CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Loyola University Maryland's Santi Aldama became the third Greyhounds men's basketball player to be named Patriot League Rookie of the Week this season after he picked up the award Monday following two victories.
 
The Spanish freshman joins his countrymate Golden Dike and Baltimore product Cam Spencer who earned the recognition earlier this season. The Greyhounds are the only Patriot League team with three freshmen honored with the award this season.
 
In two Loyola victories last week – at College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday and at home Saturday against Bucknell University – Aldama averaged 11 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
 
Aldama opened the week with his first collegiate start and finished the game with 11 points and a game-best eight rebounds against the Crusaders. He followed with 11 points and seven boards two days ago against the Bison. In the Bucknell game, he also blocked two shots and had an assist.
 
Since returning February 1 from an injury that cost him the first 22 games of the season, Aldama has scored 11 points in all three of his games. He is also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.
 
Loyola is back in action on Wednesday, February 12, when it travels to Washington, D.C., for a 7 p.m. game at American University.