Pierce Named MAC East Player of the Week

BUFFALO, NY – Rodney Pierce was named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on Monday following a pair of dominating performances. The senior guard led the Bulls to wins over Bowling Green and Akron and has helped UB jump out to a 3-0 start in MAC play for the first time since joining the conference in 1998.

Against Bowling Green, Pierce scored 21 points and tied a career high with six assists. He added three rebounds and a pair of steals. In the closing seconds, Pierce drove the lane and kicked out a pass to Sean Smiley for a game-winning three-pointer. It was only the Bulls' second ever win at Anderson Arena.

Against Akron, Pierce matched a career high with 31 points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He also added three assists and tied a career high with four steals. He scored 24 of his points in the final 23 minutes of the game to help the Bulls pull away for the victory.

Pierce has now scored 20 or more points in eight straight games to become the first player in UB's Division I era to accomplish the feat.

He has upped his scoring average to 19.8 points per game - second in the Mid-American Conference.

The Bulls will take their 3-0 conference mark into Kent State on Wednesday night in search of their first ever win at the M.A.C. Center.