CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- On the heels of the first full week of league action in America East, Boston University's Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass./Newton North) and University of Hartford's Charles White (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) earned Player and Rookie of the Week, honor, respectively. The awards for the week ending Jan. 10 were announced Monday afternoon.
Lowe showed why he's considered one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league last week. He joins teammates John Holland and Jake O'Brien as Player of the Week recipients this season (see chart below)
Lowe led the Terriers to a pair of crucial conference road wins last week by averaging 29.5 points while also contributing 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in victories over New Hampshire and Hartford.
A senior guard, Lowe recorded season-high in points in both games last week. He began by scoring 28 points and adding four rebounds in a 60-56 win at UNH Thursday. Lowe, a first-team all-conference selection a year ago, followed up with 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists in an 84-70 win at Hartford Saturday.
The league's third-leading scorer at 16.6 points per game, Lowe cracked the top-30 on the league's all-time list and now has 1,566 career points. He's also third in among league leaders with 4.9 assists per contest.
White experienced his best week as a collegian to earn top rookie honors. The freshman averaged 10.0 points and 3.5 assists of the bench for
the Hawks. He provided a spark on both ends of the floor against Stony
Brook, scoring a career-12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in only 18 minutes
off the bench and playing a large part in holding the Seawolves to 20
first-half points. The freshman guard also had eight points and four
assists against Boston University Saturday.
A native of Philadelphia, White is averaging 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12 games, five of them starts, this season.
3 OR MORE PLAYERS OF WEEK IN SAME SEASON
SINCE 1998-99
Boston University (2009-10)
John Holland, Corey Lowe, Jake O'Brien
*UMBC (2007-08)
Ray Barbosa, Jay Greene
Cavell Johnson, Darryl Proctor
*Albany (2006-07)
Jason Siggers, Brent Wilson, Jamar Wilson
*Albany (2005-06)
Lucious Jordan, Jason Siggers
Jamar Wilson, Kirsten Zoellner
*Boston University (2001-02)
Chaz Carr, Jason Grochowalski, Matt Turner
*Hofstra (2000-01)
Rick Apodaca, Roberto Gittens
Jason Hernandez, Norman Richardson
* America East champions
LEAGUE NOTES
MONSTER GAMES HIGHLIGHT HONOR ROLL
In addition to Lowe, several other America East players filled up the stat sheet last week:
• University at Albany's Billy Allen (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) set a new career high with 16 points at had seven rebounds against Vermont Sunday.
• Moussa Camara (Paris, France/The Rok/Stoneridge Prep) scored a career-high 24 points and shot 7-of-12 from the field overall and 5-of-9 from three-point range in Binghamton's league-opening win at Albany Thursday.
• Boston University's John Holland (Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict's Prep) tied an America East season-high with 32 points and nine boards in a win at Hartford Saturday.
• Maine's Terrance Mitchell (Milton, Fla./Faulkner State CC) scored 22 points in a key 66-61 overtime win at Binghamton Sunday and converted 15-of-18 free throw tries.
• UMBC's Chris De La Rosa (Washington Heights, N.Y./All Hallows/Siena) topped his career-best with 28 points in a loss to Penn Wednesday. He also had five assists and zero turnovers.
• University of New Hampshire's Dane DiLiegro (Lexington, Mass./Worcester Academy) recorded his seventh career double-double with 20 points and an America East season-high 16 rebounds against Boston U. on Thursday.
• Stony Brook University's Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains) had 26 points and made 5-of-7 three-point tries in Thursday's win over Hartford.
• University of Vermont's Marqus Blakely (Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen) did it all again last week averaging 12.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 blocks in two wins last week.
'CATS AND 'WOLVES LONE UNBEATENS
Stony Brook and Vermont, two programs with vastly different histories, are the two remaining unbeatens in conference play. The Seawolves, whose 11-5 start is their best-ever as a Division I program and best overall since the 1991-92 season, are 3-0 for the first time in their nine-year America East history. The Catamounts, charter members of America East and winners of three straight titles from 2003-05, are 3-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season. UVM, winners of five straight and 10 of their last 11, are 12-5 overall.
ROAD WARRIORS
Road teams are 7-3 through the first full week of conference play. Boston University swept a pair of road games this week-at UNH and at Hartford-, while Vermont is also 2-0 on the road. The Catamounts have played 12 of their 17 games in opposing gyms and are 9-3 in those contests. The nine road wins are the most of any team in the country to this point. The two lone unbeatens, Stony Brook and Vermont, are the only two teams to successfully defend home courth so far, combining to go 3-0 to date. UMBC plays its league home opener Thursday against Hartford.
