Weekend Warriors: A-10 standouts, Fri-Sun

College hoops season is officially tipped it up this weekend. Below is a list of our top players in games Friday through Sunday.

FRIDAY

Melvin Johnson (VCU) – It looked like Johnson was in line for a monster night in Annapolis before posting a quite three second half points in VCU’s 16-point win over Tennessee. Regardless, his 20-point first half was enough to get him on our list.

Treveon Graham (VCU) – Typical deadly quiet game for Graham. The VCU senior had an “off night” and still finished with a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Cady Lalanne (UMass) – 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in 24 minutes. That’s big man efficiency.

Trey Davis (UMass) – If you’re going to lose an A-10 First-Teamer like Chaz Williams it certainly helps when a guy like Trey Davis drops 28 points in your home opener the following season. Davis was 6-10 from the field and hit 12 of his 17 free throws. That’s getting to the line.

Maxie Esho (UMass) – The Minutemen need Esho to step up this year and that’s exactly what he did in game one. 21 points and 9 rebounds in a Umass win over Sienna.

Patricio Garino (GW) – 21 points on 8-10 shooting and 4 steals on D in just 24 minutes of play. The star in a really balanced effort (seven players with at least eight points) from the Colonials.

Darrell Davis (Dayton) – Davis came off the bench to post 17 points in his first college game. The freshman played the fourth most minutes on a talented Dayton squad, so certainly a guy to watch in the A-10’s rookie of the year race.

Scoochie Smith (Dayton) – Every time I hear his name I think of Goochie Man songs. Nine points on 50% shooting to go with eight assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Gilvydas Biruta (Rhode Island) – Another double-double guy with 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Pace Setters (literally…that’s who they played). 6-9 shooting, just two fouls and zero turnovers. Nice night.

Hassan Martin (Rhode Island) – Disappointed my man didn’t have more than one block, but I suppose his 21 points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes more than made up for that.

Eric Paschall (Fordham) – Sure, it was against a D11 team, but 31 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes is still 31 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes.

SATURDAY

Derrick Colter (Duquesne) – Fans from around the league should root for Colter all season, as the Duquesne standout hit the court this Saturday after battling cancer this summer. But outside of the sentimental, Colter put on a show against Bluefield State, scoring 26 points in 23 minutes on 8-9 shooting.

Austin McBroom (SLU) – 24 points and a game-winning 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play. The Austin McBroom era begins.

Andell Cumberbatch (St. Bonaventure) – Sure, his 2-12 shooting was horrific, but Cumberbatch managed to score six of his 10 points on seven attempts at the free throw stripe and added 10 rebounds to complete the double-double, but also dished out six assists as well to just one turnover.

Jaylen Adams (St. Bonaventure) – 4-5 from deep for a 16-point total in his first D1 college game. Not too shabby.

Jack Gibbs (Davidson) – Jack Gibbs posted a very Jack Gibbs line of 17 points (7-9 shooting), 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals against Catholic. The competition will gradually increase, first against Campbell followed by a road date at UNC, but still a solid line against any team.

Oskar Michelsen (Davidson) – 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting for the freshman in 19 minutes of play. Can’t ask for much more than that but the Wildcats will need more of the same this week against Campbell and UNC.

SUNDAY

Kethan Savage (GW) – 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in GW’s road win at Rutgers. Welcome back, Mr. Savage.

Joe McDonald (GW) – McDonald and Savage must have had a side competition, trying to post the best line against the Scarlett Knight. McDonald was just shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds but dished four assists and had a game-high three steals.

Maxie Esho (UMass) – Esho is getting it done early in the season. 23 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a win over BC at the Garden.

Hassan Martin (Rhode Island) – 18 points on 8-10 shooting, eight rebounds and two blocks in a win over UMass Lowell. Very Hassan Martin.