Mount St. Mary's won at LIU Brooklyn on Jan. 17. Then lost at home against Robert Morris on Jan. 22.
Two days later, the Mountaineers beat St. Francis (Pa.). But followed that with a loss at St. Francis Brooklyn.
They won at Sacred Heart, then lost at Bryant. Then won at Central Connecticut on Feb. 7 before losing at at home to Sacred Heart.
Last time out, MSM beat Bryant on Saturday.
Detecting a trend?
"That's been a lot of fun, alternating wins, a lot of fun," said MSM coach Jamion Christian with more than a trace of sarcasm after his team's 75-68 victory over Bryant on Valentine's Day.
The Mountaineers (12-13) tip off Thursday night against LIU Brooklyn having alternated wins and losses for more than a month, earning some eyebrow-raising victories while suffering some head-scratching setbacks. They find themselves stuck in the middle of the Northeast Conference pack with an 8-6 league mark. They're in a three-way tie for fourth — just one game out of second but also one game out of seventh — with four regular-season games remaining.
Do the reigning NEC champions have what it takes to put together a winning streak, as will be needed in March when it takes three straight NEC tournament wins to earn the league championship?
"As long as we don't get too high or too low," junior forward Gregory Graves said, "then we have a chance to do it."
His coach agreed. To a point.
"I would like to say so," Christian said. "We're such a young group. We haven't responded to a Saturday win very well yet. So I'm not sure."
The Mountaineers are on a five-game Saturday winning streak. Unfortunately for them, they've lost four Thursday games in a row. After last Saturday's game, Christian challenged his team not to get too excited about the win; to work hard in practice to get ready for LIU Brooklyn.
Two years ago, during Christian's first year, the Mount won seven consecutive games to end the regular season and then added two more to get all the way to the NEC championship game.
But last season ended about the way this one has gone lately. The Mountaineers went 4-4 over their final eight regular-season games, then promptly swept three NEC tournament games to reach the NCAA Division I tournament for the fourth time.
Whether they get on a roll or keep alternating wins and losses, Christian desperately wants to see more focus and consistency.
"Our thing for the rest of the year, we're going to be locked in for the game and the task at hand," he said. "If we do that, the season will take care of itself and we'll be where we need to be at the end and have opportunities to win it. If we have to continue to reset at halftime on Thursday nights, then we won't be and it's going to be a longer road."
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Reach staff writer Bob Blubaugh at 410-857-7895 or bob.blubaugh@carrollcountytimes.com.
