Nine Weeks at No. 1 for Bergen Bulldogs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Bergen Community College (N.J.) continued its winning ways to secure the No. 1 ranking in the latest NJCAA Division III men's basketball poll, released today (Feb. 9), for the ninth consecutive week. The Bulldogs have been No. 1 in the rankings since the first poll of the regular season was released back on Nov. 17^th.

For the sixth consecutive poll, Sullivan County Community College (N.Y.) and Herkimer County Community College (N.Y.) round out the top three.

Bergen improved to 26-0 on the season with victories over Union County (N.J.) on Feb. 2 and Gloucester County (N.J.) on Feb. 4. Javon Beaty and Elgin Brown both posted double-doubles in the 78-76 win over UCC. Beaty had 18 points and 10 rebounds while Brown led all players with 19 points and 17 boards. The duo posted double-doubles again in Bergen's 91-77 victory over GCC as Beaty had 12 points and 13 rebounds and Brown had 11 of each. Derrick Ross led the Bulldogs with 18 points.

The Bulldogs have just four games remaining on their regular season schedule. They hit the court tonight against Cumberland County (N.J.) and then hit the road to face Camden County on Feb. 11.

Sullivan suffered its first loss of the season last week, but also picked up a pair of victories to improve to 22-1 on the season. After defeating Westchester (N.Y.) 92-64 on Feb. 1, the Generals fell 92-82 to Division I Technical Career Institutes (N.Y.). Terry Coleman had 21 points and three assists in the loss. The Generals then rebounded to defeat Hostos (N.Y.) 94-61 on Feb. 6 as Jordan Thorpe had 15 points and 19 rebounds and Moses Dayee led all scorers with 17.

Coleman and Thorpe rank among the nation's best in assists and rebounds. Coleman is 7^th with 6.7 assists per game while Thorpe is also seventh with 13.1 boards per contest.

Sullivan hits the road to take on Rockland (N.Y.) tonight and then hosts Monroe (N.Y.) on Feb. 11.

Herkimer improved its winning streak to 23 games after they defeated Cayuga (N.Y.) 77-44 on the road last night to move to 23-1 overall. Akeem Ellis (14 points, 17 rebounds), Ian Austin-Michaud (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Rhamel Williams (16 points, 11 rebounds) all recorded double-doubles in the win.

Last night's game ended a rough week for the Generals as they picked up four road wins in seven days. HCCC defeated Fulton-Montgomery (N.Y.) 61-53 on Feb. 2, Onondaga (N.Y.) 65-50 on Feb. 4, Columbia-Green (N.Y.) 62-58 on Feb. 6 and Cayuga last night.

Akeem Ellis and Rhamel Williams combined to score 115 of Herkimer's 265 points (43.3%) in the four wins.

Herkimer is back in action on Feb. 12 when they host Adirondack (N.Y.).

NOTES: Bergen's nine week stint at No. 1 is the longest stretch for a team since the 2007-08 season when Hudson Valley (N.Y.) held the top spot for 11 weeks.