Men's Basketball

Kahlil Singleton Earns Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week Honors

Canisius men's basketball junior guard Kahlil Singleton has been named an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Tuesday. With his selection, Singleton becomes the first Canisius player to be named Oscar Robertson Player of the Week since the award's inception in 2009.
 
On Monday, Singleton was honored as the Air Force Reserve MAAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week.
 
In the Golden Griffins' 85-81 win over Fairfield on Jan. 2, Singleton scored a career-high 37 points after he knocked down a career-best nine 3-point field goals. The Vancouver, Wash., native started the game by going 5-for-5 from 3-point land in the contest's opening four minutes, and his 28 first-half points in that game are the most for a Canisius player in a half in the last 30 seasons.
 
Singleton's 37-point performance in the win over Fairfield are tied for the third-most points scored in a game at the Koessler Athletic Center by a Griff, and it stands as the best scoring performance for a Canisius player at home since Billy Baron had 38 points in a win over Marist on Jan. 26, 2014. Coupled with his 33-point game against Binghamton on Nov. 23, where he made eight 3-pointers, Singleton is one of two players in the nation this season to have multiple games with 30-or more points scored and eight-or more 3-pointers made.
 
In the Griffs' 82-78 win over Sacred Heart on Jan. 4, Singleton scored a team-high 20 points, with 13 of those coming in the game's second half. He finished the game by going a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in that victory, and his lone 3-point make of the game came with 5:08 remaining in the contest, a basket that gave the Blue and Gold its first lead of the day.
 
Singleton finished the two MAAC games last week by averaging 28.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and a steal per game, as he shot 55.6 percent (15-for-27) from the field, 50.0 percent (10-for-20) from 3-point land and 94.4 percent (17-for-18) from the free-throw line. He averaged 38.9 minutes per game in the two wins, highlighted by a 40-minute performance in the victory over Fairfield.
 
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
 
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men's Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
 
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season
 
Canisius is 7-8 overall and 2-2 in league action after securing the program's first back-to-back MAAC regular-season wins since Feb. 23 and March 1, 2024. The Griffs will return to action Jan. 9, at Manhattan.

Tickets for all Canisius home men's basketball games can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE. Tickets can also be purchased by phone by calling (716) 888-TIXX or in person at the Canisius ticket office, located in the Koessler Athletic Center lobby, during normal business hours and 90 minutes before tip-off on game day.
 
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