Player of the Week
Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona
Jr., Benin City, Nigeria, NBA Academy Africa (Senegal)
 
Junior Nelly Junior Joseph led Iona at the 2022 Diamondhead Classic in Honolulu, averaging 22.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks while shooting 60.5% from the field over the three games. Junior Joseph was named to the All-Tournament Team and among all competitors in Hawaii, he was third in scoring, second in rebounding and steals, and led the tournament in field goal percentage and blocked shots. He scored 20 or more points in all three contests, extending his career-long streak to four straight games. After 20 points and eight boards vs. SMU in the opener, Junior Joseph scored a season-high 26 in the win over Seattle on Friday, matching his Iona best with 10 free throws made. He posted his fourth double-double and second 20/10 game of the year with 23 points and a season-best 13 rebounds in the finale vs. Pepperdine.
 
Rookie of the Week
Michael Eley, Siena
Fr., Fort Wayne, IN, Veritas Prep Academy (FL)
 
Eley came off the bench to average 13.0 points and 1.5 steals to lead Siena to a perfect 2-0 Holiday Week. The freshman guard shot 58% from the field and an even 50% from three-point range to guide the Saints to wins over Atlantic 10 rival St. Bonaventure and Patriot League upstart American. On Monday, Eley scored eight of his 10 points in the second half to help Siena reclaim the Br. Ed Coughlin Franciscan Cup. He hit back-to-back threes down the stretch - which reclaimed the lead for the Saints both times - and made the final two free throws in the waning seconds to seal the six-point win. On Thursday, Eley again came up clutch, scoring 13 of his game-high and season-high tying 16 points in the second half as Siena went on the road to snap American's eight-game win streak. He hit back-to-back mid-range jumpers to break a 50-all tie and give Siena the lead back for good at 54-50 with 5:46 remaining. Additionally, the freshman, who had attempted just six free throws total over his first 10 collegiate games, shot 7-8 from the charity stripe, including connecting on both ends of a clutch one-and-one to push the Siena lead to five with 11 seconds left.

The 2022-23 campaign culminates with the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 7-11 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fourth consecutive year. For all information regarding the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter. For tickets to the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit ticketmaster.com.
 
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 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.