NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's basketball senior guard A.J. English earned multiple weekly accolades for his performance in Iona's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference wins vs. Fairfield and at Marist.
Among the honors English garnered:
• NY Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week (link)
• MAAC Player of the Week (second of his career) (link)
• ECAC Player of the Week (link)
• CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson Award Co-Player of the Week (second career) (link)
• CBSSports.com National Player of the Week (link)
• Dick Vitale’s National Player of the Week (link)
• CollegeSportsMadness.com MAAC Player of the Week (link)
• NetScouts Basketball National Player of the Week (link)
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.
It was his second Lou Henson and MAAC Player of the Week honors of his career. He previously won the award as a junior after his 37-point effort at North Texas last November.