Knott Arena

EMMITSBURG -- Not even low-key Jim Phelan could downplay the magnitude of this occasion.He was honored before the game, after the game and at almost every step he took around Knott Arena last night.Phelan is a legend in this town, and, after 37 years, 683 victories and 1,000 games, he deserves the admiration.Phelan became only the 10th coach in National CollegiateAthletic Association history to reach 1,000 games, guiding Mount St. Mary's to a 73-67 victory over Wagner before 2,875 at Knott Arena.

Coppin State (6-16, 4-6) Coming up / / Norfolk State at Coppin Center, Saturday, 4 p.m. Comment / / Junior forward Antwan Harrison is averaging 11.1 points on 51.3 percent shooting in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games. The Eagles play five of their last eight at home. Loyola (13-9, 9-3) Coming up / / At Fairfield tonight, 7:30; Canisius at Reitz Arena, Friday, 9 p.m., ESPNU; Fairfield at Reitz Arena, Sunday, 4 p.m., MAAC TV Comment / / Second-leading rebounder Michael Tuck (ankle sprain)

Monmouth (14-7) at Mount St. Mary's (15-6)Site: Knott Arena, EmmitsburgTime: 7:30Radio: WQSI (820 AM)Outlook: This game is for first place in the Northeast Conference. Both teams are 11-2, and whichever wins the NEC will be home throughout the tournament. The Mount is 8-0 at Knott Arena and has won nine in a row overall, including Saturday's 85-56 rout of St. Francis (N.Y.), when senior G Chris McGuthrie scored 25 points and the Mountaineers tied a school record with 15 three-pointers. Monmouth, which has won four of its last five, was the last team to defeat the Mount, 82-77, on Jan. 17. McGuthrie had 36 points, but the Hawks had three players score at least 20 points, led by senior G John Giraldo with 23. Junior F Corey Albano averages about 17 ppg and 7.0 rpg. The Mount, which leads the series, 12-11, is the NEC's highest-scoring team at 76.0 ppg, but Monmouth is its best shooting team at 48 percent, and is tied with Marist for fewest average points allowed at 65.7.

Coppin State (3-12, 1-2) Coming up / / at Norfolk State on Saturday (6 p.m.). Comment / / The Eagles have made just 60 percent of their free throws. They need someone other than Antwan Harrison to complement Tywain McKee, who was limited to four shots by Delaware State. Loyola (7-6, 3-1) Coming up / / at Siena tomorrow (7 p.m.); Niagara at Reitz Arena on Friday (7 p.m.). Comment / / Siena is the only unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Freshman point guard Brett Harvey is playing 30 minutes a game, and forward Michael Tuck has made 61.3 percent of hits shots.

Coppin State (3-12, 1-2) Coming up / / at Norfolk State on Saturday (6 p.m.). Comment / / The Eagles have made just 60 percent of their free throws. They need someone other than Antwan Harrison to complement Tywain McKee, who was limited to four shots by Delaware State. Loyola (7-6, 3-1) Coming up / / at Siena tomorrow (7 p.m.); Niagara at Reitz Arena on Friday (7 p.m.). Comment / / Siena is the only unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Freshman point guard Brett Harvey is playing 30 minutes a game, and forward Michael Tuck has made 61.3 percent of hits shots.

MOUNT ST. MARY'S Coach: Milan Brown, second season at Mount St. Mary's(10-19) Affiliation: Northeast Conference 2003-04 record: 10-19 (8-10 NEC) Radio: WTHU (1450 AM) Arena: Knott Arena (3,000) Consensus NEC favorite: Monmouth Consensus Mount prediction: Sixth Starters lost: One Outlook: The Mount's young team closed last season with a rush to make the league tournament field, winning six of its final nine games, including the last three. The upward trend should continue with four starters back and the addition of 6-10 Jason Loughry in the middle to help replace Nick Dodson.

