International Stars

(St. Louis, MO) – International players have taken over the top spots in the ‘Valleys This Week’. Two of our three players of the week are from outside the USA.

Missouri Valley Conference

Egidijus Mockevicius is making a strong play for the Larry Bird Trophy as the player of the year in the MVC as the Evansville senior earned his fifth ‘Player of the Week’ award. The 6’10 Lithuanian averaged 17 points and 16 rebounds in two victorious games. For the third time this year Mockevicius grabbed at least 20 rebounds in a game and now has 15 double-doubles (points and rebounds). He leads the nation in rebounding while sparking the Purple Aces to a 16-3 record.

The other 16-win team in the Valley, Southern Illinois won two games last week and needed the boost they received from junior guard Leo Vincent. The Harcum College transfer jumped off Barry Hinson’s bench to score a career high 24 points in the Salukis’ win over Illinois State. Vincent also scored 12 points against Drake and is this week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’.

Ohio Valley Conference

Southern Illinois Edwardsville earned its first conference win of the season and nearly swept their two games last week. The Cougars lost in overtime to Morehead State and defeated Eastern Kentucky. SIUE junior guard Burak Eslik recorded the OVC’s highest scoring game of the season (40 points) in the loss and added 21 points in the win.

The 6’4 junior from Istanbul, Turkey doubled his awards this week, earning both ‘Player and Newcomer of the Week’ honors. It is Eslik’s second weekly newcomer selection.

The ‘Nick Mayo’ award went to Nick Mayo. Eastern Kentucky’s prize freshman averaged 25.5 points during the Colonel’s two defeats. Mayo leads all OVC freshmen in scoring (13.7 ppg) and has brought home the weekly ‘Freshman of the Week’ award six times.

Great Lakes Valley

Kansas City isn’t international, but Rockhurst’s Dominique Washington is this week’s ‘Player of the Week’. The senior center scored 19 and 25 points in the two Hawks’ road wins and grabbed eight and then 11 rebounds. Rockhurst has now won three straight games.

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