PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Xander Rice, Monmouth

Graduate Student | Guard | West Long Branch, N.J. / The Patrick School

Rice averaged 25.5 points per game in his first week in a Monmouth uniform as the Hawks knocked off West Virginia in Morgantown. The guard from West Long Branch poured in 30 points in Monmouth’s 73-65 victory over the Mountaineers on Friday night to earn the program its ninth win over a high-major opponent in King Rice’s tenure as head coach. Rice scored 21 points in Monday’s season-opening setback at George Mason.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Tyler Tejada, Towson

Freshman | Guard | Teaneck, N.J. / Teaneck

Tejada recorded a 13.0 points per game average in a 2-1 week for Towson while shooting 52% from the field and 7-of-9 from three. The guard from North Jersey scored nine points in Monday’s season opener at Colorado before double-figure contributions of 17 points in a win Thursday at Coppin State and 13 along with seven rebounds in Sunday’s victory over Robert Morris

NEWS AND NOTES

ALMOST HEAVEN, CENTRAL JERSEY

Monmouth made a statement in the season’s opening week with a 73-65 victory over West Virginia in Morgantown.

Graduate transfer Xander Rice scored 30 points in his second game playing at Monmouth for his father, King Rice, who defeated a high-major opponent for the ninth time at the helm of the Hawks program.

The victory was the CAA’s first over a school in the Big 12 at the time of the matchup since VCU’s Elite Eight win over Kansas in 2011.

HOME IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR WIN

CAA teams are 13-1 at home to begin the year, including Division I wins over Air Force, American, Boston University, Coppin State, ETSU, Iona,  Navy, and Robert Morris.

30-PIECE SPECIAL

Three CAA players went for 30+ points over the weekend.

Campbell’s Anthony Dell’Orso poured in 35 - a season-high in the league - on Saturday at East Carolina after North Carolina A&T’s Landon Glasper scored 32 at UNCG and Monmouth’s Xander Rice dropped 30 in a win at West Virginia on Friday night.

ROAD RAGE

UNCW led by as many as 27 in Saturday’s 17-point victory at UNC Asheville, while Drexel erased a double-digit deficit to win at Winthrop.

Earlier in the week, Delaware rolled to a 21-point victory over Bucknell in its Monday opener; the Blue Hens’ margin was the largest by a victorious road team nationally on Opening Night and one of just three by double digits. Towson was also a 21-point winner on the road at Coppin State on Thursday and Monmouth led West Virginia for 26 minutes on Friday for the league’s marquee win so far in non-league play.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

CAA teams are slated to play six of this week’s AP Top 25 in addition to four non-conference opponents who are receiving votes in either the AP or coaches poll.

BY ASSOCIATION, THAT’S PRETTY GOOD

Drexel’s Amari Williams was named Preseason Player of the Year after collecting his second straight Defensive Player of the Year honor in March. Williams is the fifth player all-time to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year honors since the award was instituted in 1999. Two of the prior four - Kent Bazemore and Larry Sanders - went on to play in the NBA.

One thing to know about each CAA Men's Basketball team

•         Anthony Dell’Orso’s career-high 35 points for Campbell on Saturday were the most by a CAA player this season.

•         Monday’s AP Top 25 breaks a streak of 17 straight polls with Charleston ranked or receiving votes.

•         Delaware’s 21-point win over Bucknell was the largest in the nation by a road team on Opening Night; the Blue Hens joined Marist (Army) and McNeese State (VCU) as the only road teams to win by double digits.

•         Justin Moore’s putback with 2.1 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner Saturday in a game Drexel erased a 12-point deficit.

•         Elon is 5-1 in home openers in Schar Center’s history after Thursday’s victory over ETSU.

•         Kyrese Mullen enjoyed career-highs in points (25) and rebounds (18) for Hampton Thursday.

•         Jaquan Carlos ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists per game (8.5) and total assists (17) for Hofstra.

•         Monmouth’s win over West Virginia was the program’s ninth over a high-major opponent in King Rice’s tenure.

•         Landon Glasper’s 32 points Friday for North Carolina A&T are the second-most by a CAA player so far this season.

•         UNCW is 2-0 for the first time since 2016-17; that Seahawk squad opened the year 11-1 and went to the NCAA Tournament.

•         Northeastern’s home attendance of 2,336 Monday was its largest since hosting No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 19, 2015.

•         Stony Brook’s 7.5 turnovers per game are the fewest in the CAA.

•         Towson enjoyed a 51-20 margin on the glass Thursday that included more offensive rebounds for the Tigers (20) than defensive boards for Coppin State (15).

•         William & Mary made 18 three-pointers Saturday, which ranked third in a game in program history.