POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Freshman guard Jao Ituka of the Marist men's basketball team was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday.
 
This is the first time a Marist men's basketball player has earned both honors in the same week since Brian Parker on Dec. 21, 2015. It is the first time a MAAC men's basketball player has won both awards in the same week since Siena's Jalen Pickett on Dec. 3, 2018.
 
This is the third straight week Ituka has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week.
 
Ituka scored a career-high 34 points in Marist's come-from-behind overtime win at Boston University, the Patriot League preseason favorite, on Saturday in the Red Foxes' lone game this past week. Ituka shot 11-for-14 from the field, 1-for-1 from three-point range, and 11-for-13 from the free-throw line. He also contributed three rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot. Ituka scored 12 points in the first half, 16 in the second half, and six in overtime. Marist had trailed by as much as 11 in the second half, but Ituka's game-tying three-pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, Ituka went 4-for-4 from the the free-throw line in the final 45 seconds to seal the victory for the Red Foxes.

Ituka's 34 points were the most by a Red Fox since Khallid Hart had 36 at Rider on Jan. 14, 2016.
 
On the season, Ituka ranks second on the Red Foxes with 13.1 points per game. He is shooting .602 from the field and .750 from the free-throw line. In his last three games, he is averaging 22.0 points while shooting .727 (24-for-33) from the field.
 
The Marist men's basketball team (5-5) returns to action on Wednesday, when the Red Foxes host Bethune Cookman in their final non-conference game of the season. Tip-off at McCann Arena is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.