Senior transfer Kenny Adeleke (Queens, N.Y./Paul Robeson/Hofstra) of Hartford earns his first America East Player of the Week accolade, while Vermont's Mike Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn./St. Luke’s) garners his second Rookie of the Week honor in as many weeks. The awards were announced Monday (November 28).
Adeleke averaged 18.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg, while shooting 55 percent from the floor and adding 2.5 bpg. The 6-9 forward notched the 37th double-double of his career with a 20-point, 14-rebound outing in Hartford's 73-71 win over Cornell. Adeleke also recorded a big block in the final seconds of that game, preventing the game-tying basket. He also tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks against Brown.
Trimboli averaged 17.3 ppg and 6.7 apg in three games last week against top competition. The 6-1 guard scored a season-high 20 points with six assists against the Big East's Providence and later had 19 points, five rebounds and six assists against #22 Nevada. In Vermont's win on the week, Trimboli netted 13 points and a season-high eight assists versus Wagner. He hit six straight free throws in the last 55 seconds to clinch the win for the Catamounts.
AMERICA EAST NOTES:
Welcome back Bill: One of the winningest coaches in America East history, Bill Herrion earned his first victory as head coach of New Hampshire. Herrion’s Wildcats defeated Colgate 60-52 on Saturday, November 26.
Turner continues to shine: With preseason all-conference selection Kevin Reed (Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth/St. Thomas More) sidelined due to injury, Ernest Turner (Camden, N.J./Sterling/UNLV) continued his exceptional play for Maine. Turner scored a season-high 26 points in Maine’s 86-36 victory over UMaine-Fort Kent and is leading the league in scoring with 20.5 ppg.
Hassan heats up late: Boston University freshman Corey Hassan (Merrimach, N.H./Merrimack) has displayed his ability to knock down shots down the stretch for the Terriers so far this season. Against Michigan, Hassan missed his first five shots from the field, but buried three-straight threes in the second half to cut the Wolverine lead to two. On Saturday at Rider, Hassan hit 4-11 from downtown, including three treys in the last five minutes which helped Boston U. cut a 50-30 deficit to five, 64-59. The Terriers would not be able to come all the way back, but Hassan set a career-high in both points (14) and three-pointers made (4).
Three double-doubles don’t equal ‘W’: Despite getting double-double performances from Andre Heard (10 points, 15 rebounds), Sebastian Hermenier (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Duane James (18 points, 11 rebounds), Binghamton could not come away with a victory at Mount St. Mary’s. The Bearcats outrebounded the Mount 50-35, but Binghamton only connected on 28.3 percent (17-of-60) of its field goal attempts.
Top three streaks halted: The top three double-digit scoring streaks in the conference were snapped this week. Albany’s Jamar Wilson saw his conference-best 31-game double-digit scoring streak come to an end as he mustered just eight points in the Great Danes’ loss at San Diego State. Hartford’s Aaron Cook (17 games) and UMBC’s Brian Hodges (eight games) also had their scoring streaks ended recently. Binghamton’s Andre Heard is now the league leader in the double-digit scoring streak category with six games, dating back to February 27, 2005.
Crosstown rivals square off Saturday: Capital Region rivals Albany and Siena square off on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Pepsi Arena (1 p.m.). The crosstown series was renewed after a 24-year hiatus in 2001. The four meetings since have averaged more than 10,000 fans to the downtown facility.
League play begins: Hartford hosts Maine at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the first conference game of the 2005-06 season. The Hawks were picked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll, while the Black Bears were tabbed third. The two split their two meetings last season with the home team winning each contest.