Player of the Week
Anthony Gaines, Siena
Gr., Kingston, NY, New Hampton School (NH)/Northwestern
Gaines averaged a double-double with 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in a perfect 2-0 week for the Saints, while also shooting an even 50% from the field. On Friday, Gaines scored a game-high 21 points and added nine rebounds to lead Siena past first-place Iona. On Sunday, Gaines registered his third double-double in six games with game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four assists in an overtime win at Rider. Gaines made the game-tying and winning free throws with 6.1 seconds left in overtime.
Rookie of the Week
Jao Ituka, Marist
Fr., Gaithersburg, MD, Gaithersburg
Jao Ituka led Marist to a 2-0 week with averages of 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He shot .643 (18-for-28) from the field, .769 (10-for-13) from the free-throw line, and drained his only three-point attempt as he was the game's high scorer in both contests. In Marist's 83-58 road victory at Monmouth on Feb. 8, Ituka finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and three assists. He shot 9-for-14 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line as the Red Foxes earned their largest margin of victory in a MAAC road game in 15 years. In a 71-70 home victory over Canisius on Feb. 12, Ituka tallied 22 points, a team-high six rebounds, and three assists. He again shot 9-for-14 from the field, and went 3-for-4 from the line and hit his only three-point attempt. Ituka's efforts helped the Red Foxes rally from a 10-point second-half deficit, as he scored 15 of his 22 points after the intermission.
The 2021-22 campaign culminates with the 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 8-12 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Stay up to date with all MAAC basketball by visiting
MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter. The road to AC!
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 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 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.
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