BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American graduate student forward Matt Rogers was named Patriot League Men’s Basketball PenFed Credit Union Player of the Week when the League office announced weekly honors on Monday. Holy Cross freshman guard Max Green received Rookie of the Week honors for the seventh time.
Rogers collected Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the first time this season and the fourth of his career after averaging 19.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in the Eagles’ wins against Lehigh (68-67) and Colgate (81-77) last week.
Green captured his second straight Patriot League Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week award and seventh overall after averaging 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists during Holy Cross’ 1-1 week. He is two weekly honors shy of tying the Patriot League record, shared by C.J. McCollum (Lehigh, 2009-10), Marquis Hall (Lehigh, 2006-07) and Kevin Bettencourt (Bucknell, 2002-03).
Bucknell junior center Noah Williamson, Colgate fifth-year forward Jeff Woodward, Lehigh sophomore guard Nasir Whitlock and Navy junior guard Austin Benigni 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 January 27)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| American |
6-2 |
.750 |
12-9 |
.571 |
| Colgate |
6-2 |
.750 |
9-12 |
.429 |
| Army West Point |
5-3 |
.625 |
11-9 |
.550 |
| Boston University |
4-4 |
.500 |
10-11 |
.476 |
| Bucknell |
4-4 |
.500 |
8-13 |
.381 |
| Navy |
4-4 |
.500 |
7-14 |
.333 |
| Holy Cross |
3-5 |
.375 |
11-10 |
.524 |
| Loyola Maryland |
3-5 |
.375 |
8-11 |
.421 |
| Lafayette |
3-5 |
.375 |
8-13 |
.381 |
| Lehigh |
2-6 |
.250 |
7-12 |
.368 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matt Rogers, American, Gr., F, Knoxville, Md./St. Maria Goretti
*Rogers led the Eagles to victories over Lehigh (68-67) and Colgate (81-77) to extend their win streak to five games and move into a tie for first place by averaging 19.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 58 percent (11-of-19) from the floor, including 4-of-4 from long distance.
*He scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in American’s four-point win over the Raiders on Saturday.
*The graduate student forward posted 12 points and five rebounds and dished out the game-winning assist in the Eagles’ buzzer-beating win against Lehigh on Wednesday.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G, La Grange, Ky./Oldham County
*Green averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the floor to help Holy Cross split a two-game week.
*The Kentucky native matched his career-high with 25 points and added six rebounds and four assists in the Crusaders’ 70-65 win at Loyola Maryland on Saturday.
*He posted 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 76-71 loss against Army West Point on Wednesday.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Noah Williamson, Bucknell, Jr., C, Riga, Latvia/St. Thomas More (Conn.)
*Williamson averaged 24.0 points on 65.2 percent (15-of-23) shooting from the floor, including a perfect 8-for-8 from 3-point range. He finished with 22 points on 6-of-6 shooting from long range in an 87-80 loss against Colgate on Monday. He recorded 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting in an 85-82 overtime loss at Boston University on Saturday.
Jeff Woodward, Colgate, 5th-year, C, Audubon, Pa./Methacton
*Woodward averaged a double-double with 21.5 points and 10.0 rebounds along with 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocked shots during the Raiders’ 1-1 week. He also shot 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the floor. The fifth-year center scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his third collegiate double-double in a loss against American on Saturday. He tallied 18 points and nine boards in an 87-80 victory over Bucknell on Monday.
Nasir Whitlock, Lehigh, So., G, Brooklyn Park, Minn./DeLaSalle
*Whitlock averaged 20.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 60 percent (15-of-25) shooting to help the Mountain Hawks split a two-game week. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 21 points to go with three rebounds and three assists in Lehigh’s 86-47 win over rival Lafayette on Saturday. He finished with 19 points and two rebounds in the Mountain Hawks’ 68-67 loss at American on Wednesday.
Austin Benigni, Navy, Jr., G, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands Christian Academy
*Benigni led the Mids to victories over Boston University (62-47) and Army West Point (66-53) by averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The junior guard connected on 21-of-22 attempts from the free-throw line in the two games. He scored 21 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in a win against the Terriers on Wednesday. Benigni finished with 18 points on 10-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe and added six rebounds and four assists in a win over rival Army West Point on Sunday.
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
12.2 – Milos Ilic, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
12.9 – Jalen Rucker, Army West Point, Sr., G
12.6 – Jordan Stiemke, Loyola Maryland, So., G/F
12.23 – Joe Nugent, Holy Cross, So, G/F
12.30 - Jalen Rucker, Army West Point, Sr., G
1.6 – Donovan Draper, Navy, Jr., F
1.13 – Jalen Rucker, Army West Point, Sr., G
1.20 – Jalen Rucker Army West Point, Sr., G
1.27 – Matt Rogers, American, Gr., F
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
12.2 – Alex Chaikin, Lafayette, Fr., G
12.9 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
12.6 – Braeden Speed, Loyola Maryland, Fr., G
12.23 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
12.30 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
1.6 - Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
1.13 – Caleb Williams, Lafayette, Fr., G
1.20 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
1.27 – Max Green, Holy Cross, 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.