Rider’s Vaughn and Siena’s Pickett Take Home Pepsi Zero MAAC Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Dimencio Vaughn, Rider
R-So., New York, NY/Callaway
Vaughn scored 19 points in each of Rider's two wins over Coppin State and Wagner this week. He also added six rebounds against the Eagles and seven against the Seahawks, while averaging 2.5 steals per game. He shot 57.1-percent (12-21), including 4-of-7 from long range. For the season, he's now averaging 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Rookie of the Week
Jalen Pickett, Siena
Fr., Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute (SPIRE Institute (OH))
Pickett had another monster week for the Saints, averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 5.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks spanning two games against Patriot League contenders Lehigh and Colgate. He also shot 54-percent from the field and posted a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. On Wednesday, Pickett posted season-highs with 25 points and six rebounds, while adding seven assists (one turnover) and three steals against Patriot League preseason favorite Lehigh. On Saturday, he narrowly missed a triple-double in amassing 21 points, nine assists, and seven steals versus Colgate. He added five rebounds and a pair of blocks in another stellar all-around performance. Pickett's seven steals were the most by a Siena player in nearly nine years, since Clarence Jackson also swiped seven in a win at Loyola (MD) on January 4, 2010.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38
th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.