WINTHROP, Mass. - Senior guard Tyree Mitchell (East Hartford, Conn.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Week and freshman guard Jonathan Box (Frisco, Texas) was tabbed the GNAC Rookie of the Week, as the nationally-ranked University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team swept the GNAC weekly honors, it was announced Monday afternoon by the conference front office in its sixth weekly report of the 2022-23 season. It marks the first career GNAC weekly honor for both Mitchell and Box and the second and third weekly awards for the undefeated USJ men's basketball team this season. It also marks the first time in the program's brief five-year history that the Blue Jays have earned both the GNAC Player and Rookie of the Week awards in the same week.

OFFICIAL GNAC RELEASE

Mitchell erupted for a career-high 28 points in just 25 minutes of floor time to power the No. 2 Blue Jays to a comfortable 97-54 victory over non-conference opponent Westfield State University (WSU) in their lone game of the week last Monday night in West Hartford. In helping the Blue Jays remain undefeated and improve to 9-0 on the season, Mitchell was nearly perfect shooting the rock in the triumph over the Owls. He connected on 10-of-13 (76.9%) attempts from the field, including 5-of-6 (83.3%) from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. The 28-point outburst marked the most points scored in a game by a USJ player so far this season en route to Mitchell earning his first career GNAC Player of the Week accolade.

Box scored a career-high 10 points in just 10 minutes of action in the 97-54 victory over WSU last Monday night to pickup his first career GNAC Rookie of the Week nod. In just his ninth collegiate contest, the rookie was efficient en route to his first career double digit scoring effort, connecting on 4-of-5 (80.0%) of his shots from the field, including drilling both of his attempts from beyond the arc. He also dished out an assist on the evening.

Mitchell and Box have both been key contributors to a well-balanced USJ offensive attack throughout the 2022-23 campaign. Mitchell, who has started in all nine games, is currently second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.4 points per contest. He is shooting it at a 50.6% clip from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc. Box, who has appeared in all nine games during his rookie season, is currently averaging 3.1 points per game in 8.0 minutes of floor time per game. He has connected at a 48.0% rate from the field and 37.5% mark from three-point range.

UP NEXT

Men's basketball is currently on its longest break of the season until it returns back to the hardwood on Friday, December 30 at nationally-ranked No. 14 WPI for a marquee non-conference contest. Tipoff between the Blue Jays and Engineers is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. inside Harrington Auditorium in Worcester, Mass.