Men's Hoops Set for CBI in Daytona Beach

Sunday, March 24

Ocean Center | Daytona Beach, Florida

5:30 PM

Quinnipiac University

Evansville

Tickets

3/24/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Record-Setting Season Culminates in Postseason Appearance for QU

By: QU Athletic Communications

Quinnipiac at 2024 Ro College Basketball Invitational
Daytona Beach, Florida | Ocean Center
Full CBI Game Notes: Click Here

GAME 1: #6 Quinnipiac (24-9, 15-5 MAAC) vs. #11 Evansville (16-17, 6-14 MVC)
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 5:30 PM
Watch: FloHoops | Stats: Click Here

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a record-breaking 2023-24 campaign culminating in a MAAC regular season title, Quinnipiac Men's Basketball has earned an invitation to compete in 2024 Ro College Basketball Invitational.

The 2024 CBI will be a single-elimination, fully-bracketed men's basketball postseason tournament featuring 16 teams from across the country competing for a championship in Florida.

The 16th College Basketball Invitational will take place March 23-27, 2024 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The Semifinals and Championship game will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Opening and Quarterfinal Rounds will be broadcast on FloHoops.

Quinnipiac will square off with Evansville in the first round of the tournament at 5:30 PM on Sunday, March 24. This will mark Quinnipiac's second-ever appearance in the CBI. The Bobcats accepted an invitation to the tournament in 2012, falling at Penn in the opening round by the final score of 73-64.

Welcome to Daytona Beach 😎#BobcatNation x @CBITourney pic.twitter.com/5XZwvJ6I3C
— Quinnipiac Men's Basketball (@QU_MBB) March 23, 2024

The Bobcats have appeared in five other postseason tournaments since 2010: National Invitation Tournament in 2010, CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2011, College Basketball Invitational in 2012, CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2014, and CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2019.

The Bobcats have already won a program-record 24 contests in 2023-24, capturing the team's first-ever MAAC regular season title. Guard Matt Balanc was named MAAC Player of the Year following an impressive year, while Head Coach Tom Pecora was crowned MAAC Coach of the Year.

QU's 19-4 start over their first 23 games marked the program's best start to a year since the 1965-66 campaign. Quinnipiac won 10 consecutive games from Jan. 5 – Feb. 8, the third-longest active streak in all of Division I basketball. The Bobcats finished the month of January with a 7-0 record, marking the first perfect month in the university's Division I history.

THE 2023-24 BOBCATS

QU's 24 total victories this season mark the most in program history.
The Bobcats finished up the regular season with a 23-8 overall mark, then defeated Canisius in the MAAC Quarterfinals (76-52) down in Atlantic City during the league's postseason tournament.
Quinnipiac went 15-5 in league play to earn the program's first-ever regular season MAAC title.
QU went 13-3 in home games under Head Coach Tom Pecora.
Quinnipiac has reached 20 total wins in a season for the second consecutive year, and the fifth total time in the program's Division I history. It marks the 11th time in team history that the Bobcats have reached the 20-win mark.
The Bobcats' 19-4 start over their first 23 games marked the program's best start to a year since the 1965-66 campaign.
Quinnipiac won 10 consecutive games from Jan. 5 – Feb. 8, the third-longest active streak in all of Division I basketball.
The Bobcats finished the month of January with a 7-0 record, the first perfect month in the university's Division I history.

MILESTONE WATCH

Matt Balanc is up to 1,714 career points, just 16 points away from setting a new QU Division I program record. Balanc trails only James Johnson ('12) in career points (1,729 total points).
Balanc has also played in 143 career games (second all-time at QU). He trails only Jacob Rigoni (147 GP) in that category.
Amarri Tice has 59 steals this year, just two steals away from setting a new Division I record. Tice trails only Nate Pondexter (1999-2000), who recorded 60 steals in a single year.
Savion Lewis has 237 assists already this season, which sets a new Quinnipiac program record. The previous record of 211 assists was set by Mike Buscetto ('93).
The Bobcats have already set a new team D1 scoring record for a single season (2,567 points so far in 2023-24).

