Atupem has come on strong off the bench for Mount St. Mary’s this month and was a key factor last week in victories over FDU and Quinnipiac that pushed the Mountaineers’ win streak to three. Atupem averaged 11.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 spg and shot 62.5 percent from the field as the Mount pulled to within one-half game of fourth place in the NEC standings with a 9-6 conference mark. He opened the week with a career-high 17-point effort (7-11 FG) at FDU on Thursday, including 10 consecutive points to cap a 12-0 first half run that allowed Mount St. Mary’s to take control of the game. Atupem followed with six points on 3-5 shooting as the Mount bested the visiting Bobcats by a 77-70 score on Saturday. The 6’7 forward, who hails from Newport News, VA, hit a key shot in the lane with 2:58 to play that gave the Mountaineers a five-point edge. Atupem, whose brother and teammate Sam was a two-time Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week award winner in 2005-06, has averaged 8.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg and hit 66.7 percent of his shots over the last six contests.