Player of the Week
Tyson Jolly, Iona
Gr., Muskogee, OK, Putnam City West/SMU
 
Iona College men's basketball grad student Tyson Jolly led the Gaels to two MAAC wins this week, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 three-point field goals with a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in games vs. Canisius at home and at Rider on the road. He scored 16 points in each game.  Against the Griffs, he posted five rebounds and a season-high seven assists along with a block and a steal while connecting on four three pointers. Against Rider on Sunday, Jolly shot 6-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. His final two three pointers sealed the win for the Gaels in the final two-plus minutes as he turned a three-point lead into a nine-point lead. The latter came with one minute remaining to put the Gaels up nine as Iona found him on an inbound pass with just one second on the shot clock. Jolly also recorded a key steal in the backcourt that led to an assist on an alley oop to teammate Dylan van Eyck that all but stopped Rider's momentum following a 16-3 Broncs' run.
 
Co-Rookie of the Week
TJ Long, Fairfield
Fr., Rockville Centre, NY, Canterbury School
 
TJ Long scored a team-high 14 points in the Stags' 66-62 win at Manhattan on Sunday. He knocked down three three-pointers as a part of a 4-for-5 day from the field and added three free throws. Long also pulled down two boards and registered a steal in the road victory.
 
Co-Rookie of the Week
Jao Ituka, Marist
Fr., Gaithersburg, MD, Gaithersburg
 
Jao Ituka tied for the game-high with 15 points as he helped lead Marist to its sixth straight win, 74-56 over Manhattan on Friday in the Red Foxes' only game of the week. Ituka shot 4-for-5 from the field, and also contributed an assist and a steal. After the Jaspers had cut their deficit to three, Ituka scored 11 of his 15 points in the final six minutes to help the Red Foxes pull away. This included a stretch where he scored seven consecutive Marist points, all from the free throw line.
 
The 2021-22 campaign culminates with the 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 8-12 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Stay up to date with all MAAC basketball by visiting MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter. The road to AC!
 
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 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth 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.