Player of the Week
Ernest Shelton, Merrimack
Jr., Philadelphia, PA, Father Judge High School
Junior guard Ernest Shelton averaged 26.5 points per game in two games on the week for Merrimack. Shelton shot 59.3 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from long range, and 90.0 percent at the charity stripe in the two contests. In a win over Boston U., he tied a Merrimack record with nine three-pointers (9-of-12) in the win and was 10-13 from the field and 4-4 from the free-throw line for a career-high 33 points. At Tarleton State, Shelton scored 20 points, making three three-pointers. Additionally, he converted two 4-point plays in each game on the week for four 4-point plays in two games.
Rookie of the Week
Kevair Kennedy, Merrimack
Fr., Philadelphia, PA, Father Judge High School
Kevair Kennedy averaged close to a double-double with 14.0 points per game and 9.0 rebounds, along with averaging 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals in Merrimack’s pair of games. Kennedy notched his first career double-double, and nearly had a triple-double in the win at Boston U. with 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while also adding two steals. He scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had two assists and two steals at Tarleton State. The freshman also started both games and averaged 32.0 minutes per game.
The 2025-26 campaign culminates with the 2026 Air Force Reserve MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 5-10 at Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 2026 will be the seventh consecutive year Boardwalk Hall will host the annual championship dating back to 2020. For the second straight season, the championship field will feature the conference's top 10 teams. Additionally, with the shift of the basketball championship schedule to a week earlier, the women’s championship game will be a standalone contest on Monday, March 9, while the men’s championship game will air live nationally on ESPN or ESPN2 on Tuesday, March 10. For all information regarding the 2026 Air Force Reserve MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit
MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on X.
Air Force Reserve
The mission of the Air Force Reserve is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, whenever and wherever needed. As a critical component of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve supports global operations while remaining ready to respond to domestic emergencies and humanitarian efforts. It is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Reserve Citizen Airmen to execute a wide range of missions that contribute to national defense and global security.
The Air Force Reserve offers part-time and full-time service options, enabling individuals to serve while maintaining civilian careers or pursuing higher education. Each year, the Reserve recruits thousands of enlisted and officer personnel across core specialties including Aviation, Maintenance, Intelligence, Cyber, Medical, Security Forces, and Logistics. This flexibility allows members to develop valuable skills, gain leadership experience, and serve their country with pride.
More information about Air Force Reserve careers and opportunities is available at:
https://www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve/air-force-reserve.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 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 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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