CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The 2014-15 college basketball season began Friday and saw Stony Brook open up its new Island Federal Credit Union Arena with a bang as Rayshaun's McGrew's layup with seven seconds left lifted the Seawolves to a 57-56 win over Columbia. For his efforts, McGrew earned the conference's first Player of the Week honor of the season. Read about both of the conference weekly award winners and league notes:
Player of the Week
Rayshaun McGrew, Stony Brook - Jr., Chicago, Ill.
- Contributed a team-high 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals in Stony Brook's 57-56 win over Columbia Friday.
- Scored the game-winning basket, a putback layup with seven seconds left to give Stony Brook its third-straight season-opening victory.
- Tallied six of the Seawolves' points in their 14-3 run that ended the first half and cut Columbia's lead from 16 to five.
Rookie of the Week
Jahad Thomas, UMass Lowell, R-Fr., Williamsport, Pa.
- Averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the floor (16-for-24) in a pair of games last week.
- Scored 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting in his collegiate debut at Ohio State Friday.
- Had 17 points and six rebounds vs. Rhode Island Sunday.
Notes
- Stony Brook's win over Columbia was its third straight in a season opener.
- The Seawolves have now won 30-straight games when holding their opponent under 60 points. The Retrievers are unbeaten in their last 22 games against America East foes (18-0-4), the longest such stretch in league history.
- Hartford picked up its first win of the season Sunday, edging St. Peter's, 51-50. Taylor Dyson had a team-best 15 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from three-point land.
- Evan Singletary scored 18 points in his debut for Albany at Providence Saturday as the Great Danes put a scare into the reigning Big East champions before falling, 64-60.
Weekly Award Winners
Sept. 2 - Player of the Week: Rayshaun McGrew; Rookie of the Week: Jahad Thomas, UMass Lowell