Suffolk

Rick Ace wasted no time making a name for himself as a Suffolk University basketball player. Once he stepped onto the court, everyone from his teammates to his opponents couldn’t help but take notice. 

As a freshman, Ace was the Rams’ leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. His tenacious play at both ends of the court propelled Suffolk to a 12-12 season, including big wins over Colby and Brandeis, the two teams that participated in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III championship contest. 

Due to his remarkable efforts, Ace, a 6-4, 200-pound power forward, was selected by the New England Basketball Coach’s Association as Division III Rookie of the Year, also receiving team Rookie of the Year honors. 

Despite facing back problems, Ace put up 13 points per game as a sophomore. Once healthy, he averaged 19.2 and 21.2 points per game in his junior and senior years, respectively. He was a scoring machine from inside the paint, mostly on putbacks and short jump shots. 

Ace finished his stellar career with 1,680 points, good enough for third on the all-time list, right behind Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Donovan Little (2,033) and Jason Luisi (1,866). 

January 29, 1994  will always be a special date for Ace: that’s when he scored his 1,000th point in a Rams’ uniform. The big moment came with 7:12 left in a home game against Tufts, when he grabbed a rebound and put the ball in off the glass. He scored 28 points that night, becoming the 16th player to score 1,000 points in Suffolk history. 

In his senior season, Ace led the blue and gold in scoring with 508 points. He, and fellow 1,000-point scorer, senior Mike Vieria, served as co-captains and were each named team MVPs. The high-scoring duo was also chosen to play in the New England Division III All-Star game. 

Ace credits James Nelson, head coach, longtime athletic director, and Suffolk Hall of Fame member, for teaching him more than just the game. “He taught me and my teammates life lessons, such as being accountable for our actions, having integrity, and always doing the best you can,” he said. 

A Boston Police Officer for 15 years, Ace lives in Hyde Park with his wife Angela. He has two children—Aleah (22) and Ricky (8).