American East Conference

Zoellner averaged 16.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg on the week as the Great Danes defeated Cleveland State, 78-65. The 7-1 center tallied a career-high 16 points as Albany ended a five-game losing streak. The Great Danes posted their first road win since Jan. 16, 2005 as Zoellner scored in double figures for the ninth time as a collegian. He has posted back-to-back double-figure games for the first time since Nov. 23 & 27, 2004.

Zito returned from missing a game with an ankle injury to score 17 points each in games at West Virginia and the conference-opening win versus Stony Brook. The 6-6 forward hit 8-of-12 shots and managed five offensive rebounds in the Retrievers' loss at WVU and then hit all four second half field goal attempts in the win over Stony Brook. He is 25 of his last 36 (69.4 percent) from the floor in his last three games, raising his field goal percentage to 53.4 percent for the 2005-06 campaign.

Hassan averaged 17.0 ppg and 3.7 rpg to lead the Terriers to three wins on the week, including two key league victories to start the 2005-06 conference season. The 6-4 forward led the team with 17 points in a 72-63 victory over Harvard and was 4-for-6 from three-point range. He led the team with a career-high 18 points on 6-for-9 from three-point shooting in a 67-46 win over New Hampshire. The freshman tied for the team lead with 16 points and hit 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in the Terriers 58-55 win at Maine. Hassan shot 55.2 percent from the field and 61.9 percent from three-point range on the week.

AMERICA EAST NOTES:
Top dogs: Despite getting off to an 0-5 start to the 2005-06 campaign, the Boston University Terriers responded this week with three-straight victories, including two critical America East contests. Boston U. is currently atop the league standings with a perfect 2-0 conference mark. The Terriers started the week by knocking off cross-town foe Harvard before defeating league opponents New Hampshire and Maine. In their two conference games, the Terriers held their opponents to just 50.5 ppg and 38.5 percent shooting.

Wanna be like Mike: After earning three-straight America East Rookie of the Week awards to start his collegiate career, Vermont freshman Mike Trimboli continued his solid play this week for the Catamounts. In UVM’s only game on the week, the 6-1 guard netted 18 points with three rebounds and eight assists. Trimboli led Vermont to a victory over New Hampshire in the first America East game of the season for the Catamounts.

O Pete: Boston University’s Omari Peterkin started off the week with two career performances for the Terriers. The 6-8 junior netted a then-career-high 12 points with six rebounds versus Harvard and followed it up with a new career-high 16 points and eight boards against New Hampshire. At Maine, Peterkin saw just eight minutes of action and was held scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting.

Black Bear rookie shines: Maine freshman Philippe Tchekane Bofia had an impressive week for the Black Bears as he averaged a double-double through Maine’s two games on the week. Bofia scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds in Maine’s victory over Morgan State and followed that up with 10 points and seven boards versus Boston University.

Great Danes back on track: Preseason favorite Albany snapped its five-game losing streak with a 78-65 victory at Cleveland State. Four Great Danes scored in double-figures, led by Co-Player of the Week Kirsten Zoellner’s 16 points and seven boards. Jamar Wilson (15 points), Levi Levine (14) and John Iati (11) were the other Albany players to notch double figures in scoring.