There were high hopes for the 2019-20 Suffolk men’s basketball season. It was the final time to grab Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) glory before the transition to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in 2020-21 and the Rams were fueled by Jeff Juron’s fully matured first-recruiting class in the quartet of senior captains Thomas Duffy, Jonathan Eng, George Grillakis and Cameron Powers.
Wins were traded with losses over the first two months of action, which saw the blue-and-gold hold a .500 (5-5) record at the semester break.
Ready to pick up the pace would prove to be difficult as the Rams would be displaced over the next six weeks without a home hardwood.
Suffolk did not let that set itself back though as it burst into the New Year, winning four of its first five games in January. One of those victories was monumental for the program, an 89-78 triumph at Tufts, which marked the first time the Rams defeated the Jumbos since Feb. 4, 1989.
After opening its final GNAC calendar in the win column, with an 81-60 offensive onslaught of Anna Maria, the Rams were tripped up in a three-game road swing to remain at .500 (9-9) as it entered the final month of the regular-season.
February’s first outing would prove to be one of the toughest, a Saturday night showdown with then-No. 19 Albertus Magnus. It’d be the first time Juron’s Rams would battle a top-25 foe, one it has not taken down in seven years. Suffolk shocked the nationally ranked Falcons, 81-68, to get back on track.
From there the team would pick up wins over Rivier, Norwich, Colby Sawyer, and Regis for a 6-5 league ledger. That mark was goof for a four-way tie for fourth place in the standings, however, after head-to-heads and tiebreakers the Rams slipped to seventh in the postseason field, and the squad’s eighth straight trip, 16th overall, would send Suffolk to second-seed Albertus Magnus for a rematch with the rivals it upset 24 days ago.
The quarterfinals came down to the wire with the Rams answering each of the Falcons runs and vice versa. Suffolk’s Class of 2020 anchored the run with Duffy, Eng and Powers all providing double-digit points. Gambling with fouls down the stretch sent Albertus Magnus to the line where the hosts locked up the lead and ended the GNAC trophy hopes for good.
THROUGH THE LENS
Suffolk men's basketball hosted a Hoops for Hunger event, a food drive benefiting the Suffolk CARES pantry at its Senior Day celebration and regular-season finale against Regis, February 22.
The Rams helped bring in over 100 donations to the on-campus pantry, which works collaboratively with students and their families, faculty, staff, and other campus resources to provide support for students through a variety of challenges they may encounter while at the University.
grand celebration
A year ago Thomas Duffy reached the 1,000-point mark in front of a standing-room only crowd in the Rams' GNAC Quarterfinal battle versus Saint Joseph (Conn.).
The 1K achievement was achieved in the last game of the season a year ago, so this season Ram Nation honored Duffy as the 30th-member of Suffolk's 1,000-point club prior to the home-opener, against Lasell November 16.
ALL-GNAC THIRD TEAM
Thomas Duffy, a staple in Suffolk’s back court since 2017-18, sealed up his collegiate career with his third consecutive All-GNAC honor with a spot on the third team.
The laurels come on the heels of a senior season that saw the guard provide 11.2 points per outing to go along with a team-high 4.2 assists per game, which ranked fourth against conference counterparts. Defensively, he supplied 3.8 caroms per contest with 1.2 takeaways per game to his credit as well.
The trio of all-league nods is a first under Jeff Juron’s guidance and is the first time a student-athlete has achieved the feat since Matt Pepdjonovic earned four, one in each of his years at Suffolk, from 2009-13.
sportsmanship team
For the second time in his career, Cameron Powers was honored as Suffolk's representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship team. The senior first earned the recognition as a sophomore in 2017-18.
The team was established to honor one player from each team in the conference for outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and positive attitude.
SCHOENFELD AWARD
Suffolk men's basketball head coach Jeff Juron was honored by the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association (CBOA) as the 2019-20 Sam Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Schoenfeld, former college basketball great, who possessed a great deal of energy, impeccable honesty and a charismatic personality, was one of CBOA's founding fathers. He espoused integrity and strong character, which set him apart from most men. A brief illness took Sam's life in early 1956, and, as a result, CBOA memorialized him through an award that would be annually presented to a person who exemplified the principles and characteristics so prominently displayed by Sam Schoenfeld.
Accordingly, the award is presented to the college or university which, in the judgement of the CBOA membership best exemplifies the "highest degree of sportsmanship character and ethics among their players, coaches and spectators."
This is the highest honor that CBOA annually bestows on any collegiate institution.
CHARLES MELANSON UNSUNG HERO
For the second straight year Cameron Powers of the Suffolk men’s basketball team was honored as Suffolk Athletics’ Charles Melanson Unsung Hero.
Given annually in honor of the late Charles Melanson, who volunteered countless hours to Suffolk’s Athletic Department as a team manager, the award is presented to a student-athlete whose contributions to Suffolk Athletics exemplifies the attributes of an unsung hero; a selfless individual who is often uncredited.
Powers is the first student-athlete to take home the honor twice according to the Rams’ record books, which date through 2008-09. He is the second student-athlete under Jeff Juron’s guidance to earn the distinction following Adam Chick, who garnered the department’s unsung hero title in 2015-16.
Cam won this award a year ago and he is equally if not more deserving as a senior. He is as selfless and hardworking as any player we've ever had in our program. -- Suffolk Assistant Athletic Director, Men's Basketball Head Coach, Jeff Juron
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to tip-off February 22 against Regis, Suffolk men’s basketball honored the playing careers of its four graduating players Thomas Duffy, Jonathan Eng, George Grillakis and Cameron Powers.
rams reflects
In first person narratives, Suffolk's seniors had a chance to look back on their time as Suffolk student-athletes in Rams Reflections.
This was the best decision I've ever made thus far. I have never been happier to be part of the Ram family. Not only has this four-year journey been focused on improving my skills within the realm of basketball, but it has taught me lessons that I will apply in my life after college.
<< Jonathan Eng
It has been an absolute privilege to be a Ram. This experience has been one that I am never going to forget. I learned so much not only on the court, but also off the court. Being a part of Suffolk men's basketball was the best decision I have ever made. Through this team, I was able to create relationships that are going to last a lifetime.
<< George Grillakis
I have never had a brother, but today, I can honestly say I have too many to count. The bonds that we have built through the game, the game that we all fell in love with, has now brought us something that we can cherish forever.
<< Cameron powers
HAGOPIAN HIGHLIGHTS
Former Suffolk men's basketball standout Michael Hagopian, BSBA '19 wrapped up his first season playing abroad, competing for Urartu Vbet, a Vanadzor-based basketball club that belongs to both the A-League in Aremnia, the top men's official basketball league in the country, and the Eurasian League.