English and Portley Garner Men's Basketball Weekly Accolades
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
A.J. English, Iona
Sr., G, 6-4, 190, Wilmington, DE/St. Thomas More (CT)/Appoquinimink
Senior A.J. English led Iona to a 2-0 mark to start MAAC play averaging 31.0 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks while posting a 60.6% field goal percentage including 65.2% from beyond the arc. English began the week with a historic 46-point, eight assist effort vs. Fairfield tying the MAAC single-game scoring record, recording the second-highest point total and the ninth 40+ point effort in Iona history. The 30-year old MAAC record was set in 1985 by Holy Cross' Jim McCaffrey. Only Warren Isaac's 50-point effort in 1965 was higher than English's. He hit 13 three-point field goals in the contest, shattering the MAAC and school record of 10 previously held by former teammate Sean Armand in 2012. The three point total was the most in the NCAA since the line was moved to 20'9" in 2008 and only four other performers in history made more than the Iona senior. In the second half, English hit his first nine three-point attempts falling two shy of the NCAA single-game record. It was highest point scoring total in the NCAA this season. It was the first 45+ point, 5+ assist effort since BYU's Jimmer Fredette in 2011 and just the 18th in the NCAA in the last 20 seasons of play. With 15 field goals and eight assists, English was involved in 23 of Iona's 37 field goals. English followed up the performance with a well-balanced and efficient effort to lead Iona to a second straight 100+ point effort. He recorded 16 points, nine assists, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks. English hit five of eight field goal attempts and all four free throws in the win.
Rookie of the Week
Antwon Portley, Saint Peter’s
Fr., G, 6-4, 165, Lancaster, TX/Lancaster
Portley averaged 18.0 points per game while shooting 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from the floor, 42.9 percent from behind the arc (6-for-14) and 75.0 percent (6 of 8) from the free throw line to help Saint Peter’s to its first 2-0 league start since the 2010-11 season. The freshman scored a game-high 25 points in a 73-61 win against Rider on Wednesday after shooting 66.7 percent (10-for-15) from the floor and 55.6 percent (5 of 9) from 3-point land along with adding four rebounds and three assists to give the Peacocks its first 1-0 league start since the 2012-13 campaign. The Lancaster, Texas native scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half against the Broncs, including keying an 18-4 run to start the second half with seven points to extend the Peacocks lead to 23-points. The freshman then added 11 points in a 72-68 win against Siena on Sunday. Portley had nine of his 11 points in the second half against the Saints, including six in the final two minutes and 38 seconds to help stave off a furious comeback attempt by Siena. He drained a trey with 2:38 left to give Saint Peter’s a 63-50 lead with 2:38 left and then made 3 of 4 from the charity stripe in the final 72 seconds of the game to help Saint Peter’s be one of two teams in the league to open the year 2-0. The freshman has scored double figures in five of the seven games this season, including three 20+ games.