EDISON, N.J. – For the second consecutive week and the sixth time this season, Brandon Benjamin has been named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week. Benjamin averaged 13.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game last week as the Stags split a conference pair with Iona and Quinnipiac.
 
In Friday's victory at Iona, Benjamin scored 13 points and matched his career high with 15 rebounds. Seven of his caroms came from the offensive glass as the Stags overpowered the Gaels with 21 offensive boards. The double-double was his conference-best 11th of the campaign. Benjamin also dished out a career-best five assists with two blocks and two steals in the road triumph.
 
Benjamin scored 13 points once again on Sunday against Quinnipiac, this time landing just shy of a double-double with nine boards (six offensive). Benjamin added two blocked shots and two steals against the Bobcats.
 
This season, Benjamin is averaging 13.9 points per game and leads the MAAC with 10.3 rebounds per contest. He is second in the nation on the offensive glass, collecting 4.48 per outing. Benjamin also leads the MAAC in field goal percentage (.579) and ranks second in blocked shots (1.57/game).
 
With this past week's effort, Benjamin set a new Fairfield freshman rebounding record with 238 boards and counting. He surpassed Drew Henderson's 1989-90 total of 220 rebounds to begin his Hall of Fame career as a Stag.
 
Benjamin is also eighth – tied with Deng Gai – on Fairfield's rookie scoring list at 320 points. That mark belongs to Hall of Famer Derek Needham, who netted 558 points in his outstanding freshman season in 2009-10. Needham is also the owner of Fairfield's record for Rookie of the Week Awards, taking home 10 in that campaign.
 
This week, the Stags head across town to challenge Sacred Heart on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Action returns to Mahoney Arena on Saturday, Feb. 7 when the Stags host Marist at 7 p.m. in a game that will air live on SNY.