SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ---
Amadou Sidibe earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Co-Rookie of the Year award, while
Maurice Barrow collected the conference's Sixth-Man award as the annual postseason major awards were announced during a news conference at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Sidibe shared the Rookie of the Year award with Manhattan's Shane Richards.
Sidibe played in all but one regular-season game this season, starting 24 of his 30 appearances in his rookie season. The freshman has ranked among the conference leaders in rebounding throughout the season, bringing a 6.0 rebounding average into postseason play. He leads the team and ranks ninth in the MAAC in that category.
The forward posted two double-doubles during the season - 11 points and 11 rebounds against DePaul and 12 points and 11 rebounds versus Loyola. He secured a career-high 13 rebounds against Manhattan on February 12. He earned the MAAC Rookie of the Week on January 25 after he averaged 9.3 points and nine rebounds in a 2-1 week for the Stags. He earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team as well.
Barrow became one of the Stags top reserves this year, averaging 9.3 points per game when he came off the bench. The forward enjoyed his best games as a sixth-man, including a career-high 25 points against Rider on February 1. In fact, all but four of his 14 double-digit scoring performances came as a reserve.
The junior posted two double-doubles during the campaign, sporting 13 points and 10 rebounds at Rider and 25 points and 10 rebounds later in the year against the Broncs. Barrow earned the MAAC Player of the Week honor following the second Rider game, netting eight of 13 field goals attempts and all nine free throws.
The Fairfield University men's basketball team, under Head Coach
Sydney Johnson, will open play in the 2013 MAAC Basketball Championship on Friday night when it battles Saint Peter's University at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
