Player of the Week
Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona
Jr., Benin City, Nigeria, NBA Academy Africa (Senegal)
 
Iona junior, Nelly Junior Joseph continued to shine in almost all facets of the game in leading the Gaels in an 18-point home win over Saint Peter's in the Gaels' lone game this week. Junior Joseph posted a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double, his second straight and MAAC-leading fifth of the year. He was made by the Peacocks to earn every point on the afternoon and was credited with drawing nine fouls. Though only 3-for-9 from field due to the opponent's aggressive defense, Junior Joseph was 10-for-14 from the charity stripe. His 14 rebounds eclipsed his season-high by one, set in the Gaels' previous contest vs. Pepperdine. The all-round effort included four blocks, three assists and a steal.  With the Gaels up comfortably, he sat the final six and a half minutes in a game which included the fewest number of possessions in an Iona game in nearly four years. Junior Joseph becomes just the second player ever to win four consecutive MAAC Player of the Week awards, joining Manhattan’s Luis Flores who won five straight in 2003.
 
Rookie of the Week
Michael Eley, Siena
Fr., Fort Wayne, IN, Veritas Prep Academy (FL)
 
Eley came off the bench to average 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in a perfect 2-0 conference weekend for the Saints, featuring road wins at Quinnipiac and Fairfield. The freshman guard scored 12 points and pulled down four rebounds in Friday night's win against the Bobcats. Eley then tied his season-high for a third time with 16 points while grabbing a career-best seven rebounds in Sunday's victory over the Stags. This is Eley’s second straight MAAC Rookie of the Week award and third overall on the season.
 
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.