ECAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Month for January
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its Men’s Basketball Players of the Month for January.
Division II
Player of the Month
Deaquan Williams - So., F, Lincoln University
Williams recorded four double-doubles in the Lions eight games in January, giving him 10 on the season. This ranks him first in the CIAA and tenth in NCAA DII. In addition, he recorded 12 or more rebounds in each of Lincoln's last four games and is now ranked fifth in the NCAA in total rebounds. Williams averaged a double-double on the month with 13.3 points per game and 11 rebounds per game.
Rookie of the Month
Ronnie Silva - Fr., G, Adelphi University
Silva earns his second consecutive ECAC Player of the month award for his efforts in January. He led the Panthers in points per game averaging 15.8 during the month. He earned his second, third and fourth Rookie of the Week nods from the Northeast-10 Conference and set career-best numbers in six different categories. In a win against No. 9 Saint Anselm, Silva was responsible for a career-high eight rebounds and more recently set a new career-high for points with 28 in a victory over Southern New Hampshire.
Division III - NORTH
Player of the Month
Thomas Swartz - Sr., G, Marywood
Swartz led Marywood to a 6-1 record in January as the Pacers were at the top of their conference standings for the first time in program history. He nearly averaged a double-double for the month with 18.3 points-per-game and 9.3 rebounds-per-game. The Broomall, Pa. native was named the Atlantic East Player of the Week back on Jan. 14. He posted career highs of 34 points and 15 rebounds in a road victory over Cabrini University. Swartz had an impressive shooting month as he shot 46.2 percent from the field and made 42.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
DIVISION III - SOUTH
Player of the Month
Kyle Riddley - Sr., F, Pfeiffer University
Riddley leads the USA South in scoring with 27.1 points-per-game. In the month of January, he scored 30 or more points on four occasions with his highest total coming when he scored 38 points in a home win over William Peace University. Riddley has scored in double figure in all but two games this season and posted three double-doubles in the month of January.
Rookie of the Month
Xavier Reaves - Fr., G, Marymount University
Reaves was named the Atlantic East Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 21. He would set a career high in points against Shenandoah University on Jan. 16 and would tie that record just seven days later against Cabrini University. In both of those games he recorded double-doubles. Reaves impressive game against Shenandoah also saw him tally a career-high 16 rebounds. Over the course of the month the freshman scored in double-figures five times in seven games played.
DIVISION III - METRO
Player of the Month
Frank Balise - Jr., G, Saint Joseph’s
Balsie was named Skyline Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 28 and also made the Basketball Writers Divisions II-III Weekly Honorable Mention on three occasions. In addition, Balise also made Skyline Conference Weekly Honor Roll on the Jan. 7 and Jan. 15. Closing out the month of January Balise led the Skyline Conference in scoring with 20.9 points per game. In January he averaged 22.8 points per game with 7.7 rebounds per game.
Rookie of the Month
Billy Veras - Fr., F, Centenary University
Veras averaged a double-double while leading Centenary University to a 6-1 mark in January. Veras scored in double figures in five of the seven contests, including a career-high 36 points in a road win at Clarks Summit. The 36 points are tied for third most in single-game history for the Cyclones. He posted three double-doubles and was named the CSAC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging a double-double, 10 points and 12 rebounds, in a week that featured wins over Hunter College and Wilson College. Overall in the month Veras averaged 17.3 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game.
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