PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its men's basketball weekly award winners for the week ending Jan. 18.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KAREEM IRBY • Kean University
Junior • Guard • Hillside, NJ/Hillside
Irby earned NJAC Player of the Week honors after averaging 28.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting .576 from the field and .529 from three-point range in a pair of conference games. The junior guard opened the week with 26 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, in Kean's 72-68 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Jan. 14. He followed with 30 points, three rebounds, and three assists while shooting 11-for-17 from the field and 2-for-5 from three-point range in a 106-94 road loss at Montclair State on Jan. 17. Irby totaled 56 points for the week while shooting 19-for-33 from the field, 9-for-17 from three-point range, and 9-for-12 from the free throw line with just three turnovers. Irby currently ranks eighth in the NJAC in conference-only scoring (16.2 ppg) and seventh in conference-only field goal percentage (45.5%).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CHRISTIAN GARCIA • Kean University
Senior • Center • Linden, NJ/Linden
Garcia claimed his first and Kean’s fourth NJAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition after averaging 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in two conference matchups. The senior center dominated the glass with 14 rebounds in Kean's 72-68 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Jan. 14, then added 11 boards with five steals in a 106-94 road loss at Montclair State on Jan. 17. Garcia totaled 25 rebounds for the week, including nine offensive boards, while also contributing two blocks and 4.5 points per game. Garcia is currently eighth in the NJAC in conference-only rebounding (6.7 rpg).
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
CRISTIAN NICHOLSON • Montclair State University
Freshman • Guard • Mine Hill, NJ/Morris Catholic
Nicholson was named NJAC Rookie of the Week for the fifth time after an exceptional shooting performance in two conference victories. The freshman guard averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting a remarkable .625 from the field, including a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point range. In Montclair State's 76-72 home win over TCNJ on Jan. 14, Nicholson tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 6-for-11 and 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. He followed that with 18 points, three rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the Red Hawks' 106-94 home victory over Kean on Jan. 17, connecting on 6-of-8 field goals and a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Nicholson currently leads all NJAC rookies and is second overall in conference-only assists (5.1 apg) and is sixth in conference-only steals (2.0 spg) while adding 11.9 points per game.