Lopez and Casimir Named Weekly Award Winners in Men's Basketball
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Matt Lopez, Rider
Sr., C, 7-0, 245, Erial, N.J./La Salle/Utah State/Washington Township
Senior center Matt Lopez averaged 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds in three games for the Broncs. On Monday against Siena, Lopez scored 10 points and added 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. In Rider’s win over Fairfield on Thursday, he scored 20 of Rider’s 54 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds. Against Manhattan, in a battle for second place, Lopez compiled 27 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double on the week. Lopez scored in overtime to give Rider a 74-72 lead, the fourth and final lead change of the game. For the week, he shot 63.6 percent from the field.
Rookie of the Week
Schadrac Casimir, Iona
Fr., G, 5-10, 155, Stamford, Conn./South Kent School/Trinity Catholic
Rookie Schadrac Casimir averaged 27.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in leading the Gaels to a 2-0 performance at the Hynes Center last week. Casimir had 22 points, four rebounds and three assists in the Gaels win over Siena Friday on ESPNU. He converted all 12 free throw attempts, a season-high for the freshman. On Sunday, Casimir exploded for 33 points and a career and MAAC season-high nine three-point field goals in a 22-point win over Marist. Casimir broke his own school single-game rookie trifecta mark, eclipsing the eight reached vs. Delaware State (11/26) and at Monmouth (12/7). With his fifth three-pointer versus the Red Foxes, Casimir also broke the Iona single-season rookie record, previously held by Sean Armand (61) set in 2010-11. It was his second 30+ point effort of the season and the NCAA-leading seventh of the season for the Maroon & Gold.