Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baker, Cooper Collect MBWA Men's Weekly Awards
NEW YORK (March 2, 2021) ---
Geo Baker of Rutgers in Division I and
Anthony Cooper of Caldwell 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. 22-28, 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.
A 6-4 senior guard from Derry NH, Baker --- who also was named the Big Ten Conference player of the week --- led the Scarlet Knights (13-10) in their only game of the week from a 15-point deficit to a come-from-behind 74-63 homecourt victory over Indiana. He registered a double-double of 20 points --- connecting on six 3-point shots --- and 10 assists while posting five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Baker’s sextet of 3-point baskets were the most ever by an RU player in a regulation Big Ten conference game as the Scarlet Knights surged past the Hoosiers to snare a 20-point lead and eventually triumph by 11 points. He is the only player in college basketball this season to have as many as six treys along with 10 or more assists. Additionally, he notched season-highs for himself in points, assists and a career-high tying six 3 pointers.
A 6-2 junior guard from Ashburn, VA, Cooper --- who also was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference player of the week --- cashed a career-high 31 points while adding six rebounds and three assists in the Cougars (5-4) lone game of the week, a nip-and-tuck 80-76 victory over visiting Felician.
Cooper, who nailed 63.2% of his shots from the field (12-of-19), canned 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. Caldwell trailed by 16-11 early before Cooper scored nine points in a 17-6 run that helped lead the Cougars to a 36-34 halftime edge. The game was tied at several junctures in the second half, including 67-67 with 3:15 remaining, as CU mounted a late surge to secure the win.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Julian Champagnie, St. John’s; Alex Morales, Wagner; Ant Nelson, Manhattan.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: James Montgomery, Molloy; Kerwin Prince, Mercy; Ryan Savoy, NJCU; Grant Singleton, St. Thomas Aquinas; Ryan Turell, Yeshiva.
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.
Feb. 23, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall, Div. I;
David Gervase, Drew, Divs. II/III.