PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- Awards keep rolling in for Pijus Latauskas (Vilnius, Lithuania/Kiski Prep (Pa.)).

For the fourth time this season, Allegheny College's standout freshman has been crowned the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Newcomer of the Week.

In two games last week, the 6-foot-8 forward logged his highest-scoring games of the season against two teams receiving votes in the D3hoops.com national rankings. Latauskas averaged 27.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game in nonconference matchups against Muskingum University and Carnegie Mellon University. He also shot an incredible 72.4% (21-of-29) from the field.

In a 93-82 setback to the Fighting Muskies, Latauskas poured in 26 points while logging season bests in shooting percentage (75.0%), 3-pointers (3), and assists (3). He then guided the Gators to a 72-65 road win over CMU with a season-high 29 points while playing all 40 minutes against the Tartans. Latauskas finished 12-of-17 (70.6%) from the floor with six rebounds and two blocks. His 29 points by an Allegheny freshman since teammate Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) netted 29 in an 84-70 win against Thiel College on December 2, 2022.

On the year, Latauskas leads Gators with 16.8 points per game, is tied for the team lead in blocks (12), and ranks second with 5.3 rebounds per game. He's surpassed the 20-point marker in three of his last four outings and has double-digit points in all but one contest.

Following the holiday break, Latauskas and the rest of the Gators will travel to the campus of Otterbein University for the Smokey Ballenger Classic. Allegheny is slated to face the host Cardinals in the first round on Monday, December 29, at 5 p.m.