Westfield, MA --- Freshman Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) has been tabbed MASCAC and Co-Worcester Area Basketball Association (WACBA) Player of the Week for his standout efforts in helping lead Worcester State to the MASCAC Tournament Semifinals.
Brooks averaged 14.5 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while connecting on 55 percent of his shots in a 1-1 week. He registered game-highs of 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in a 71-51 triumph over Framingham State before finishing with 10 points, three boards and a trio of rejections in a 66-62 setback to Bridgewater State.
His efforts in the opening round of the MASCAC Tournament were instrumental in pacing the Lancers to their 16th league semifinals appearance in the annual competition started during the 1989-90 season.
Coming off his MASCAC Rookie of the Year selection this past week by the leagues seven head coaches, Brooks finished the year with some solid numbers. He averaged 7.5 points per game and 5.1 boards with seven double-digit outings. Among MASACAC first-year student-athletes he was ranked fourth in points while he led the conference in average caroms.
Overall, Brooks wrapped up the campaign leading the league in total blocks as his field goal percentage was third in the MASCAC (.506). Since blocks were first recorded during the 1984-85 campaign, 53 rejections is the fourth-highest individual sum in program history, just 10 off the school record.
In addition to establishing a new WSU rookie record for blocks in a single campaign, his average (2.04 blocks per game) is tied for 50th in the NCAA Division III, 10th in New England and he is fifth among first-year student-athletes nationally on the list.
He also ended the campaign with his sixth distinction as the MASCAC Rookie of the Week and it marked the third occasion to the WACBA Honor Roll. Brooks shared WACBA Rookie weekly accolades of freshman Marcus Murray (Silver Spring, MD) of Assumption.
Under the direction of 20th year head coach Dave Lindberg, the Lancers shrugged off a slow start and posted an 11-5 record in the second semester for a final slate of 12-14 overall. At 8-4, the Blue and Gold tied for second in the final MASCAC regular season standings.
MASCAC Weekly Men's Basketball Release