GORHAM, Maine   -  Freshman Gabe Lash (Waldoboro, Maine/Medomak Valley) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's basketball team has been named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week. Lash is earning the weekly award for the second time this season and joins teammate Carter Galley (Kents Hills, Maine/Oceanside) as a two-time conference rookie of the week.  
 
Lash averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game in a 2-0 week in Little East Conference action for the Huskies with wins over Plymouth State (120-100) and UMass Dartmouth (89-80). Shooting 50.0 percent (7-for-14) from the field, Lash was 11-for-12 from the free throw line for USM in the two wins.  In a 120-100 win over Plymouth State, Lash had 17 points, 7 rebounds, four assists shooting 8-for-8 from the FT line, and 4-for-5 from the field.  On the road at UMass Dartmouth, Lash had nine points, nine rebounds, an assist, steal and blocked shot.
 
Playing and starting in 24 games in his rookie season, Lash is averaging 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Huskies, and is shooting a solid 41.7 percent (68-for-263) from the field and is shooting at a 34.5 percent clip (19-for-55) from three-point range. Lash has scored in double-figures in 12 games and has a season-high 21 points in a 101-86 win over Rhode Island College earlier this season. 
 
Southern Maine (15-9 overall, 10-5 Little East) hosts VTSU-Castleton on Saturday (2:00 pm) in its regular season finale.  The Huskies are 9-1 at home at Hill Gym this season, and are currently in third place in the 2025-2026 Little East Conference regular season standings.
 
2025-2026 University of Southern Maine Men's Basketball Weekly Honors
 
Thomas Whelan                                                                                  MMBCWA Player of the Week, Dec. 15
                                                                                                        Little East Player of the Week, Jan. 12
                                                                                                        MMBCWA Player of the Week, Jan. 20
 
Carter Galley                                                                                      MMBCWA Rookie of the Week, Dec. 1
                                                                                                        Little East Rookie of the Week, Jan. 12
                                                                                                        Little East Rookie of the Week, Jan. 19
                                                                                                        MMBCWA Rookie of the Week, Jan. 20
                                                                                                        MMBCWA Rookie of the Week, Feb. 7
 
Gabe Lash                                                                                         Little East Rookie of the Week, Jan. 26
                                                                                                        Little East Rookie of the Week, Feb. 16
           
 
-cac-