BOSTON - It was a strong week for America East men's basketball teams as eight of the league's nine squads picked up victories with Albany, Maine, UMass Lowell and Stony Brook all winning twice.
Binghamton's Willie Rodriguez and Stony Brook's Jameel Warney shared America East Player of the Week honors while Hartford's George Blagojevic was named Rookie of the Week presented by Under Armour.
Read more about the weekly award winners and conference notes below:
Co-Player of the Week
Willie Rodriguez, Binghamton - So., Forward, Orlando, Fla.
- Averaged a league-best 26.5 points per game over two contests last week.
- Added 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
- Shot 17-of-27 (.630) for the week.
- Scored a career-high 27 points to lead Binghamton to a win at Central Conn. State Tuesday.
- Recorded his fourth career double-double (26 points, 10 rebounds) against Boston University Saturday.
Co-Player of the Week
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook - Sr., Forward, Plainfield, N.J.
- Averaged a double-double of 17.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week for Stony Brook.
- Shot an impressive 82.4 percent from the field, making 14-of-17 shots.
- Led the Seawolves to win at Loyola Tuesday by collecting 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, 13 rebounds and four blocks.
- Had his fifth double-double in as many games this season, 16 points and 10 rebounds, in just 18 minutes of action vs. Farmingdale State Saturday.
- This is Warney's 11th career Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week presented by Under Armour
George Blagojevic, Hartford - Fr., Forward, Geelong, Australia
- Averaged 19.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over three games last week.
- Scored a then career-high 18 points to lead Hartford to a win over Niagara Tuesday.
- Eclipsed his career best with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting vs. St. Francis Brooklyn Saturday.
Notes
- Eight of America East’s nine men’s basketball teams posted victories last week with Albany, Maine, UMass Lowell and Stony Brook each winning twice.
- Albany trounced preseason Ivy League favorite Yale by 34 points Sunday, 88-54. The 88 points were the most scored on the Bulldogs since 2011.
- Kurt Steidl led five Catamounts in double figures with 17 points in an 86-60 win over Marist Sunday.
- America East teams are 5-0 against MAAC opponents this season.
- Maine beat both Longwood and Central Conn. State last week, its first back-to-back wins since Jan. 29 and Feb. 1 of 2014.
- UMass Lowell won its second-straight game Sunday, beating Cornell, 80-77.
- Jameel Warney is just 18 rebounds shy of 1,000 for his career and becoming just the sixth player in league history with 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
- Warney’s 12.8 rebounds per game are fifth-best in the nation.
- Warney was named one of the top 100 players in college basketball by NBC Sports and to the watch list for the Karl Malone Award, given to the top power forward in the nation.
- Stony Brook’s Carson Puriefoy was named to the watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the top point guard in the country.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 16 - Player of the Week: Iba Camara, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Ernie Duncan, Vermont
Nov. 23 - Player of the Week: Trae Bell-Haynes, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Issac Vann, Maine
Nov. 30 - Co-Players of the Week: Willie Rodriguez, Binghamton & Jameel Warney, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: George Blagojevic, Hartford