BALANC CROWNED LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Graduate guard Matt Balanc has been selected as the 2023-24 MAAC Player of the Year and tabbed NABC District I First Team.
Balanc has led the MAAC regular season champions in scoring during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 18.2 PPG on 43.1% shooting. The graduate student scored 20+ points 13 different times during the regular season.
He scored 10+ points in all but one game for QU to help lead the program to its most-ever MAAC wins. Balanc averaged 19.9 points per contest in home games, helping Quinnipiac go 13-3 at M&T Bank Arena.
Balanc currently ranks second in the MAAC in scoring (18.2 PPG). He poured in season-high 29 points against Rider on Jan. 5 after sinking five 3-pointers in a QU win. Balanc scored 20+ in seven separate league contests.
Balanc is just the third player in Quinnipiac program history to be named conference player of the year. Justin Rutty was named NEC Player of the Year in 2009-10, and Cameron Young earned MAAC Player of the Year status in 2018-19.
The Silver Spring, Maryland-native needs just 15 more points during QU's trip to Florida for the 2024 CBI to tie Quinnipiac's Division I career scoring record. Balanc has 1,714 career points, trailing only James Johnson's total of 1,729 points (2008-12).

PECORA NAMED MAAC COACH OF THE YEAR

Head Coach Tom Pecora has led the Bobcats to a 24-9 record during his first season at the helm of the program, guiding QU to its first-ever regular season title.
Quinnipiac won 15 of 20 MAAC games under the guidance of Pecora, went 13-3 in home games, and captured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City.
QU's 24 total victories are the most in program history.
Pecora adds to his coach of the year honors over the course of his career. In 2006 and 2009, he was named Coach of the Year by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) and he also received regional Coach of the Year honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY).

PECORA'S FIRST SEASON AT THE HELM

Tom Pecora, a veteran with 15 years of experience as a head coach at the Division I level, is in his first season at the helm of the Quinnipiac program in 2023-24. He assumed the role of Quinnipiac Men's Basketball Head Coach on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Pecora is entering his seventh season with the Bobcats in total.
Pecora served as the head coach at Hofstra for nine years (2001-2010) and at Fordham for five seasons (2010-15). Prior to taking over the head coaching position at Hofstra, Pecora served as the associate head coach under Jay Wright for seven seasons, the last two of which resulted in America East Conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths.
As a head coach at Hofstra, he compiled a 155–126 mark in nine seasons, leading the Pride to four postseason appearances (three NIT and one CBI), more than any team in New York City over that nine-year span. In 16 years at Hofstra with Pecora on the staff (nine years as a head coach, seven as an assistant), the Pride averaged 19 wins a season (246-161).
During his time in Hempstead, Hofstra was the winningest program in the Metropolitan New York area. Over his last six years, Hofstra won 121 games, including four 20-win seasons. In 2006 and 2009, he was named Coach of the Year by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) and he also received regional Coach of the Year honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY).
Prior to joining the staff at Hofstra, Pecora also had previous experience in running a program, serving as head basketball coach at the State University of New York at Farmingdale from 1989-92. In three seasons at Farmingdale, the Rams posted a 62-24 record, captured the Region 15 championship in 1992 (when they finished 20-9), advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament and were ranked as one of the nation's top 20 junior college programs.
Pecora reached the 200-win mark as a Division I head coach after the Bobcats defeated Coast Guard in the season opener on Nov. 6, 2023. He won 155 games at Hofstra over 9 seasons, then tallied 44 victories at Fordham over five years.

PECORA RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION

Quinnipiac Director of Athletics Greg Amodio has announced a contract extension for Men's Basketball Head Coach Tom Pecora through the end of the 2027-28 season (announced on Monday, Feb. 19).
Pecora, a veteran with 14+ years of experience as a head coach at the Division I level, is currently in his seventh full season at Quinnipiac University. He assumed the role of Quinnipiac Men's Basketball Head Coach on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Prior to his time at QU, Pecora served as a Division I head coach at Hofstra for nine years (2001-2010) and at Fordham for five seasons (2010-15).

GRAD GUARDS LEAD THE WAY

Graduate guards Matt Balanc and Savion Lewis lead the way for the Bobcats. Balanc ranks second in the MAAC in scoring (18.2 PPG) and Lewis is third in the entire country in assists (7.4 APG).
Preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Matt Balanc leads the Bobcats with 18.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG on 43.1% shooting. He's tallied double-digit scoring totals in all but one game this year. He has 14 separate 20+ point efforts in '23-24.
Point guard Savion Lewis ranks third in the entire country in assists per game (7.4 APG). The graduate guard is averaging 8.2 PPG, 7.4 APG and 3.2 RPG in 2023-24. Lewis was named MAAC Player of the Week on Nov. 20 following a strong week vs. UMass, Army and UAlbany.

