URI’s E.C. Mathews and Hassan Martin Named 2nd Team All-Atlantic 10
URI news release…
Four Rhode Island student-athletes were honored by the Atlantic 10 as part of the league’s 2014-15 postseason awards.
E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin were each selected to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, while Jared Terrell was an All-Rookie Team pick, and Gilvydas Biruta was named to the All-Academic team. Additionally, Martin earned a spot on the league’s All-Defensive team.
Matthews finished the regular season ranking fifth in the A-10 in scoring, checking in at 16.6 points per game. The 6-5 guard from Detroit led the Rams in scoring in 16 games and tallied double-digits in the scoring column on 23 occasions. One of 16 players nationally to be placed on the Jerry West Award watch list, Matthews scored 20 or more points eight times this season – the sixth-highest total in the league this season. Matthews was a two-time A-10 Player of the Week (Nov. 24, Jan. 12) and was named to the league’s weekly honor roll on six occasions. He also ranked ninth in the A-10 in 3-pointers made (57 3FG, 2.0 per game).
Martin led the Atlantic 10 in two major statistical categories – field goal percentage (64.0%, 135-211)) and blocked shots (88 total blocks, 3.0 bpg). Through Rhode Island’s 29 games, the 6-7 sophomore averaged 11.9 points (23rd in the league) and 7.7 rebounds (8th). In league play, he averaged 12.1 points, 8.6 boards, and 3.9 blocks while shooting 60.3% from the floor. He was named to the A-10’s weekly honor roll seven times.
The Staten Island, N.Y. native was one of the best defensive players in the country, ranking seventh in Division I in blocked shots (3.0 bpg) and ninth in total blocks (88). He also ranked 77th in defensive rebounding (5.5 dreb/g). Martin blocked a URI record 10 shots versus La Salle on Jan. 22, tied for the second-most nationally in a single-game versus a Division I opponent this season. He is one of two players nationally to register a double-double in points and blocks.
Martin and Matthews are Rhode Island’s first postseason all-conference team honorees since the 2010-11 season (Delroy James, second team).
Terrell started the first 28 games of the regular season, coming off the bench on Senior Day. The 6-3 guard ranked third on the Rams in scoring, checking in at 9.2 points per game. He leads the team – and ranks ninth in the A-10 – in steals, averaging 1.5 swipes per game. His 42 total steals are the most by a Rhody freshman since Zach Marbury in 1999-2000 (44). The Weymouth, Mass. native was a two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week (Feb. 2, Feb. 23) and was named the CBSSports.com/Wayman Tisdale Award National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 3 after averaging 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 steals in a 2-0 week and wins over GW and Fordham. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions and the Rams were 12-1 in those games.
Biruta earned a spot on the league’s All-Academic team for the second consecutive season. A double major – public relations/ writing & rhetoric – the Jonava, Lithuania native has compiled a 3.44 cumulative grade-point average throughout his college career. A Dean’s List honoree, Biruta was recognized at the Feb. 25 game versus Davidson along with 200 other Rhody student-athletes as part of the school’s annual Dean’s List Night. On the court, Biruta earned the start in all 29 games, averaging 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds while shooting 56.4% from the floor – good for fourth in the A-10.
