Named GNAC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time
Article by: Dan Ryan

It’s been a tough season for the members of Suffolk’s men’s basketball team, but there has been one bright spot: the emergence of a strong core of young players, perhaps none more exemplary than freshman Matt Pepdjonovic.

The Quincy native continued his impressive rookie campaign by being named the GNAC’s Rookie of the Week on Jan. 11, the fourth time the 6’6 center has received the award.

Pepdjonovic has been a force for the Rams this season. When he received the honor, he was leading the GNAC in rebounds, averaging 12.3 boards per game. Also, according to the Suffolk Athletics Department, he was the seventh-leading rebounder in all of Division-III as of Jan. 3.

Pepdjonovic didn’t slow down after receiving the honor either, as he had a monster game against Rivier on Jan. 18, a game the Rams ultimately lost in overtime. Pepdjonovic’s final line for the game read 21 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals to go along with 34 minutes played, the second highest mark on the team.

Not content to just be honored as a rookie, Pepdjonovic was named to the GNAC’s Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 2 after posting a double-double in a win over Salve Regina on Nov. 24.

Pepdjonovic and the rest of the Rams will be back in action on Thursday night when they travel to Rhode Island to face Johnson & Wales.  The Wildcats trumped the Rams by a score of 95-80 in their only other meeting this season back on Dec. 5. The Wildcats are currently seventh in the GNAC, three spots ahead of the Rams.