Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mamukelashvili, Gervase Earn Men's Top Weekly Honors
NEW YORK (Feb. 23, 2021) ---
Sandro Mamukelashvili of Seton Hall in Division I and
David Gervase of Drew in Divisions II/III have been named Men’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designations, for games played Feb. 15-21, are unique in that they encompass players from 72 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III. At the outset of this season, the MBWA selected one overall Men’s Player of the Week. With all divisions now playing games, the association has reinstituted naming awards in Division I and in Divisions II/III.
This is the second MBWA Player of the Week designation this season for Mamukelashvili, who previously was honored on Feb. 9.
A 6-11 senior forward from Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, Mamukelashvili averaged 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in a 1-1 week for Seton Hall (13-9). He shot 51.4% (19-of-37) from the field over the two games.
Mamukelashvili led the Pirates to a second-half homecourt 60-52 comeback win over DePaul with a game-high 25 points, 13 of them coming in the second half, along with 11 rebounds and four assists. It was his fourth double-double of the season.
He followed with a game-high 22 points in an 81-75 defeat at Georgetown.
Mamukelashvili is second in the Big East in scoring at 18.1 ppg and is one of only two players in the conference to rank in the top 15 in scoring, rebounding and assists.
A 6-3 junior guard from Middletownm NJ, Gervase --- who also was named the Landmark Conference player of the week --- averaged 22.0 points off the bench to help the Rangers (4-1) sweep a home-and-home series with Juniata. Playing just 24.5 minutes per game, he shot 52.0% (13-of-25) from the field and 77.8% (14-18) at the foul line.
Gervase opened the week with 18 points, including the first six in a game-ending 8-0 run that erased a five-point overtime deficit and helped lift Drew to a 72-69 road victory.
He followed with a 26-point output in the Rangers 68-65 home victory over the Eagles. Gervase erupted for 17 first-half points to help stake Drew to a 37-15 halftime lead. He finished shooting 8-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Julian Champagnie, St. John’s; Zach Cooks, NJIT; Elijah Ford, Wagner; Isaiah Ross, Iona.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Osbel Caraballo, St. Thomas Aquinas; Anthony Cooper, Caldwell; Gabe Leifer, Yeshiva; Dee-End McRae, Felician; Isaiah Sparks, Bloomfield.
Previous MBWA 2020-21 Men’s Players of the Week:
Jan. 12, Tyler Thomas, Sacred Heart; Jan. 19, Julian Champagnie, St. John's; Jan. 26, Posh Alexander, St. John's; Feb. 2, Julian Champagnie, St. John's; Feb. 9, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall, Div. I;
Grant Singleton, St. Thomas Aquinas, Divs. II/III.
Feb. 16, Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan, Div. I;
Ryan Turell, Yeshiva, Divs. II/III.