CACC Men's Basketball Weekly Release - Jan. 21, 2013
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior guard
A.J. Picard (Souderton Area H.S./Skippack, Pa.) of Goldey-Beacom College has been named as the recipient of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's basketball Player of the Week award for the week ending Jan. 20, it has been announced by CACC officials.
It is the second time Picard has been honored with the Player of the Week award in his career. He is the first Lightning player to earn the CACC Player of the Week accolade this season.
In the Lightning's 105-99 loss against CACC South Division rival Chestnut Hill on Tuesday night, Picard exploded for a career-high 38 points, including 25 in the second half, while setting a season high with eight rebounds. He made 10 of 21 shots from the floor, including a 5-for-11 effort from three-point range, while converting a season-high 13 of 14 free throws.
The 38 points are the most scored by a player in the CACC since
Leon Porter of Dominican had a 40-point effort on Feb. 1, 2012 against Post University. In addition, Picard finished the game just one point shy of the Goldey-Beacom single-game record of 39 points, which was set by
Robert Black on Jan. 31, 2004.
With his 38-point effort against the Griffins, Picard posted the 11th-highest single-game scoring mark in NCAA Division II this season.
The only player to start all 17 games this season for the Lightning, Picard is the team's second-leading scorer with a 15.1 average and has scored at least 10 points in eight consecutive games. He also ranks third in the CACC with an .872 free throw percentage.
With 745 career points, Picard has also moved into 12th place on the Lightning's all-time list.
Led by Picard, the Lightning will resume their schedule on Wednesday evening when they visit Philadelphia University to face the Rams in a CACC South Division match-up at the Gallagher Center. Opening tip-off in the first of two meetings this season between the teams is set for 8 p.m.
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