LOUDONVILLE, NY – For the conference-leading fifth time this season, Siena Basketball freshman standout Michael Eley has been proclaimed the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native returned from a two-game absence due to illness to average 17.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in a perfect 2-0 weekend for the Saints.
 
With his fifth weekly honor, Eley breaks a tie with Canisius red-shirt freshman Tahj Staveskie for the most MAAC Rookie of the Week awards so far this season. Eley's five MAAC Rookie of the Week honors are the most by a Siena freshman since Jalen Pickett won the honor a league-record 11 times during the 2018-19 season.
 
In his first action back from a two-game layoff, Eley erupted for a career-high 23 points off the bench to lead the Saints to a 72-65 victory at Mount St. Mary's Friday night. He shot 8-14 from the field while adding five rebounds to help Siena complete the regular season series sweep of the Mount. Eley was instrumental in the Saints securing another series sweep Sunday afternoon, scoring 11 points off the pine in a 73-65 win over Marist.
 
Eley continues to pace the Siena second unit, averaging 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 20.3 minutes of action. He has scored in double figures 10 times in 23 games off the bench, highlighted by a pair of 20-point performances.
 
Eley and the Saints return to action Friday when they host Quinnipiac in a nationally televised primetime showdown on ESPNU at 9 p.m. at MVP Arena.