OTIENO BACK FOR THE BOBCATS

Paul Otieno has chipped in with 10.9 PPG & 6.9 RPG, shooting 63.8% from the floor (MAAC-best).
Otieno scored a season-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting vs. Rider in Hamden (12/5), then followed up that effort with a 23-point night on 10-of-13 shooting vs. Manhattan (12/7).
He posted 31 points and 21 rebounds during a pair of games at the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City, going 14-of-18 from the field.

TICE'S IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Transfer Amarri Tice has added 13.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG and 1.0 BPG during his first season at QU. Tice has five double-doubles this year. He won the MAAC Player of the Week award on 1/15 after a 20-point, 15-rebound performance at Marist.
He is the only player in the MAAC this year that ranks inside the top 5 in both steals and blocks.

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT

Quinnipiac currently has the top scoring offense in the MAAC (77.8 PPG).
The Bobcats also own the league's best average scoring margin (+6.3).

DEFENSE = KEY TO SUCCESS

Quinnipiac is 16-1 this season when holding opponents to less than 70 points.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Quinnipiac finished with a 13-3 record at home this year. The Bobcats shot 47.1% from the floor at M&T Bank Arena and held opponents to just a 41.1% mark.

ELITE FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE

The Bobcats enter the CBI ranking 10th in all of Division I basketball in free throw percentage (78.0%).

MEET THE BOBCATS

Preseason All-MAAC Selection Matt Balanc returns for his graduate season to help lead the way for the Bobcats.. Balanc averaged 12.0 PPG & 4.6 RPG in 2022-23.
Point guard Savion Lewis will also return for his graduate season at QU. Lewis has played in 58 collegiate games over his career heading into his senior season, averaging 6.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG & 3.1 APG to stuff the stat sheet.
Big man Paula Otieno is back for the Bobcats after posting 7.2 PPG & 6.8 RPG during his first season in Hamden. Otieno started in all 32 QU games, and registered four double-doubles last year.
QU also returns Alexis Reyes, JJ Riggins, Nicholas Margetson and Quinn Guth to this year's squad.
The Bobcats have seven newcomers in 2023-24. Transfer additions include Richie Springs (previously at UConn), Doug Young (previously at Midland College), Arion Lewis (previously at Delaware State) and Amarri Tice (previously at Wofford State).
Khaden Bennett, Rihards Vavers and Daemar Kelly are QU's three first-year student-athletes.

QU NAMES THREE CAPTAINS

Matt Balanc, Savion Lewis, and Paul Otieno will serve as QU's three captains for the 2023-24 season, as announced by Head Coach Tom Pecora during the preseason.

PRESEASON ALL-MAAC HONORS

Quinnipiac has been tabbed No. 5 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office as part of the inaugural MAAC Basketball Tipoff held at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Matt Balanc has been selected to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team, while Paul Otieno earns Second Team honors.
The Bobcats were tabbed No. 5 in the preseason poll. Rider has been selected as the preseason league favorite.

BOBCATS REACH 20 WINS in 2022-23

The Bobcats are coming off a 20-win season in 2022-23, marking the fourth time in the school's Division I history that it reached 20 total victories. It marks the 10th time in program history that QU has reached the 20-win mark.
QU won a pair of games against NCAA Tournament teams, went 9-4 in Hamden, and earned the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament a year ago.
The Bobcats won each of their first seven games of the 2022-23 campaign – marking the best start to a new year for the program since 1969-70.
QU began the season with a road win at A10-foe Rhode Island.
The Bobcats wrapped up a 2-1 trip to Canada for The Northern Classic (Nov. 25-27, 2022). Quinnipiac downed both Stephen F. Austin and Montana State for impressive wins at Place Bell Arena in Quebec, before falling 72-70 vs. Hofstra on the final day of the tournament.
Quinnipiac began the month of January with six straight wins, downing Manhattan (1/1), Rider (1/6), Iona (1/8), Saint Peter's (1/13), Mount St. Mary's (1/15) and Canisius (1/22) during that span.

To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac men's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/mbb.