Men's Basketball Weekly Honors Claimed by Drame and Casimir
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Ousmane Drame, Quinnipiac
Sr., F, 6-9, 225, Boston, Mass./New Mission/Marianapolis Prep
Ousmane Drame extended his double-double streak to six straight last week while also helping Quinnipiac score victories in both games. He averaged 13.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, securing his nation-leading 13th and 14th double-doubles of the season. On Wednesday night, Drame had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the team’s road win at Saint Peter’s University. He went 9-of-11 from the free-throw line while corralling four offensive rebounds in the win. On Friday night against Manhattan, a game featured nationally on ESPNU, Drame posted 12 points, a season high 19 rebounds and blocked four shots in the 73-59 triumph. The 19 rebounds were two shy of his career high and served as the most in a single game by any MAAC player this year. Impressively, Drame averaged 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in the second half throughout the week. He shot 42.1 percent from the floor and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Rookie of the Week
Schadrac Casimir, Iona
Fr., G, 5-10, 155, Stamford, Conn./South Kent School/Trinity Catholic
Freshman Schadrac Casimir averaged 16.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals while committing just one turnover in 69 minutes in the Gaels two wins away from the Hynes Center this past week. Casimir shot 45.5% and drained six three-point field goals at Rider and against Niagara at Madison Square Garden. Casimir posted a team-best 24 points versus the Broncs including 10 in the second half and five of Iona’s last eight points during the decisive 2:40 of the contest. Casimir’s step-back three-pointer with a defender draped all over him at the 2:40 mark halted a Rider comeback effort and put the Gaels ahead by five points. He capped the teams 8-0 run with two free throws with 1:09 left to seal the contest.