Jan. 10, 2011

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Richmond's Justin Harper was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, while Duquesne's T.J. McConnell was honored as Rookie of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday.

Harper averaged 26.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in two games last week as Richmond opened Atlantic 10 Conference play with victories over Charlotte and La Salle. The senior forward shot 65.5 percent from the floor (19-29) including 53.8 percent (7-13) from long range in helping the Spiders to their best start since the 1987-88 season. Harper opened the week scoring a season-high 27 points in the win over Charlotte and then notched his second double-double in the last four games with 25 points and 10 rebounds in Richmond's win at La Salle on Saturday. The Richmond, Va., was also solid from the free throw line connecting on seven of eight attempts. For the season, Harper is shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 51.3 percent from three-point territory, while leading the Spiders in scoring at 16.8 points per game. The weekly honor is Harper's first of the season and second of his career.

McConnell picked up his second A-10 Rookie of the Week honor after averaging 13.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals in Duquesne's two road wins last week. The true freshman shot 50.0 percent from the floor including 5-of-10 from the three-point arc, while hitting on two of his three free throw attempts. McConnell scored nine of his 11 points, including all three of his three-pointers in the second half of the Dukes' 75-63 win at Saint Joseph's. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native added five assists and three steals in helping Duquesne to its first win at Saint Joseph's since 1992. McConnell followed that performance with 16 points, five assists and four steals in the win at Houston Baptist.

Richmond returns to action this Thursday, January 13 as the Spiders host Rhode Island in a game shown on the CBS College Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. Duquesne returns to A-10 play on Wednesday, January 12 as the Dukes host Saint Louis at 7:00 p.m.

Atlantic 10 Weekly Honor Roll
George Washington's Tony Taylor averaged 24 points, including a career-high 28 in the A-10 opener against La Salle, in leading GW to a perfect 2-0 week to open league play...Andrew Nicholson scored a game-high 34 points and played all 55 minutes in St. Bonaventure's triple overtime victory over Charlotte...Xavier's Jamel McLean averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds as the Musketeers went 1-1 on the road last week...Bill Clark averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds as Duquesne posted back-to-back road wins...Dayton's Chris Wright averaged a double-double for the second straight week - posted 14 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Saint Louis...Temple's Ramone Moore averaged 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two wins for Temple...Rhode Island's Delroy James averaged a double-double of 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds, while connecting on 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, last week...Charlotte's Javarris Barnett recorded his first double-double of the season and second of his career with 20 points and 10 rebounds at St. Bonaventure...La Salle's Cole Stefan registered a career-high 15 points in 18 minutes of action against Richmond on Saturday.

--www.atlantic10.com--