After 40-Point Outburst, Rich Kelly Earns Third MAAC Rookie of the Week Honor
2/19/2018 2:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HAMDEN, Conn. - After scoring 40 points at Fairfield on Saturday, which was just one point shy of the Quinnipiac single-game Division I record, freshman guard Rich Kelly (Shelton, Conn.) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time this season, it was announced today by the conference office.
Kelly's 40 points included a tying three-pointer with just 2.1 seconds left in regulation, when he circled all the way under the basket looking for an open teammate, before bringing the ball back out to the top of the key and nailing a step-back three to tie the score at 84-84. That shot gave him 30 points for the game, and he tacked on 10 more in overtime to nearly will the Bobcats to the win, before Fairfield ended up prevailing 102-98.
The 40 points were by far a personal best for the freshman guard, who's previous best had been 22 points in a win against Columbia on Dec. 4, which helped him earn his first MAAC Rookie of the Week Award. In that contest, he also added 10 assists, making him the first player at Quinnipiac to have 20 points and 10 assist in the same game since Rob Monroe against FDU in 2004-05. Monroe is also the Quinnipiac Division I scoring record holder with 41 points against Longwood in that same season.
In addition to falling one shy of the school record for points in a game, Kelly also knocked down seven three-pointers, falling one shy of Quinnipiac Division I record in that category as well. Van Crafton set that mark with eight three-pointers against Sacred Heart back on January 21, 2004.
Kelly and the Bobcats will be back in action on Friday night for their home finale against Saint Peter's at 7 p.m. That game will also be Senior Day for the program's' four seniors (Chaise Daniels, Cameron Young, Greg Tarca, Alain Chigha), who will playing in their final home contest.
Kelly's 40 points included a tying three-pointer with just 2.1 seconds left in regulation, when he circled all the way under the basket looking for an open teammate, before bringing the ball back out to the top of the key and nailing a step-back three to tie the score at 84-84. That shot gave him 30 points for the game, and he tacked on 10 more in overtime to nearly will the Bobcats to the win, before Fairfield ended up prevailing 102-98.
The 40 points were by far a personal best for the freshman guard, who's previous best had been 22 points in a win against Columbia on Dec. 4, which helped him earn his first MAAC Rookie of the Week Award. In that contest, he also added 10 assists, making him the first player at Quinnipiac to have 20 points and 10 assist in the same game since Rob Monroe against FDU in 2004-05. Monroe is also the Quinnipiac Division I scoring record holder with 41 points against Longwood in that same season.
In addition to falling one shy of the school record for points in a game, Kelly also knocked down seven three-pointers, falling one shy of Quinnipiac Division I record in that category as well. Van Crafton set that mark with eight three-pointers against Sacred Heart back on January 21, 2004.
Kelly and the Bobcats will be back in action on Friday night for their home finale against Saint Peter's at 7 p.m. That game will also be Senior Day for the program's' four seniors (Chaise Daniels, Cameron Young, Greg Tarca, Alain Chigha), who will playing in their final home contest.
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