Last year, his Bobcats were the No. 8 seed in the NEC Tournament, went to No. 1 Fairleigh Dickinson and lost by only a point.

This time around, Quinnipiac is the higher seed, coming in as the No. 3 while FDU is No. 6 and traveling to play the Bobcats in the still-new TD Banknorth Sports Center.

The Bobcats, 2-10 with a nine-game losing streak at one point this season, won 11 of their last 15, but lost three of their last five. They capped the regular season with a big home win over Robert Morris and then a loss at Sacred Heart. Prior to that, in the first game of a busy closing stretch, they lost a one-point home decision to suddenly revitalized Saint Francis (Pa.).

So, the final regular-season record was 13-14, 11-7 in the conference. Last year, Quinnipiac won 12 games.

Now, they were in position to play a home game in their new building. That had to be special.

"It's exciting for us to be the third seed and to host a tournament game," DeSantis said two days before the NEC Tournament began.

Exciting yes. But his team then had to go out and win that game, against a Fairleigh Dickinson team that has been through this all before. The Knights won the title in 2005 and lost the championship game, at home, a year ago on a last-second shot.

The teams split a pair of games during the regular season.

--Last year, the Bobcats, the No. 8 seed, almost upset No. 1 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, losing by a point.

--Now, it's No. 6 FDU at No. 3 Quinnipiac, the teams having split a pair of games during the regular season, each winning on the other's home floor (even though FDU's win was on Quinnipiac's prior home floor).

--Quinnipiac lost 11 regular-season games by single digits.

--The Bobcats wound up with splits of the season series with Saint Francis (Pa.), Robert Morris and Sacred Heart, the last three teams they played.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've had two close games. We lost by five and won by one. It's a toss-up. I feel like we're ready." -- Quinnipiac coach Joe DeSantis looking at his matchup with Fairleigh Dickinson.

PLAYER ROTATION: Usual starters -- F Chris Wehye, C Victor Akinyanju, G Adam Gonzalez, G Van Crafton, G Casey Cosgrove. Key subs -- F Karl Anderson, G DeMario Anderson, F Dale Meinbresse, F Andrew Cashin, G Job Casimir.

GAME REVIEW:

Saint Francis (Pa.) 73, Quinnipiac 72

Quinnipiac 81, Robert Morris 75

Sacred Heart 87, Quinnipiac 74

GAME PREVIEW:

Vs Fairleigh Dickinson, NEC Tournament, Thursday, March 1

KEYS: Playing like a home team. The Bobcats has the home court for the first round of the NEC Tournament and has to come out against Fairleigh Dickinson and play like a home team.

ROSTER REPORT: C Victor Akinyanju has been hobbled by an ankle injury but Quinnipiac coach Joe DeSantis said all players would be ready for the tournament. He missed one game as he awaited his prognosis but was able to play in the last two regular season games.

--G Adam Gonzalez erupted for 37 points and had six steals, four assists and only one turnover in the loss to Sacred Heart in the regular-season finale.

--F DeMario Anderson averaged 22.3 points per game in the last six games of the regular season.