Jan. 1, 2006

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass junior forward Stephane Lasme (Libreville, Gabon) was named the Atlantic 10 men's basketball Player of the Week and the UMass Donn Brothers Athlete of Week on Sunday. The nation's third-leading shot blocker averaged 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game last week as UMass advanced to the title game of the Panasonic Holiday Festival. It is his first-career Atlantic 10 honor.

In a 66-49 win over St. Peter's on Dec. 27, Lasme posted career highs of 21 points and 14 rebounds as he also blocked eight shots (second-best total of his career) as UMass swatted away 16 Peacock shots in all. He was 8-14 from the field and 5-6 from the line in that game. The next night against St. John's, Lasme had a game-high 15 points to go with five rebounds and four blocks in a 51-49 loss. For the week, Lasme shot 13-23 (.565) from the field and 10-11 (.909) from the line. He was named to the all-tournament team for his efforts in Madison Square Garden.

The last UMass player to earn Atlantic 10 Player of the Week was Rashaun Freeman, who earned it twice last season after the UConn and George Washington games.