Player of the Week
Jalen Leach, Fairfield
Sr., Nyack, NY, Tilton School (NH)
 
Jalen Leach averaged 24.0 points per game in wins over Quinnipiac and Siena to lead Fairfield into first place in the MAAC standings. He shot 56 percent from the field, 6-for-9 from three-point range and made all 14 of his free throw attempts. Leach also averaged 7.5 rebounds per game, dished out seven assists and had five steals on the week.
 
Rookie of the Week
De'Shayne Montgomery, Mount St. Mary’s
Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
 
Montgomery was fantastic this week for the Mountaineers, averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 59.3 percent from the field. The freshman, forced into point guard duties due to injuries to Dakota Leffew and Dallas Hobbs, had 25 points, five assists and four rebounds in the Mount's 72-65 win over Iona on Sunday. On Friday, he tallied 21 points, six boards and four assists in the narrow loss to Saint Peter's.  Montgomery was 16-of-27 (.593) from the field and 14-of-17 (.824) at the line for the week.  He has now scored 20 or more points in each of the past three games.
 
The 2023-24 campaign culminates with the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 12-16 at Atlantic City's Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fifth consecutive year dating back to 2020. For all information regarding the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.
 
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 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, 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. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Threads or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.