winning percentage, the best for the program before the New Year since the 2002-03 SVC squad (.800) that was 4-1 after its fall semester schedule. One of their losses was to Division I Vermont whole the other setback was a 73-69 decision to Marymount.

Fueling the Mountaineers’ strong start to the season is SVC junior DeShawn Hamlet, who led the team with his third straight double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Averaging a team best 17.4 points per game, the 6-3 junior business administration major from Hartford has scored in double figures seven times this season for SVC. He erupted for a season-high 30 points in the loss to Marymount.

Help me

I am serving as the national columnist this season for D3hoops.com. I was the Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Regional columnist last year. To help with telling the best stories, delivering fun and insightful nuggets while providing teams the recognition they deserve, please add me to your email list for press releases and postgame releases at rob.knox@d3sports.com.

Don’t worry about flooding my inbox. I am also going to try to get as many names into my column as possible and will do so in the weekly shout out portion beginning in January. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter @knoxrob1.