Standings and stats are reflective of Saturday, Feb. 9.

Things are beginning to shape up in the Northeast Conference standings with the top-four teams further separating themselves from the pack. That said, the teams in the middle of the pack all sit closely aligned with four weeks of the season remaining.

The Robert Morris Colonials continued their winning streak, but it did not come easy. Bryant gave them all they could handle, holding the unbeaten Colonials (in conference play) to 59 points and falling by just one possession. The Colonials beat the Bulldogs with team basketball with just one player reaching double-figures but had six players with seven or more points.

Entering the week, three teams sat tied for second in a position to host a playoff game: Saint Francis (PA), Sacred Heart and Saint Francis (BKN). All three squads took care of business against their respective opponents, leaving them neck and neck.

Sacred Heart took care of Mount St. Mary in dominant fashion, holding the Mountaineers to 41 points, just one point off their season low. The Pioneers will have a chance to stay at pace with second place when they take on two opponents below .500 in conference play.

Saint Francis (PA) was defeated by Central Connecticut when they visited New Britain in January. This time around, the Red Flash handled the Blue Devils easily in a 15-point victory. The team continues to be led by Jess Kovatch, who at this point is almost guaranteed to be NEC Player of the Year. Kovatch had 29 points on five made threes against the Blue Devils, avoiding another upset.

Much like Robert Morris, it was a team effort for Saint Francis (BKN) to take down Fairleigh Dickinson. The Terriers had five players reach double-figures. If the team can carry that kind of consistency outside of Jade Johnson, who trails only Kovatch in the conference in scoring, they will surely be in a good position for a home conference game come tournament time.

With the Colonials showing little signs of losing, these teams will have to control their own destiny in the hopes Robert Morris slips up.

The two teams that cling to the hopes for the eighth and final playoff spot are CCSU and FDU, who sit tied at 3-7.

The loss to Saint Francis (PA) snapped a two-game winning streak for the Blue Devils. They will face the incredibly tall task of taking down Robert Morris in Pittsburgh, where the Colonials have only lost three times all season. The last time the two teams faced off, CCSU hung with the conference leaders, losing by just seven.

LIU Brooklyn will also have to claw their way into contention. The Blackbirds will host Mount St. Mary’s on Monday in a contest that would leave the two teams tied should the Mountaineers win. They will then have to travel to Saint Francis (BKN).

While being on the verge of missing out on the tournament entirely, these teams are just a win or two away from being comfortably in contention for the coveted NEC crown.