Player of the Week
James Patterson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | Guard/Forward | Richmond, Va.
James Patterson averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game over two contests last week for STAC. The sophomore guard/forward tallied nine points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists, and forced a steal in 29 minutes in a 81-75 win over District of Columbia before recording 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 31 minutes in a 104-81 win over Staten Island, the second-place team in the ECC behind STAC. Patterson also shot 40.0 percent (14-of-35) from the field and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from the foul line in a 2-0 week for the Spartans, who have now won four straight contests. He tops the ECC, ranks second in the NCAA East Region, and sits fifth nationally in scoring with 23.7 points per game.
Defensive Co-Player of the Week
Joey Atkins, Daemen
Graduate Student | Forward | Watervliet, N.Y.
Atkins headed up a Daemen defense that limited its two opponents to just 114 points (57 points per game) during a 2-0 week. The Daemen graduate student averaged 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 steals and led the Wildcats to a big 78-56 win over Queens with 20 points, 10 rebounds (seven defensive) and four steals. Atkins added eight points, five defensive rebounds and three blocks in the 84-58 win over Molloy. He ranks in the ECC's top three in total rebounds (160), blocks (36), and steals (35).
Defensive Co-Player of the Week
Rich Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | Guard | Bronx, N.Y.
Smith averaged 9.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game over two contests last week for STAC. The sophomore guard picked up seven points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out six assists, forced a steal and blocked a shot in 29 minutes in a 81-75 win over District of Columbia before recording 12 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 30 minutes in a 104-81 win over Staten Island, the second-place team in the ECC behind STAC. He tops the ECC, ranks second in the NCAA East Region, and sits 13th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3.10).
Rookie of the Week
Bryce Merchant, Molloy
Freshman | Laurelton, N.Y.
Merchant averaged 13.5 points per week for the Lions, shooting over 40 percent from the field. The guard set a career-high 16 points against Daemen while adding 11 in the 95-80 win over D'Youville.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Malik Bentinck, Queens
Senior | Forward | St. Albans, N.Y.
Bentinck averaged 12.0 points on 50.0% shooting with 11.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in the weekend trip in Buffalo. The Queens senior tallied his ECC-leading ninth double-double of the year with 12 points, and 13 rebounds to go with one block in the 80-72 victory over D’Youville Friday evening. Against Daemen on Sunday afternoon Bentinck tallied 12 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one block to round out the weekend play.
Taj Chiles, Mercy
Junior | Guard | Harlem, N.Y.
Chiles averaged a team-high 24.0 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game on an impressive 66.7 percent shooting from the floor in two games this week. The junior opened the week with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, six assists and one steal at Staten Island on Wednesday. The guard ended the week with a game-high and career-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor with a game-high seven assists to go along with two steals against UDC on Saturday.
Lawrence Foreman, St. Thomas Aquinas
Senior | Forward | Kingston, Jamaica
Foreman averaged 11.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over two contests last week for STAC. The senior forward tallied seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in 15 minutes in a 81-75 win over District of Columbia before recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a steal in 23 minutes in a 104-81 win over Staten Island. Foreman also shot 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the field and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from the foul line in a 2-0 week.
Hartnel Haye, District of Columbia
Senior | Forward | Camden, N.J.
Haye averaged a double double in a 1-1 week for the Firebirds. The UDC senior averaged 16.0 points per game, shooting 57.5 percent from the field, 12.0 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game. In the game against STAC, his defensive efforts helped to hold leading scorer James Patterson to just nine points, pulling a game-high 13 rebounds (nine defensive) and 13 points. In the 78-71 win over Mercy, Haye led the Firebirds with 19 points, going 9-of-12 from the field while pulling 11 rebounds. His 15-point, second-half efforts gave UDC the lead and eventual win.
Justin Hemphill, Daemen
Senior | Forward | Buffalo, N.Y.
Hemphill shot 54 percent (14-for-26) from the field and averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week. The Daemen senior totaled 20 points and eight rebounds in an 84-58 win over Molloy and added 15 points and five rebounds in a 78-56 win over Queens.
Messiah Mallory, Staten Island
Junior | Forward | Watervliet, N.Y.
Mallory recorded a double-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks on Wednesday in a 96-81 win over Mercy. The CSI junior then blocked two more shots on Saturday against STAC, finishing the week averaging 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
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
Jan. 29 - 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
Jan. 29 - Joey Atkins, Daemen and 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
Jan. 29 - Bryce Merchant, Molloy
NCAA Statistical Rankings
Through games January 28 (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)
Week 10: St. Thomas Aquinas (25)
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)
Week 10: 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)
Week 10: St. Thomas Aquinas (1), Daemen (6)