Stire Leads Albany to Win Over Iona, Nets 1st #AEHoops Player of Week Honor
BOSTON – The 2017-18 America East men’s basketball season kicked off over the weekend and saw five programs pick up wins. Albany beat reigning MAAC regular-season champion and preseason favorite Iona and Binghamton knocked off MEAC favorite Morgan State. Hartford is off to its first 2-0 start since 2003-04 while UMass Lowell and New Hampshire also picked up wins.
Eighteen players who earned All-Conference, All-Defensive or All-Rookie honors last year return for the 2017-18 season. America East is coming off one of its best men’s basketball seasons in recent history as its conference RPI of 21 was its best since the 2008-09 campaign. The league’s 57 non-conference wins against Division I opponents were its most in the conference’s modern history. Four teams made postseason appearances for the third-straight year, including UMBC, which became the third America East team to reach the semifinals of a postseason tournament in as many seasons.
ESPN and the Watch ESPN app are your home for all America East basketball home games this season. To watch games live or on replay, log onto WatchESPN.com or download the ESPN app. International viewers can watch select games at AmericaEast.TV.
Here are the first weekly award winners for the 2017-18 season:
Player of the Week
Greig Stire, Albany – Sr., Forward, Albany, N.Y.
- Had a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in leading Albany to a season-opening win over MAAC reigning champion and preseason favorite Iona Friday.
- Also had two assists and shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field.
- Instrumental in helping the Great Danes hold a +20 edge in rebounding.
- This is Stire’s second-career Player of the Week honor (2/29/16).
Rookie of the Week
Obadiah Noel, UMass Lowell – Fr., Guard, Frederick, Md.
- Averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in a pair of games last week.
- This is his first career #AEVB Rookie of the Week honor.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 13 – Player of the Week: Greig Stire, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Obadiah Noel, UMass Lowell
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