Like Robert Morris teammate Tony Lee, A.J. Jackson was voted by the Northeast Conference coaches to the league's preseason all-league team.

Unlike Lee, Jackson didn't play like an all-NEC choice once the season started.

By the numbersA.J. JacksonStat averages No.Minutes28.8Points*14.1Rebounds**6.8Assists0.85Field goal pct.42.93-point FG pct.38.2*-10th in NEC **-19th in NEC

"The first 10 games," coach Mike Rice said, "we looked at him like, 'What's wrong? Why aren't you scoring? Where are the 25-point games?' More importantly, 'Where are the 15-rebound games?' He certainly didn't have that."

One could argue that those questions still could have been asked way past the 10-game mark as Jackson, a senior from Monessen, struggled to find his game.

"My offense is horrendous," Jackson said several weeks ago.

His entire game wasn't what it was during his first two prolific seasons with the Colonials.

A transfer from East Tennessee State, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Jackson averaged 17.0 and 16.9 points per game as a sophomore and junior. He shot 46.3 percent from the field, including 37.6 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 8.5 rebounds a game.

He appeared set for a standout senior season.

However, after 17 games, his numbers were horrendous.

True, because of Rice's plan to cut the starters' minutes so they would be fresher for defense, Jackson's playing time declined 61/2 minutes per game from last season. But his performance declined, as well. He averaged 13.5 points a game, shooting 39.6 percent from the field -- including 35.1 percent from beyond the arc.

A.J. was not OK.

"I think I was forcing shots," he said. "And they weren't falling."

He has been asked to set more screens and play in the post more this season. And he, like all the Colonials, has been asked (well, really, ordered) to play more defense this season.

"I think everybody was uncomfortable at first, but you have to make that change," Jackson said. "It was hard, but I think we've all come a long way from the beginning of the season and we've made that change."

Jackson has come a long way in the past 10 games, the last nine of them victories, as the team boosted its record to 21-6.

In that span, he has averaged 15.3 points a game and shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent from 3-point range.

"He's playing more like a first-team [all-NEC] guy," Rice said. "Maybe he's more at ease with what we're asking him to do. It took him a while to adjust, but he's certainly been more consistent."

"I credit my teammates for still giving me the ball and counting on me to make shots," Jackson said. "My points have gone down, but our winning percentage has gone up, so I'm not really worried about scoring points."

With his scoring average up to 14.1 points, Jackson could still wind up making one of the all-NEC teams.

"I told him and Tony and Jeremy [Chappell] early this season that if we finish first, the awards will take care of themselves," Rice said. "If you finish first, you get respect."

That's what happed to league champion Central Connecticut State last season. The Blue Devils, who were 16-2 in the NEC regular season, had three players voted to the all-NEC first team.

"Because they dominated the league," Rice said. "In college basketball, it's [about] winning basketball games. It's winning championships. And then you'll get the due recognition."

Jackson and fellow seniors Lee and Freddie Harris will get some recognition Saturday on senior night at Robert Morris when the Colonials meet Wagner in what could be a showdown for first place in the NEC.

"It will be intense," Jackson said. "I think me, Tony and Freddie are going to have a higher intensity level. It's the biggest week of our careers."

First Published: February 20, 2008, 5:00 a.m.