Fordham’s Chris Gaston was named A-10 Co-Player of the Week, it was announced Monday.
Gaston scored a career-high 35 points and added 15 rebounds for the Rams in an 81-70 win over Texas State last Thursday. It was Gaston’s ninth double-double this season and the 45th of his career.
The junior forward leads the A-10 in rebounding, averaging 10.7 per game, and is seventh in the conference in scoring (16.1 ppg).
Richmond’s Darien Brothers was also named a Co-Player of the Week.
Gaston’s 35 points represent the highest total by a Fordham player since Michael Haynes scored 36 against St. Bonaventure in 2004.
This is the fifth time in Gaston’s career he has been acknowledged for his performance. In his freshman season, Gaston was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on four occasions.
Gaston said he has been his harshest critic this year.
“I started off the season expecting more of myself because of all of the work I put in this summer,” Gaston said. “These last three games I pushed myself even further with extra workouts and going into the gym on my own. I knew I was going to get out of my slump. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.”
Seemingly unstoppable against Texas State, Gaston was able to shoulder the load and feed off the confidence his teammates instilled in him.
“My teammates put a ton of faith in me against Texas State,” Gaston said. “I fed off of that and made sure I made the best of the scoring opportunities that were given.”
Fordham’s star player isn’t going to rest on his laurels however, with Georgia Tech coming into Rose Hill Gym for a nationally televised contest.
“Now I have to keep living in the gym and take my game to the next level,” Gaston said. “We’re just going to keep grinding now and keep getting wins.”