RISING UP THE RANKS
Four America East standouts continue to charge up the league's all-time scoring chart. Vermont's Marqus Blakely is the league's active leader with 1,572 career points and ranks 29th all-time. Boston University's Corey Lowe sits right behind in 30th place with 1,566 points, while Hartford's Joe Zeglinski is 57th with 1331 points. The Terriers' John Holland rounds out the group with 1,169 points.
NEWMANS OWN COMES ABOARD
The America East Conference, the University of Hartford and Newman’s Own, Inc. announced on Oct. 28 that Newman’s Own, Inc. will serve as the title sponsor of the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship, slated for March 4-7, 2010 at the University of Hartford. The Championship trio of America East, Hartford and Newman’s Own, Inc. will announce a plan later this year that will further cultivate the principles of community service, education and leadership among students from the nine conference campuses.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Albany (5-12, AE 0-2) opened conference play with losses to Binghamton and Vermont … The Great Danes last dropped their opening two league games in 2003-04 … UAlbany shot less than 35 percent in both contests, including 30.4 percent against Vermont, the lowest figure against an America East opponent since Feb. 9, 2005 … The Great Danes had won five of the previous six meetings with UVM, including last year’s upset in the conference tournament quarterfinals … Scotty McRae (Queens, N.Y./Benjamin Cardozo) had a career-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Vermont … McRae, who reached double figures for the fifth time as a collegian, is averaging 11.0 points and 7.7 rebounds over his last three appearances … Tim Ambrose (Brentwood, N.Y./Our Savior New Amercan) netted 14 of his 16 points in the second half … Ambrose needs 104 points to become the 30th player to reach the 1,000-career mark in school history … Fran Urli (Zagreb, Croatia / Sportska Gymnasium) is contributing 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds off the bench over the last three games … Freshman Mike Black (Chicago, Ill./Oak Park Fenwick) posted career-highs in points (18), three-point field goals (4) and minutes (29) against Binghamton … Black, who made 6-of-8 from the field and handed out four assists, is scoring at a 10.0 clip over his last four starts … The Great Danes have a 3-6 record in conference openers following the loss to Binghamton, the defending league champion … Brett Gifford (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) has moved to eighth in career blocked shots with 66 … Freshman Derrek Tartt (Chicago, Ill./Oak Park Fenwick) missed his first game of the season as he was sidelined with a sprained ankle vs. Vermont.
Binghamton (6-11, AE 1-1) split its first two conference games, upending Albany on the road before losing to Maine in overtime at home … Junior forward Moussa Camara (Paris, France/The Rock School/Stoneridge) had his finest back-to-back games in his career, averaging 21.0 points on 54 percent shooting. Camara netted a game- and career-high 24 points at Albany and then added a team-high 18 against Maine. Camara drained 9-of-16 three-pointers in the two games … Junior forward Greer Wright (Lake Worth, Fla./Boca Raton Prep/City College of San Francisco) averaged a double-double for the week. Wright went for 11 points and 11 rebounds at Albany and then produced 13 points and 12 boards vs. Maine ... Junior forward Mahamoud Jabbi (Bronx, N.Y./Alfred E. Smith/SUNY Oswego) averaged 9.5 rebounds, 8.0 points and 4.0 blocks for the week … After outrebounding Albany 41-28, Binghamton surrendered 43 rebounds to Maine and had its modest two-game win streak snapped ... The Bearcats shot 6-for-35 from three-point range against Maine and are shooting just 28 percent from beyond the arc this season … Binghamton had just five healthy scholarship players for the Maine contest – the first game of a three-game homestand that includes matchups with league-leading Stony Brook and preseason favorite Boston this week.
