GNAC Men's Basketball Report: Week 7

Deondre Smith, Colby-Sawyer (Sr, G - Garland, Texas) - Smith returned for Saturday's game against Anna Maria in a big way, scoring 26 points in just 20 minutes off the bench to lead the Chargers over the AMCATS in a 98-90 overtime victory. Smith shot 8-of-13 from the field, was 9-of-10 from the FT line, and nailed a huge overtime three. The senior added four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals while turning it over just once. 

  

Donte Pope, Emmanuel (Mass.) (So, G - Middletown, Conn.) - The guard posted back-to-back double-doubles to kick off the new year, averaging 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in a 1-1 GNAC week. Pope opened the week with an 18-point, 10-rebound outing versus Lasell, and followed up with a 16-point, 10-rebound effort against Saint Joseph's (Maine), adding five assists in a 87-77 conference victory. Pope shot 51.9% (14-27 FG< 3-6 3PT, 3-5 FT) from the field overall on the week. 

 

Jalen Olivero, Norwich (So., G - Holyoke, Mass.) - Olivero spearheaded the Cadet offense on their way to going 2-0 in GNAC play on the week, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 3.0 steals. In Thursday's contest against Regis, Olivero put up 25 points in an 82-79 overtime victory before registering 12 points, eight boards and seven dimes in a 72-57 win over Lasell.

 

Marc Trinidad, Regis (Mass.) (Sr., F - Bronx, N.Y.) - Trinidad led the Pride as it returned to action with GNAC setbacks to Norwich and USJ, averaging 17.5 points and 11.0 rebounds . In an overtime contest against the Cadets, Trinidad played 44 of 45 minutes, scoring a career-high 25 points and pulling down 14 rebounds for his 14th career double-double. At nationally-ranked USJ on Saturday, he again led Regis with 10 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.

 

Nikolas Pignone, Rivier (Jr., G - Stoneham, Mass.) - Pignone had one of his best weeks the season, averaging 19.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 48% (12-25 FG, 9-16 3PT, 6-6 FT) from the field. After scoring 20 points in a 10-point setback to Saint Joseph's (Maine), he had 19 points (5-8 FG, 5-8 3PT, 4-4 FT) in 28 minutes to help guide the Raiders past Dean on the road, 62-58.

 

Chaylyn Martin, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Sr., G - Hartford, Conn.) - Martin scored a career-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds and six steals in just 19 minutes off the bench, helping power the No. 6 nationally-ranked Blue Jays past Regis, 95-54, at home on Saturday in USJ's lone game of the week. Martin was electric on both ends of the floor on Saturday, turning defense into offense, and scoring an efficient 16 points on 5-of-6 (83.3%) shooting from the field. He was also near-perfect from the free-throw line finishing the day 6-of-7 (85.7%) at the charity stripe. Martin's effort helped extend the Blue Jays' winning streak to nine-straight games to start the 2021-22 season as USJ is now one of just three remaining undefeated men's basketball teams in Division III.

 

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GNAC WEEKLY ARCHIVE

WEEK	PLAYER	ROOKIE
1	Miles Gillette, RIV	Gabe Armstead, ANNA
2	Mark Blair, DEAN	Donte Pope, EMM
3	Ralph Grasso, Jr., ANNA	Lucius Brittian, USJ
4	Kevin Nunez, LAS	Gabe Armstead, ANNA (2)
5	Jordan Powell, USJ	D. Pope, EMM (2) / R. Rau, REG
6	Ted Weber, EMM	Donte Pope, EMM
7	Josh Zangerle, JWU	Josh Zangerle, JWU

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –