BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American graduate student forward Matt Rogers was named Patriot League Men’s Basketball PenFed Credit Union Player of the Week for the second time this season when the League office announced weekly honors on Monday. Lafayette freshman guard Alex Chaikin received Rookie of the Week.
Rogers collected Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second time this season and fifth of his career after averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in victories over Lafayette (60-58) and Loyola Maryland (72-51) to extend American’s lead atop the League standings to two games.
Chaikin received Patriot League Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week honors for the second time this season after averaging 19.5 points in games against American and Bucknell last week. He scored a career-high 23 points against the Bison on Saturday.
Boston University sophomore guard Kyrone Alexander, Bucknell junior center Noah Williamson, Colgate sophomore guard Jalen Cox, Lehigh senior guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney and Navy junior guard Austin Benigni earned honorable mentions for their performances last week.
The Patriot League men’s basketball players of the week were 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.
2024-25 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Standings (as of February 17)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| American |
11-3 |
.786 |
17-10 |
.630 |
| Army West Point |
9-5 |
.643 |
15-11 |
.577 |
| Bucknell |
9-5 |
.643 |
13-14 |
.481 |
| Colgate |
8-6 |
.571 |
11-16 |
.407 |
| Navy |
7-7 |
.500 |
10-17 |
.370 |
| Boston University |
7-7 |
.500 |
13-14 |
.481 |
| Loyola Maryland |
5-9 |
.357 |
10-15 |
.400 |
| Lehigh |
5-9 |
.357 |
10-15 |
.400 |
| Lafayette |
5-9 |
.357 |
10-17 |
.370 |
| Holy Cross |
4-10 |
.286 |
12-15 |
.444 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matt Rogers, American, Gr., F, Knoxville, Md./St. Maria Goretti
*Rogers averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds to lead American to wins over Lafayette (60-58) and Loyola Maryland (72-51), taking a two-game lead in the Patriot League standings.
*He scored the game-winning basket with 3.2 seconds remaining against Lafayette, finishing with 19 points and 10 boards.
*The Knoxville, Md. native posted game-highs of 22 points and nine rebounds, connecting on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in a win against the Greyhounds.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Alex Chaikin, Lafayette, Fr., G, Williamsburg, Va./Trinity Episcopal
*Chaikin averaged 19.5 points on 44 percent shooting from the field, including 44 percent from beyond the arc in games against American and Bucknell.
*The freshman guard scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding three rebounds in a loss against Bucknell on Saturday.
*He finished with 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in a loss at American on Monday.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kyrone Alexander, Boston University, So., G, Bridgetown, Barbados/South Shore (N.Y.)
*Alexander finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and one steal in the Terriers’ 93-91 double-overtime win against Colgate on Saturday. The sophomore guard hit the game-winning shot with five seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
Noah Williamson, Bucknell, Jr., C, Riga, Latvia/St. Thomas More (Conn.)
*Williamson helped Bucknell go 2-0 last week with wins over Boston University (76-60) and Lafayette (75-69) by averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. He posted 24 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s win against the Leopards. The junior center finished with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots against the Terriers.
Jalen Cox, Colgate, So., G, Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola
*Cox averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 assists to help the Raiders go 1-1 last week, including an 87-65 win at Holy Cross. The sophomore guard scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting against BU on Saturday. He scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting against the Crusaders.
Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, Sr., G, Somerville, Mass./Brooks School
*Whitney-Sidney posted averages of 17.5 points and 3.5 rebounds on 48.1 percent (13-of-27) shooting from the floor, including 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from deep last week. He scored 17 points in a three-point loss at Navy on Wednesday. The senior guard posted a game-high 18 points in a 72-60 win against the Crusaders.
Austin Benigni, Navy, Jr., G, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands Christian Academy
*Benigni averaged 21.0 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 41.2 percent from the floor, 50 percent from deep and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe in wins against Lehigh (63-60) and Army West Point (61-54). The junior guard finished with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds in the Mids’ win against the Mountain Hawks on Wednesday. He scored 21 points and dished out three assists in a win over the Black Knights to sweep the season series.
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
2.3 – Noah Williamson, Bucknell, Jr., C
2.10 - Noah Williamson, Bucknell, Jr., C
2.17 - 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
2.3 - Braeden Speed, Loyola Maryland, Fr., G
2.10 – Max Green, Holy Cross, Fr., G
2.17 – Alex Chaikin, Lafayette, 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.