Boston University (7-8, AE 2-1) had a two-game road sweep last week, earning a 60-56 victory at New Hampshire followed by a 84-70 win at Hartford … Missing the services of senior guard Tyler Morris (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) due to injury, the Terriers received an offensive boost from senior Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass./Newton North), who averaged 29.5 ppg and 3.5 apg in the two contests, including a game-high 28-point performance at New Hampshire … Senior Carlos Strong (Portland, Maine/Deering) broke a 52-52 tie at 3:08 with two free throws, and Lowe added four more points with layups at 1:51 and 13 seconds remaining to preserve the win … Against the Hawks, both Lowe and junior John Holland (Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)) made program history by becoming the first Terrier duo to score at least 30 points in a game … Lowe had 31 points, five shy of his career high, while Holland posted 32, six shy of his personal best, along with nine rebounds … The Hawks cut a 15-point lead to six with 8:56 remaining, but Strong drained a 3-pointer, and Lowe hit two free throws to push the lead back to double digits … The Terriers made 30 free throws for the first time since 2002 … Lowe now ranks fifth all-time in scoring with the Terriers at 1,566, while Holland ranks 14th with 1,169 … With a thin bench, they face a tough task this week, hosting UMBC on Tuesday at 7 p.m. followed by trips to Binghamton on Thursday and Vermont on Sunday.
Hartford (2-13, AE 0-2) opened its America East schedule with losses at Stony Brook and at home to Boston University last week … Hartford played a strong defensive game against the Seawolves that allowed the Hawks to remain within striking distance despite a 9:13 scoring drought to open the second half … The Hawks got contributions from several freshmen, including Charles White (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz), who set a career high with 12 points at Stony Brook, and Ryan Baker (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair/Genesis One Christian), who scored a career-best 12 against the Terriers … Freshman Ross Erickson (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks/Sisters) also earned his first career start against the Terriers, matching his personal best with three points … Junior Joel Barkers (Washington, D.C./Mt. Zion Christian/Kirkwood CC) provided 13 strong minutes off the bench at Stony Brook, knocking down four of four shots for eight points … Added 18 points against Boston University, his best since the season opener … Hartford continues with league action this week, traveling to UMBC on Thursday and returning home to take on New Hampshire on Saturday.
Maine (9-6, AE 1-1) won its last non-conference game of the season, 52-50 at home against Princeton before falling to 64-56 against Vermont and then rebounding for a 66-61 overtime win against Binghamton … On Monday at the Alfond Arena, Gerald McLemore led the way with 14 points, four steals and three assists … Freshman Murphy Burnatowski (Waterloo, Ontario/National Elite Development Academy) had 11 points and five rebounds, and went 5-of-6 from the line down the stretch to preserve the win … Maine lost a back-and-forth game against the Catamounts on Thursday … Terrance Mitchell (Milton, Fla./Faulkner State CC) led Maine with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting … The Black Bears rebounded for a win at Binghamton on Sunday afternoon…Mitchell led the way with a career-high 22 points, five rebounds, and two steals … He went 15-for-18 from the free throw line in the game … Freshman Mike Allison (Lynden, Ontario/National Elite Development Academy) scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds in 22 minutes of action…He went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe … Junior Bernal (Manhattan, N.Y./MCI) made a halfcourt shot with no time left before halftime … It was Maine’s fourth win in five games … Sean McNally (Gardiner, Maine/Gardiner) has 485 career rebounds and is 15 shy of becoming the 25th player in program history to 500 rebounds … Gerald McLemore (San Diego, Calif./Worcester Academy) now has 121 career three-pointers, putting him 11th in school history … Maine has held its opponents to under 40 percent shooting in five straight games … Maine returns to action on Saturday against Stony Brook in the Alfond Arena.
UMBC (1-13, AE 0-1) senior forward Justin Fry (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) and freshman wing Jamar Wertz (Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork) will miss the remainder of the 2009-10 men’s basketball season and are expected to resume their athletic careers for the Retrievers during the 2010-11 academic year … Neither player competed in any contests this season … Fry underwent successful surgery in late September to repair the medial patellofemoral ligament in his right knee in order to prevent the reoccurrence of dislocation ... Wertz underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in early November and has not returned to full team practice … Despite a career-high 28 points from sophomore guard Chris De La Rosa (Washington Heights, N.Y./All Hallows/Siena), UMBC dropped an 82-71 decision to visiting Penn on Wednesdeay in the Retrievers’ final non-conference game of the season … Sophomore wing Chauncey Gilliam (Columbia, Md./Brewster Academy) added 18 points, 16 in the first half when he went a perfect 5-of-5 from field and three-of-three from behind the arc … The Quakers hit a UMBC opponent-high 13 shots (of 24) from behind the arc… Penn entered the game hitting 30 percent from three-point range… Both teams hit 50 percent from the floor, with UMBC hitting 25 of 50 attempts, while Penn was 24 of 48... But the Quakers badly outrebounded UMBC, 35-21, and outscored the Retrievers, 14-4, on second chance points … De La Rosa added five assists and did not commit a turnover in 34 minutes of action, as UMBC only had one first half turnover and six for the game… UMBC resumes America East play on Tuesday, Jan. 12, when it plays at Boston University … That begins a stretch of four games in six days for UMBC, including road contests in Boston, Albany (Jan. 16) and Stony Brook (Jan. 18) … From Nov. 28 through Jan. 18, UMBC will have played 11-of-14 games away from the RAC Arena.
