By: Ryan Chichester
Follow @RyanChichester1
Rich Kelly is likely preparing for final exams like many other students on Quinnipiac’s campus , but the men’s basketball freshman just received a solid grade for his performance on the hardwood last week.
The freshman point guard earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors on Monday after averaging 15 points and seven assists in two games for the Bobcats last week.
A career-high 22 points in a thrilling road win against Columbia highlighted Kelly’s successful week. With just over one minute remaining in the second half, Kelly drilled a game-tying three-pointer, his sixth of the game.
He later scored a driving layup with four seconds left to seal the Bobcats’ first road win of the season. In fact, Kelly scored the last eight Quinnipiac points of the game. He added 10 assists in the win at Columbia, also a career-high.
The Shelton, Connecticut native became the first Bobcat to score 20 points and dish out 10 assists in a game since the 2004-05 season.
“He’s a freshman, but he’s our decision maker,” Quinnipiac head coach Baker Dunleavy said of Kelly’s performance. “He’s our leader.”
Dunleavy wasted no time getting his freshman’s feet wet this season, starting the true freshman at point guard in the first game of the season, and every game since.
Kelly struggled with ball security early on, going through a two game stretch with 11 combined turnovers, but has started to show his promise in recent games.
His 22-point performance came after he combined for only 22 points in the three games leading up to the win at Columbia, providing a solid measuring stick for how far he has come in recent weeks.
Kelly is averaging 10.4 points per game and 5.4 assists per game this season, and continues to improve as a distributor and reliable scorer.
Kelly is the first Bobcat to take home a conference award this season.
