PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Seton Hall senior Brian Laing (Bronx, N.Y.) was named the BIG EAST Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week on Monday. It is the first time a Seton Hall player has received the honor since Donald Copeland did so on January 30, 2006.
Laing averaged 20.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in a week that saw the Pirates go 3-0, capped by a convincing victory over #23-ranked Virginia on Saturday. All three games were a part of The Philly Hoop Group Classic. On Tuesday at Prudential Center, Laing scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 94-80 victory over Loyola. The six-foot-five senior turned up his game when the Pirates traveled to Philadelphia for the event’s Championship Round. He had 27 points, nine rebounds and four steals in 39 minutes in the Pirates’ 79-75 win over Navy on Friday evening. Laing closed out the tournament with a 25-point, 10-rebound performance against Virginia on Saturday.
Saturday’s victory over #23-ranked Virginia was the program’s first win over a ranked team since they defeated eighth-ranked Pittsburgh on March 3, 2006. The win gave Seton Hall the Championship of the Independence Bracket of The Philly Hoop Group Classic and Laing was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Syracuse’s Donte’ Greene was named Rookie of the Week. Those appearing on the Weekly Honor Roll include: Jerel McNeal of Marquette, Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, Jeff Xavier of Providence, Eugene Lawrence of St. John’s and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova.
Laing and the rest of the Pirates will return to action on Wednesday, November 28 at Princeton University. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