EMMITSBURG -- The last thing Jim Phelan wanted Mount St. Mary's to do this season was to continue playing the way it did at the end of 1990-91.The Mountaineers dropped their final six games last season, and the streak reached nine last night at the Knott Arena, as Bucknell (2-1) rolled to a 97-67 victory. It's the longest winless stretch for Mount St. Mary's (0-3) since 1952 and the worst in Phelan's 38 years here."We've got a dual problem," said Phelan, who's been looking for career win No. 688 since beating Wagner on Feb. 7. "Our guard situation is in bad shape, and their front line had over 40 of their 49 first-half points.

Coppin State (6-16, 4-6) Coming up / / Norfolk State at Coppin Center, Saturday, 4 p.m. Comment / / Junior forward Antwan Harrison is averaging 11.1 points on 51.3 percent shooting in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games. The Eagles play five of their last eight at home. Loyola (13-9, 9-3) Coming up / / At Fairfield tonight, 7:30; Canisius at Reitz Arena, Friday, 9 p.m., ESPNU; Fairfield at Reitz Arena, Sunday, 4 p.m., MAAC TV Comment / / Second-leading rebounder Michael Tuck (ankle sprain)

EMMITSBURG -- The road to the Northeast Conference title goes through Emmitsburg this season.Defending champion Mount St. Mary's guaranteed that last night, clinching the NEC regular-season title with a 74-64 victory over Marist before an announced crowd of 3,196 at Knott Arena.Monmouth still can tie the Mountaineers (19-6, 15-2) with one game remaining, but Mount St. Mary's wins the tie-breaker by virtue of two conquests of third-place Marist (20-5, 13-4).The outcome means Mount St. Mary's will be at home for all its tournament appearances.

MOUNT ST. MARY'S Coach: Milan Brown, second season at Mount St. Mary's(10-19) Affiliation: Northeast Conference 2003-04 record: 10-19 (8-10 NEC) Radio: WTHU (1450 AM) Arena: Knott Arena (3,000) Consensus NEC favorite: Monmouth Consensus Mount prediction: Sixth Starters lost: One Outlook: The Mount's young team closed last season with a rush to make the league tournament field, winning six of its final nine games, including the last three. The upward trend should continue with four starters back and the addition of 6-10 Jason Loughry in the middle to help replace Nick Dodson.

The Mount St. Mary's women's team rallied from a 13-point, second-half deficit to win its home opener, 83-77, over Coppin State last night at Knott Arena. The Eagles could muster just 17 points in the final 14 minutes, while the Mount scored 37 and shot 57 percent in the second half. Kiesha Brooks' game highs of 26 points and 16 rebounds were not enough for the Eagles. The Mount's Kia Williams was nearly unstoppable, going 11-for-14 from the floor for 26 points and grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds.

NEC quarterfinal Long Island (9-18) at Mount St. Mary's (20-6)Site: Knott Arena, EmmitsburgTime: 7:30Radio: WQSI (820 AM)Outlook: Regular-season champion and top seed Mount St. Mary's opens defense of its NEC title against a team it barely defeated, 68-67, in this round last season. The Mount has won 14 in a row and 15 straight at Knott Arena. The Blackbirds must find a solution for the league's best backcourt, NEC Player of the Year Chris McGuthrie (22.8 ppg) and first-team all-Northeast Conference Riley Inge (16.6 ppg, 5.8 apg, 6.1 rpg)

EMMITSBURG -- The road to the Northeast Conference title goes through Emmitsburg this season.Defending champion Mount St. Mary's guaranteed that last night, clinching the NEC regular-season title with a 74-64 victory over Marist before an announced crowd of 3,196 at Knott Arena.Monmouth still can tie the Mountaineers (19-6, 15-2) with one game remaining, but Mount St. Mary's wins the tie-breaker by virtue of two conquests of third-place Marist (20-5, 13-4).The outcome means Mount St. Mary's will be at home for all its tournament appearances.