New Hampshire (5-8, AE 0-2) went 0-2 last week to open conference play as it suffered a pair of close losses in the final minutes … The Wildcats fell, 60-56, to Boston U. at home Jan. 7 before losing, 69-63, at Stony Brook on Jan. 10 … The loss to BU was the Wildcats’ first home loss of the season and also snapped their eight-game home winning streak, which was the program’s second longest since the 1960-61 season … At 5-1, the ‘Cats have matched their best home start through six games since the 1997-98 season … Their loss to Stony Brook snapped a five game winning streak versus the Seawolves, who had only beaten UNH once in the previous 10 games going into the contest … Head coach Bill Herrion fell to 8-2 lifetime against Stony Brook … Junior center Dane DiLiegro (Lexington, Mass./Worcester Academy) had a career night versus the Terriers, pouring in 20 points and pulling down 16 rebounds – one shy of his career high … It was DiLiegro’s seventh double-double of his career, including second of the season, as well as the highest point and rebound totals in single game during his career … DiLiegro then reeled in six rebounds at Stony Brook, including the 500th of his career to become the 90th player in America East to reach the mark … Junior guards Tyrone Conley (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and Alvin Abreu (Lynn, Mass./Boys to Men Academy) led the ‘Cats with 15 and 13 points, respectively, against the Seawolves … Classmate James Valladares (Kaufman, Texas/Kaufman) also added a career-high 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point land … Valladares, who played a season-high 23 minutes, had never even attempted a 3-pointer in his career coming into the game … The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Albany at Lundholm Gymnasium.
Stony Brook (11-5, AE 3-0) defeated Hartford, 70-59, at Pritchard Gymnasium on Thursday before beating visiting New Hampshire, 69-63, on Sunday afternoon … Stony Brook is off to its best start in conference play since joining the America East in 2001-02 … The Seawolves have won four straight and their 11-5 overall start is their best since 1991-92 … Sophomore Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains) scored 26 points in the win over Hartford … After trailing by three at halftime, the Seawolves opened the second half on a 17-0 run … Stony Brook held Hartford without a point over the first 9:13 of the second half … Stony Brook went 29-for-40 from the free throw line against the Hawks … It is the Seawolves most made free throws and free throw attempts since going 39-for-50 against Army on Dec. 2, 2000 … the Seawolves 6-1 start at home matches its best start at home since 2000-01 … Senior Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich./Holt/Lansing CC) scored 20 points against both Hartford and New Hampshire … he has now scored 20 or more points in three straight games … Junior Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, N.Y./Christ the King) scored 14 points in Sunday’s win over New Hampshire including four in the final 15 seconds after UNH had cut the Stony Brook lead to two with 46 seconds remaining … Stony Brook forced New Hampshire into 21 turnovers … Stony Brook tied a season-high by shooting 48.1 percent on Sunday against New Hampshire … After playing four of its last five at home, the Seawolves will play three of their next four on the road.
Vermont (12-5, AE 3-0) went 2-0 on the week, earning road wins at Maine (64-56) on Thursday and at Albany (71-54) on Sunday … In the win over the Black Bears, senior Maurice Joseph (Montreal, Quebec/Champlain-St. Lambert/Michigan State) led all scorers with 20 points while classmate Marqus Blakely (Metuchen, N.J./Metuchen) added his fourth straight double-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and four steals … Joseph finished one point shy of his season high … The Cats recorded 20 assists on 21 hoops in the game and held a 43-29 rebounding advantage … On Sunday, the Cats jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back, as they defeated Albany for only the second time in their last seven tries … Joseph led the way again with a game-high 19 points, while Blakely went for 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks … The best road team in the nation in terms of wins (9), the Cats won their eighth straight away from home … Sunday marked Vermont’s 14th game away from home this season out of 17 overall … UVM is 26-5 in its last 31 games during the month of January … Vermont is 10-0 when holding a rebounding edge this year … The last time Vermont started 3-0 in conference play was during the 2006-07 season … The Cats are next in action on Sunday, January 17 when they return home to host Boston University at 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.