Big Wins and Big Awards in MVC & OVC

(St. Louis, MO) – Perhaps the biggest win of the Jay Spoonhour era has catapulted Eastern Illinois’ Montell Goodwin to a double honor in the Ohio Valley Conference, and a career high scoring performance, has earned Ryan Taylor another award in the Missouri Valley Conference.

This week’s Deaux Vallees awards represent some tremendous performances.

Missouri Valley Conference

Paris Lee was electric in Illinois State’s only game of the week, a nine point win over the Atlantic Ten’s St. Joseph’s. Lee knocked down four, three-pointers on the way to a career high 24 points. The senior guard who is the MVC’s ‘Player of the Week’, handed out four assists and came away with three steals. The Redbirds (6-3) take a two game winning streak to Hawaii as they participate in the Diamond Head Classic.

Two Evansville teammates set career highs in scoring this week. Christian Benzon set the personal mark of 18 points Saturday against Austin Peay, but it was Ryan Taylor who came away with the ‘Newcomer of the Week’ award by scoring a preposterous 38 points against Norfolk State. Taylor inserted his name into the league race for best newcomer, with Missouri State’s Alize Johnson and Loyola’s Aundre Jackson.

Ohio Valley Conference

For the first time in four years, an OVC team defeated a Southeastern Conference foe, as Eastern Illinois defeated Missouri 67-64. Panther guard Montell Goodwin scored 22 points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists for an EIU team that has won two straight and four of their last five games. Goodwin was named the OVC’s ‘Player of the Week’ AND ‘Newcomer of the Week’. Goodwin’s honor gives the Panthers back-to-back winners of the award. Muusa Dama brought home the Newcomer nod last week.

Eastern Illinois has already won as many non-conference games as last season, and Jacksonville State is one win short of their entire season total from last year. Freshman Jacara Cross is one of the reasons for the Gamecock’s improvement. He has been named this week’s ‘Freshman of the Week’. The 6’8 forward averaged 11.7 points during JSU’s three game road trip. Three players have won the award during the first six weeks. Asante Gist of Eastern Kentucky has three awards, Southern Illinois Edwardsville’s Christian Ellis has picked up two.

Do Good