Player of the Week
James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | Guard/Forward | Richmond, Va.
Patterson averaged 25.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game over two contests last week for STAC. The sophomore guard/forward dropped 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and forced four steals in 33 minutes in a 92-82 win over Daemen before recording 23 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes in a 106-68 win over D'Youville. Patterson also shot 37.1 percent (13-35) from the field and 91.3 percent (21-23) from the foul line in a 2-0 week. The STAC standout leads the ECC and ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (24.3 ppg).
Defensive Player of the Week
Rich Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | Guard | Bronx, N.Y.
Smith averaged 12.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game over two contests last week for STAC. The sophomore guard picked up 11 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out eight assists, forced a steal, and blocked a shot in 23 minutes against Daemen before recording a triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals in 24 minutes against D'Youville. He also shot 64.2 percent (9-14) from the field and 77.7 percent (7-of-9) from the foul line in a 2-0 week. Smith is one of just 10 players in the counrty - and the only ECC player - to record a triple double this season, leads the conference in assists per game (4.8) and assist/turnover ratio (2.96), and sits second in the conference in steals per game (1.88).
Rookie of the Week
Zach Philipkoski, Daemen
Freshman | Guard | New Hartford, N.Y.
Philipkoski shot 68 percent (15-of-22) from the field overall and averaged 24.0 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week. The Daemen freshman contributed 14 points and a team-high six rebounds in a loss at nationally-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas and erupted for a season-high 34 points (11-of-16 FGs) and a season-high 13 rebounds in an 84-59 win over Mercy. Philipkoski connected on 8-of-13 three-pointers over the two games. The 34 points are the most by a Daemen freshman since Andrew Sischo scored 36 on Feb. 16, 2018 and are tied for the most by a freshman among all NCAA Division II teams this season.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Malik Bentinck, Queens
Senior | Forward | St. Albans, N.Y.
Bentinck recorded his ECC-leading eighth double-double of the year with 17 points (6-of-10 FG) on 60.0% shooting to go with a career-best 16 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal as the Knights rallied to defeat Roberts Wesleyan, 87-76, and extend their win streak to four games.
Rob Matos, Molloy
Freshman | Guard | Fredericksburg, Va.
Matos netted 22 points in a 99-84 win over Roberts Wesleyan, marking the ninth time the freshman has topped 20 points in a contest. In addition, the rookie had a career-high eight assists. Matos ranks third in the ECC and leads all freshmen in scoring (18.8 ppg).
Alex May, Mercy
Senior | Guard | Englewood, N.J.
May averaged a team-high 20.0 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting with 4.0 rebounds per game in three games this week. The senior opened the week with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting with four rebounds at Chestnut Hill, posted a career-high 21 points with seven rebounds and two assists against D'Youville, and ended the week with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Daemen. May ranks eighth in the ECC in scoring (15.1 ppg).
Kyle Pulliam, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | Guard | Silver Spring, Md.
Pulliam averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game over two contests last week for STAC. The sophomore guard recorded 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists and blocked a shot in 32 minutes in a 92-82 win over Daemen, before recording 13 points and two rebounds in 22 minutes in a 106-68 win over D’Youville. He also shot 56.0 percent (14-25) from the field, 54.5 percent (6-11) from three and 75.0 percent (3-4) from the foul line in a 2-0 week.
Trayton Trice, D’Youville
Junior | Forward | Romeoville, Ill.
Trice helped the Saints go 1-1 on the week, averaging 21.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. The D’Youville junior dropped 22 points in a 94-69 win over Mercy and 21 points against STAC.
Eric Tynes, Queens
Sophomore | Forward | Springfield, Mass.
Tynes led the way with a career-high 21 points (7-of-12 FG, 5-of-9 3PT, 2-of-2 FT) on 58.3% shooting with a career-best five-made three-pointers as the Knights rallied to defeat Roberts Wesleyan, 87-76, and extend their win streak to four games.
ECC Men's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 13 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Nov. 20 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Nov. 27 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Dec. 4 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Dec. 11 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Dec. 18 - Messiah Mallory, Staten Island
Jan. 2 - Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Jan. 8 - Nick MacDonald, Daemen
Jan. 16 - Malik Brooks, Roberts Wesleyan and Sunnie Diamond, Queens
Jan. 22 - James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 13 - Joey Atkins, Daemen
Nov. 20 - Joey Atkins, Daemen
Nov. 27 - Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Dec. 4 - Joey Atkins, Daemen
Dec. 11 - Malik Bentinck, Queens
Dec. 18 - Noah Hutchins, D’Youville
Jan. 2 - Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Jan. 8 - Joey Atkins, Daemen
Jan. 16 - Malik Bentinck, Queens
?Jan. 22 - Rich Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 13 - Nasir Hammonds, D'Youville
Nov. 20 - Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island and Rob Matos, Molloy
Nov. 27 - Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island
Dec. 4 - No nominee submissions
Dec. 11 - Aaron Goldstein, Staten Island
Dec. 18 - No nominee submissions
Jan. 2 - Rob Matos, Molloy
Jan. 8 - Nasir Hammonds, D’Youville
Jan. 16 - No nominee submissions
?Jan. 22 - Zach Philipkoski, Daemen
NCAA Statistical Rankings
Through games January 21 (PDF)
Previously in the Polls
ECC PRESEASON POLL
NABC TOP 25 COACHES POLL
Preseason: Daemen (RV), St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
Week 1: St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
Week 2: St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
Week 3: St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
Week 4: St. Thomas Aquinas (19)
Week 5: St. Thomas Aquinas (15)
Week 6: St. Thomas Aquinas (13)
Week 7: St. Thomas Aquinas (18)
Week 8: St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
Week 9: St. Thomas Aquinas (RV)
D2CSC TOP 25 MEDIA POLL
Week 1: St. Thomas Aquinas (T-20)
Week 2: St. Thomas Aquinas (22)
Week 3: St. Thomas Aquinas (16)
Week 4: St. Thomas Aquinas (14)
Week 5: St. Thomas Aquinas (9)
Week 6: St. Thomas Aquinas (7)
Week 7: St. Thomas Aquinas (10)
Week 8: St. Thomas Aquinas (16)
Week 9: St. Thomas Aquinas (14)
D2CSC TOP 10 EAST REGION MEDIA POLL
Week 1: St. Thomas Aquinas (T-2), Daemen (T-5), Staten Island (RV)
Week 2: St. Thomas Aquinas (2), Daemen (7), Queens (RV)
Week 3: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (7), Staten Island (RV)
Week 4: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (7)
Week 5: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (9), Queens (RV)
Week 6: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (8), Staten Island (10)
Week 7: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (5), Staten Island (RV)
Week 8: St. Thomas Aquinas (2), Daemen (8)
Week 9: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (8)