A trio of senior basketball players have placed their names into the record books at Suffolk University during the first half of the 2012-13 seasons. In the past calendar year there have been four players, two men and two women who have reached the 1,000 career point milestones. The three active student-athletes are climbing their way up the all-time leading scoring charts at Suffolk as they continue to collect milestone markers in their distinguished careers in the process.
Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, Mass.) became Suffolk's all-time leading rebounder during the first half of the season as he enters the break with a total of 1,061 boards over four seasons. Pepdjonovic became just the second player in Suffolk's 65-year Men's Basketball program history to score 1,000 career points and collect 1,000 career rebounds in a November 17th game at Roger Williams. In their next contest against Eastern Nazarene College on the 20th of November, Pepdjonovic surpassed the previous mark of 1,016 rebounds held by Christos Tsiotos ('77). Pepdjonovic joined Tsiotos as the only Rams' players to record the grand total in both scoring and rebounding, while he also became just the third player in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) history to reach the feat in both categories. He scored his 1,000th career point last season against Tufts University on January 17th. He is currently 11th all-time in scoring at Suffolk with 1304 career points, averaging 15.5 points per game over 84 career games. His 12.6 rebounds per game is the all-time best average in Suffolk history and currently stands as the top average in GNAC history while he chases the conference's record of total rebounds; 1,192 held by Raymond Askew of Albertus Magnus ('12). Pepdjonovic also holds the Suffolk record with 192 blocked shots which is six shy of the conference mark.
Colin Halpin (Melrose, Mass.) joined teammate Matt Pepdjonovic as he became the 27th player in Suffolk history to score his 1,000th career point on December 1st in a GNAC matchup with St. Joseph's College of Maine. Halpin has been on fire this season as he leads the Rams with an 18 points per game average. He was named GNAC Player of the Week on December 3rd after he reached his milestone and is currently 4th among scorers in the GNAC. He is currently tied for 24th all-time at Suffolk with 1,060 career points averaging 14.5 per game in 73 career games. Halpin also has 400 career rebounds as he looks to become the 16th player in Suffolk history with at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in their career.
Jacqueline Vienneau (Salem, N.H.) became the latest member of the 1,000 career point club for Women's Basketball on December 6th. Vienneau joined former teammate Meghan Black ('12), who recorded the marker last season for the Rams against Emmanuel College in the GNAC Playoffs on February 23rd. In 89 career games Vienneau has scored 1,006 points, collected 401 rebounds and recorded 370 career assists. She is the 11th player to reach the career scoring marker in Suffolk history, while she is just 24 assists shy of Amber Conte's ('02) program record of 394 assists. Vienneau is on pace to become just the third player in GNAC history and first Suffolk player to join the milestone club in all three categories: 1,000 points/500 rebounds/300 assists. In her three and a half seasons at Suffolk, Vienneau has career averages of 11.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game.
Aside from the outstanding individual performances both teams have been off to good starts to the season in the first half.
The Men's Basketball team currently stand at 2-0 in GNAC play with a 4-4 overall record. They'll kick things off in 2013 with a conference matchup at Emmanuel College on January 5th at 1:00pm.
The Women's Basketball team were winners of five of their last six to finish off their first half with a 7-3 mark. They'll open up the New Year with a non-conference matchup against Middlebury College on January 8 at the Regan Gymnasium at 6:00pm.