Hartford junior David Ruffin and UMBC freshman Brian Hodges were named America East Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively, Monday (January 24).
Ruffin (Buffalo, N.Y./Turner-Carroll/Connors State JC) led the Hawks to back-to-back wins. The 6-4 guard scored a career-high 24 points with five rebounds, five steals, four assists and two blocks in a 73-67 win over Maine Wednesday. He followed that with 18 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists in the 64-62 win over New Hampshire Sunday. Ruffin’s baseline jumper with under a minute to play erased a 62-61 Wildcat lead.
Hodges (Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara) helped the Retrievers to two wins. Hodges scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half in a 67-62 win over Albany Wednesday. He then drilled the game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in a 61-59 win over Binghamton Saturday. He was 10-for-17 from the floor in the two games.