BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American senior guard Elijah Stephens was named Patriot League Men’s Basketball PenFed Credit Union Player of the Week when the League office announced weekly honors on Monday. Boston University freshman guard Azmar Abdullah claimed rookie of the week.
Stephens picked up Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors after averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the Eagles’ 3-1 week.
Abdullah collected Patriot League Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week after scoring 10.3 points per game on 60 percent shooting to help the Terriers go 2-1 last week.
Army West Point senior guard Jalen Rucker, Boston University sophomore guard Kyrone Alexander, Holy Cross senior forward Caleb Kenney and Loyola Maryland senior forward Milos Ilic earned honorable mentions for their performances last week.
The Patriot League men’s basketball players of the week are selected in a vote by League media members and each school’s men’s basketball athletics communications contacts, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Standings (as of November 25)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| Bucknell |
0-0 |
-- |
4-3 |
.571 |
| Holy Cross |
0-0 |
-- |
4-3 |
.571 |
| American |
0-0 |
-- |
4-4 |
.500 |
| Army West Point |
0-0 |
-- |
3-3 |
.500 |
| Boston University |
0-0 |
-- |
3-4 |
.429 |
| Loyola Maryland |
0-0 |
-- |
2-3 |
.400 |
| Lafayette |
0-0 |
-- |
2-4 |
.333 |
| Colgate |
0-0 |
-- |
1-4 |
.200 |
| Lehigh |
0-0 |
-- |
1-4 |
.200 |
| Navy |
0-0 |
-- |
1-4 |
.200 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elijah Stephens, American, Sr., G, Waco, Texas/China Spring
*Stephens averaged 15.8 points on 70 percent (21-of-30) shooting, with 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists to help the Eagles go 3-1, including wins against Kansas City (64-60), Puerto Rico-Bayamon (73-56) and UAlbany (81-77) last week.
*The senior guard posted 20 points, six assists and five rebounds in the Eagles’ 81-77 win over the Great Danes on Sunday.
*He scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting with four assists in a loss at High Point on Monday.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Azmar Abdullah, Boston University, Fr., G, Cranston, R.I./Bishop Hendricken
*Abdullah scored 10.3 points per game, shooting 60 percent (9-for-15) from the floor and 58.3 percent (7-for-12) from 3-point range to help Boston University go 2-1 last week.
*He scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-7 from long distance in the Terriers 69-62 win at Howard on Sunday.
*The freshman guard finished with seven points in a loss against defending NEC Champion Wagner.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jalen Rucker, Army West Point, Sr., G, Baltimore, Md./Gilman
*Rucker averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists to help Army West Point go 1-1 last week, including an 84-70 win against FDU. The Baltimore native posted 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win against the Knights. He finished 20 points at Manhattan on Friday.
Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, So., G, Bridgetown, Barbados/South Shore (N.Y.)
*Alexander averaged 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the Terriers’ 2-1 week that included wins against Howard (69-62) and UMBC (75-71). He finished with 12 points and six boards at Wagner to open the week. The sophomore guard added 10 points and seven rebounds in a win against the Bison.
Caleb Kenney, Holy Cross, Sr., F, Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman
*Kenney averaged 13.0 points on 76.5 percent shooting (13-of-17) during the Crusaders’ 1-1 week. He scored 16 points in an 88-49 win against Mitchell. He finished with 10 points at Maine on Sunday.
Milos Ilic, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F, Gornj Milanovic, Serbia/Hoosac School
*Ilic recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds in an 82-61 loss at Boston College on Tuesday. The senior forward also had a team-high four assists and two blocked shots against the Eagles.
Player of the Week
11.11 – Austin Benigni, Navy, Jr., G
11.18 - Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
11.25 – Elijah Stephens, American, Sr., G
Rookie of the Week
11.11 – Braeden Speed, Loyola Maryland, Fr., G
11.18 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
11.25 – Azmar Abdullah, Boston University, Fr., G
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.