Player of the Week
C.J. Anthony, Iona
Gr., Columbus, OH, Cincinnati/Putnam Science (CT)
Graduate guard C.J. Anthony delivered a standout week in leading Iona to a 2-1 mark, highlighted by a home win over Princeton and a dramatic double-overtime victory against Oregon State. Across the three-game stretch, Anthony averaged 15.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and shot an impressive 81.8% from the free-throw line (18-of-22), while maintaining a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio and contributing on both ends of the floor. He opened the week with a well-rounded performance against Princeton, posting 10 points, a career-best nine assists, four rebounds, and a steal to help guide the Gaels to the victory. Anthony followed with another steady outing versus Akron, tallying 13 points, six assists, and three rebounds while shooting 5-for-10 from the field. He capped the week with a commanding effort in the double-overtime triumph over Oregon State, scoring 22 points, including 16 after halftime and in the overtime periods, while going 10-for-11 from the free-throw line and a perfect 9-for-9 over the final 30 minutes. He added five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block in a performance that cemented his impact on both ends of the court.
Rookie of the Week
Brandon Benjamin, Fairfield
Fr., Newark, NJ, Bergen Catholic
Brandon Benjamin led Fairfield with 18 points and eight rebounds in the Stags' 97-83 victory at Le Moyne. Benjamin shot 7-for-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to pace the Stags in their highest scoring game of the season. Benjamin also dished out a team-best four assists from the post and blocked two shots.
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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