POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Freshman guard Jao Ituka of the Marist men's basketball team was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday. It was the eighth time Ituka earned a MAAC Rookie of the Week honor this season, which broke Khallid Hart's program record of seven set in the 2013-14 season.
 
Ituka tied for the game high with 15 points as he helped lead Marist to its sixth straight win, 74-56 over Manhattan on Friday in the Red Foxes' only game of the week. Ituka shot 4-for-5 from the field, and also contributed an assist and a steal. After the Jaspers had cut their deficit to three, Ituka scored 11 of his 15 points in the final six minutes to help the Red Foxes pull away. This included a stretch where he scored seven consecutive Marist points, all from the free throw line.
 
Ituka was honored by the MAAC for the third straight week. He shared this week's award with Fairfield's TJ Long.
 
On the season, Ituka is fourth in the MAAC in scoring at 15.2 points per game, and seventh in field goal percentage at .531.
 
Marist is currently enjoying its longest winning streak in 15 years. The Red Foxes (14-13 overall, 9-9 MAAC) return to action on Thursday at Canisius. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. One more win will clinch a first-round bye for the Red Foxes in the 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's Basketball Championship, which will take place from March 8-12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.