Men's Basketball

Veras, Reaves Awarded Men's Basketball Weekly Accolades

LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Men's Basketball Players of the Week on Monday, as Centenary University's Billy Veras earned Player of the Week and Marymount's Xavier Reaves grabbed Defensive Player of the Week for the third straight week. 

Player of the Week:
Name: Billy Veras
School: Centenary University
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
Hometown: Fort Lee, NJ
High School: Fort Lee
Brief Outlook of Week: Veras powered the Cyclones to a win in their only game of the week. He poured in a game-high 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds. It was his second straight double-double and fourth time this season he has scored 20+ points in a game. Veras shot 64.7% (11-for-17) from the field and hit 3-of-5 chances from the foul line. He pulled down nine of his 11 rebounds on the defensive end. He added two assists, two blocks and a steal.


Defensive Player of the Week:
Name: Xavier Reaves
School: Marymount University
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Burtonsville, MD
High School: Paint Branch
Brief Outlook of Week: Reaves led the Saints to a 1-1 showing last week with a win over Catholic University. The junior totaled nine steals, 12 rebounds and one block across both contests. Reaves also averaged 17.0 points per game. In MU's 74-69 win over Catholic, Reaves dominated both ends of the floor with 25 points and seven boards. He registered five steals and a block to help down the Cardinals. In a tough matchup against the University of Mary Washington, the junior supplied nine points and swiped the ball four times. On the season, Reaves is now averaging 4.12 steals per game which ranks second in the nation.


Weekly Honor Roll:
Donaven Spencer (Gwynedd Mercy / Grad): Gwynedd Mercy University (5-2) emerged from a slow start to pace Goucher College (2-4) to a 25-19 halftime spread and eventually a 62-53 final spread thanks to a 13-point, 10 rebound double-double from Spencer. The graduate forward also recorded four assists and a steal.

Manny Clark (Gwynedd Mercy / Sophomore): Gwynedd Mercy University (5-2) emerged from a slow start to pace Goucher College (2-4) to a 25-19 halftime spread. The Griffins maintained their advantage until the Gophers assumed their first lead of the game, 37-35, with 10:29 remaining in the second half. From there, sophomore guard Manny Clark (Pottsgrove, Pa.) was the difference maker, scoring five straight points - an and-one (42-40, 7:38) and a strip-and-score (44-40, 7:24) - to spur Gwynedd Mercy University for an 18-13 closing run that also included important three-point baskets from senior forward Shane Ford (Blue Bell, Pa.) (49-44, 5:51) and senior guard Jaye'Lyn Peebles (Chester, Pa.) (54-47, 3:55) and plenty of closing free throws for the Griffins; 62-53. Clark finished the affair with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Previous Players of the Week:
Tyler Norwood, Neumann & Donaven Spencer, Gwynedd Mercy, 11/8/21
Billy Veras, Centenary & Ryan Byras, Cabrini - 11/15/21
Chris LaBelle, Centenary & Xavier Reaves, Marymount - 11/22/21
Jalen Vaughns, Neumann & Xavier Reaves, Marymount - 11/29/21