Canisius College freshman Josiah Heath was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon. Heath averaged a double-double in two games last week as the Golden Griffins played road games at UMKC and South Dakota.

In Canisius' meeting with UMKC Dec. 16, the 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward scored 14 points and set a modern-era program record for rebounds in a game by a freshman when he pulled down 18 boards to go with three blocks in the team's 72-67 loss to the Kangaroos. Heath followed that effort by scoring eight points, collecting 15 rebounds and posting three blocked shots in the Griffs' 90-80 overtime win at South Dakota Dec. 18. For the week, Heath averaged 11 points, 16.5 rebounds and three blocks per game, while shooting 50 percent (6-for-12) from the floor and knocking down 10-straight free-throws. He also added two steals to his final stat line in the UMKC game.

The Griffs return to action this Thursday, Dec. 22, when the team plays host to Loyola (Chicago) in the backend of a basketball doubleheader in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Canisius women's team will get the evening started when they host Albany at 5:15 p.m., and the men's game will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast by Time Warner Cable.