Montagnino Earns USBWA National Player of the Week Award
BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott men's basketball graduate forward Marcus Montagnino (Gloucester, Mass.) has been named the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Player of the Week, the organization announced on Tuesday evening.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 11th season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
Montagnino averaged 26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in Endicott's 2-0 stand last week.
He shot 18-31 (58.1%) from the field and was two-for-three from downtown over the two-game stretch.
In Wednesday's 71-62 come-from-behind home-opener victory against MIT, Montagnino led all scorers with 24 points (7-12 FG, 10-12 FT), 11 boards (nine defensive, two offensive), and five dimes on the night.
Then, in Sunday's 76-73 ranked win over No. 4 Tufts, the veteran forward boasted a stat line of 28 points (11-19 FG, 2-3 3PT, 4-7 FT), nine rebounds, four steals and an assist. His offensive play and hustle from the defensive end guided the Gulls to their first win over a ranked opponent since 11/15/18. It was also the program's highest ranked win ever, topping the aforementioned win over No. 5 MIT on 11/15/18.
Montagnino is the second student-athlete in program history to receive USBWA National Player of the Week honors (Keith Brown '20 | 11/21/17; 11/20/18).
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (4-0) welcomes Nichols to MacDonald Gymnasium in the Conference of New England (CNE) opener this Wednesday at 7:30 PM.
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(Photo Credit - Cat Scarantino '26)