FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Marcus Gilbert (Smyrna, Del.), Tyler Nelson (Bradford, Mass.), and Curtis Cobb (Fall River, Mass.) received recognition from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) this afternoon as the conference announced its annual award winners. Gilbert collected a spot on the All-MAAC first team while Nelson earned All-MAAC second team honors. Cobb capped his freshman campaign with a berth to the MAAC All-Rookie team.
“I am very happy for Marcus, Tyler, and Curtis,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “Marcus' leadership as well as his example on the court has been a huge part of our success this season. Tyler continues to develop as a player and his work during the off-season showed itself this year with the ability to score from anywhere on the court. Curtis has evolved into an all-around player and has proven that he is one of the top freshmen in the MAAC. As we have done all year, I know our three guys are most proud to share their individual recognition with their teammates and coaches.”
Gilbert received his accolades after averaging 17.6 points per game which ranks fourth among the MAAC scoring leaders. The senior has already scored more than 1,600 career points and is challenging to become one of the top five scorers in program history. He places second in the Fairfield record book for career three-point field goals, registering just over 240 long-range jumpers. This season, the forward netted 20 or more points in 11 games including three contests that exceeded the 30-point mark. He posted three double-doubles this season, highlighted by his 32 points and 10 rebounds against Iona. Gilbert was an All-MAAC third team selection a year ago and was also named to the Preseason All-MAAC squad.
Nelson, the only Stag to start all 30 games this season, has also been a top-ten scorer in the MAAC scoring leader list, currently standing seventh with 16.1 points per contest. He has ranked among the nation's leaders in free throw percentage, currently placing first in the MAAC and 13th in the country. The guard has connected on 138 of 156 charity tosses, the eighth highest single-season total for made free throws in school history. Nelson has also excelled in assist-to-turnover margin and was ranked nationally for most of the season. Currently, he has dished off 88 assists compared to 49 turnovers in 30 appearances. Nelson is also ranked in the conference for assists (11th at 2.9 apg) and steals (13th at 1.4 spg).
Cobb emerged as one of the top MAAC rookies early in the season and remains one of the top scoring freshmen in the conference with his 11.1 scoring average. The guard ranks in many MAAC statistical categories including scoring (28th), steals (9th at 1.4 spg) and three-point field goal percentage (15th at .364). Cobb earned the MAAC Rookie of the Week on February 1 after he scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Canisius and registered a personal-best five assists with three steals. He tallied 10 or more points in 17 games which included four performances of 20 or more points.
Gilbert is one of the five candidates for the MAAC Player of the Year award along with Iona's A.J. English, Manhattan's Shane Richards, Monmouth's Justin Robinson, and Siena's Brett Bisping. Cobb is one of five student-athletes considered for the MAAC Rookie of the Year award along with Marist's Brian Parker, Monmouth's Micah Seaborn, Saint Peter's Antwon Portley, and Siena's Nico Clareth. Both winners will be announced on Friday, March 4 at 5 pm at the Postseason Awards Show which will air on ESPN3
The Fairfield University men's basketball team enters this week's MAAC tournament in Albany, N.Y. with an 18-12 overall record and a 12-8 MAAC mark. The Stags were ranked as high as third among most improved teams this year, standing at +11 after winning seven games a year ago. Coach Johnson and his fifth-seeded team will take on fourth-seeded Saint Peter's University on Saturday, March 5 at 9:30 pm from the Times Union Center.
