2009-10 was a special season for the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team. The Bobcats, then members of the Northeast Conference, went 23-10 and secured the only NIT appearance in program history.
Something else that former head coach Tom Moore’s squad did that season? Win a regular-season conference title. Quinnipiac had a 15-3 record in NEC play that season which was tied with Robert Morris for best in the league. The Bobcats ended up falling to the Colonials by two points in the NEC Championship game.
Fast forward 14 years to Thursday, March. 7. Behind 17 points from graduate student guard Matt Balanc and 16 points from sophomore forward Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac clinched at least a share of the MAAC regular season title with a 73-64 win over the Marist Red Foxes.
“We’re honored to be co-champions, but if we go down and win on Saturday then it’s our championship,” head coach Tom Pecora said. “This group is deserving of that.”
The Bobcats found themselves in foul trouble early on, as senior forward Paul Otieno picked up his second personal less than three minutes into the game. Redshirt senior forward Richie Springs had three fouls in the first half. Both graduate student guard Savion Lewis and redshirt senior forward JJ Riggins had two, which tested Pecora’s depth.
“Thank god we have three (big men),” Pecora said. “We have 15 fouls at that position. It comes back to our depth. We have three guys that can play the five spot.”
Despite committing so many fouls in the first 20 minutes, Quinnipiac led by one at halftime behind 12 points from Springs and nine points from Tice. The Bobcats lived in the paint, scoring 28 of their 37 first half points down low.
“To see what Richie Springs did in the first half,” Pecora said. “He’s got such potential.”
“I’m always ready to go,” Springs assured.
The second half started neck and neck with the teams trading baskets. Quinnipiac finally started to break away after Tice followed his shot on a missed three-pointer and threw down a thunderous one-handed slam, causing Marist to burn a timeout.
MBB: After following his own shot Amarri Tice slams one home causing Marist to talk it over. Bobcats lead 48-42 with 15:10 left in the game.
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— Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (@QBSN) March 8, 2024
Down the stretch, intense defense from Tice and junior guard Doug Young made things difficult for the Red Foxes to string together a run. They made things interesting with a mini 8-2 spurt, but timely baskets from Balanc kept the Bobcats in front.
“I take pride in my defense and I think it helps translate into my offense,” Tice said. “I’m going to go out there and continue to play defense.”
It was the final game at M&T Bank Arena for many of the Bobcats, including Lewis and Balanc. Both in the program since 2018, their final game in Hamden ended in a Quinnipiac regular season championship. Both of them could have left and played for a bigger school for NIL money but stayed home.
“We’re not paying people to come to Quinnipiac,” Pecora said. “Some of these guys are going to have offers to go other places, so if it’s about the money, then go, but we’re about the college basketball experience.”
The Bobcats have yet to clinch the regular season title outright, as they hold a one-game lead over Fairfield with one game to play. Should the two teams tie in the standings on Saturday, Quinnipiac would be the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey next week. If the Bobcats win on Saturday against St. Peter’s or both they and the Stags lose, they will be the No. 1 seed.
“I believe we’re the deepest team in this league,” Pecora said. “I think it’s a huge advantage for us.”
Next for the Bobcats is the aforementioned regular-season finale against St. Peter’s on Saturday in Jersey City. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Yanitelli Center.
