PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its men's basketball weekly award winners for the week ending Dec. 21.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NICK KOCH • The College of New Jersey
Senior • Guard • Hawthorne, NJ/Don Bosco Prep
Koch becomes the third Lion this season to earn NJAC Player of the Week honors after a stellar showing at the Jay Bilas Classic in Charlotte, averaging 24.5 points and 6.0 assists across two games against nationally-ranked opponents. The senior guard exploded for a season-high 33 points alongside seven rebounds and seven assists in TCNJ's 76-66 victory over 24th-ranked Denison on Friday, playing all 40 minutes while shooting 47.6% from the field (10-of-21), 50% from beyond the arc (4-of-8), and 90% from the free-throw line (9-of-10). Koch added three steals in the win before contributing 16 points and five assists in 37 minutes the following day against seventh-ranked Emory. For the week, he shot 40% from the field (16-of-40), 42.9% from three-point range (6-of-14), and 91.7% from the charity stripe (11-of-12). Koch currently ranks third in the NJAC in assists (4.6 apg) and fifth in scoring (19.3 ppg).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ETHAN PAUL • William Paterson University
Senior • Forward • Toms River, NJ/Toms River North
Paul claimed NJAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition after dominating the glass with 22 total rebounds and four blocks across two games. The senior forward hauled in 10 rebounds against UMSV before recording 12 boards in Wednesday's contest against Old Westbury, adding two blocks in each game. Paul also contributed offensively, averaging 22.0 points on 72.7% shooting from the field (16-of-22) and 75% from three-point range (3-of-4) for the week. The senior is currently chipping in 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and nearly a block per game this season.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
CRISTIAN NICHOLSON • Montclair State University
Freshman • Guard • Mine Hill, NJ/Morris Catholic
Nicholson takes home NJAC Rookie of the Week for the third time in the last four weeks after leading Montclair State to a 97-84 road victory at SUNY Maritime on Wednesday. The freshman guard paced the Red Hawks with 18 points while adding five assists and four rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Nicholson shot 41.7% from the field (5-of-12) and was perfect at the free-throw line, converting all seven attempts. He currently leads all rookies and ranks second overall in the NJAC in assists (5.1 apg), is tied for sixth in steals (2.1 spg), and contributes 10.4 points per game.