CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Loyola University Maryland's Andrew Kostecka closed the calendar year with his third Patriot League Player of the Week honor this season, picking up the recognition Monday after he averaged 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in a pair of games for the Greyhounds last week.
 
Kostecka, a nominee for the Lou Henson Award as the top mid-major player in the nation, had two games with 27 or more points and eight-plus rebounds as Loyola closed its regular-season non-conference schedule with an 8-5 record, it's most wins outside of conference play since 2012-2013.
 
Loyola starts its Patriot League slate on Thursday, January 2, when it hosts College of the Holy Cross in a 7 p.m. game at Reitz Arena. Earlier that day, the Loyola women take on the Crusaders in a 12 noon tip-off.
 
The senior guard leads the Patriot League in scoring through the end of non-conference play with 22.3 points per game. He is second in steals per game (2.2), tied for fourth in blocked shots (0.9), 12^th in rebounding (5.8) and 13^th in assists (2.6).
 
He is the only player in NCAA Division I this season with 250 or more points, 25 or more steals and 10 or more blocked shots.
 
On Friday night, he went off for 27 points in a home victory over UMass Lowell, logging his third career double-double with 10 rebounds. He also added five assists, four steals and two blocked shots against the River Hawks.
 
He followed that outing with his sixth career game with 30 or more points on Sunday evening at VCU. Kostecka scored an even 30 to lead all players and also had a game-high of eight rebounds for the Greyhounds.
 
Against the Rams, he moved into 12^th on Loyola's career scoring list (1,465 points), and he is now 40^th in Patriot League history.
 
In addition to his five 30-plus point games, Kostecka now has 28 contests with 20 or higher, and he has seven with 25 or more this season.
 
Monday's award is the seventh of Kostecka's career.