Atkins Named ECC Defensive Player of the Week

Second Time This Season He Has Collected An ECC Weekly Honor

1/3/2023 1:20:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. – Joey Atkins (Watervliet, N.Y.) of the Daemen University men's basketball team has honored by the East Coast Conference for his play last week. Atkins was selected the ECC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for games played Dec. 19--Jan. 1. The announcement of award winners was made via the league's weekly sport report, which was released this afternoon. It marks the second time this season Atkins has been honored by the ECC. He was named the ECC Player of the Week after leading the Wildcats to wins over Georgian Court and Saint Anselm during the season-opening East Region Challenge.

Atkins helped Daemen limit its two opponents to 43-percent shooting (45-106) and 59.5 points over two games. Totaled 15 points, eight rebounds (7 defensive), two blocks and two steals in a six point loss to regionally ranked Pace on Dec. 19 and totaled 28 points, 11 rebounds (9 defensive), four blocks and four steals over the two games.

Atkins is enjoying the most productive season of his collegiate career. After totaling just 131 points and 89 rebounds over his first two seasons (one at Jefferson, one and Daemen), he has already totaled 172 points and 86 rebounds this year. He totaled a career-high 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds en route to his first career double-double during a loss to Queens on Dec. 4. The MVP of the season-opening East Region Challenge, he is second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg), steals (23) and blocks (29).

Daemen stands at 7-6 overall and 1-3 in the ECC. The Wildcats return to conference play Friday (Jan. 6) with a game at the College of Staten Island.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen University men's basketball program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenMBB.

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