MVC/OVC Men’s Weekly Stars

Morehead’s Minix Dominates

(St. Louis, MO) – Morehead State’s Riley Minix is running away with two Ohio Valley Conference awards and Missouri Valley Conference big men had big weeks. With roughly two-thirds of the conference seasons left, some of the season-ending awards are taking shape.

The two leagues both have significant, ‘top-of-the-standings’ clashes this weekend.

Players of the Week

Riley Minix is making the most of his grad-student year at Morehead State. The 6’7 wing was outstanding last week averaging twenty-six points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists as the first-place Eagles swept their two conference games. This week’s OVC ‘Player of the Week’ is the league’s third leading scorer (18.5 ppg) and rebounder (9.1). This is his third ‘Player’ award.

Indiana State’s Robbie Avila has finally won an MVC ‘Player of the Week’ award. The Sycamore center has been outstanding all year and this week he has finally been honored with a weekly award. Indiana State swept two games and Avila averaged twenty-two points and 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. The 6’10 big man went five for ten from deep.

Weekly Stars – The Newcomers

Minix is the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The Southeastern (Florida) transfer is being honored with his fourth ‘Newcomer’ award. Minix is second in the OVC in field goal percentage (.527) and free throw percentage (.877).

Former Eastern Illinois big man Nick Ellington is surging and is this week’s MVC ‘Newcomer of the Week’. Ellington averaged twenty-three points and 8.5 rebounds during Murray State’s two games. The 6’7 forward recorded his third, double-double of the season.

Murray State coach Steve Prohm says the St. Louis native has shown real growth.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when he came over from Eastern Illinois,” said Prohm. “We weren’t really trying to feature him earlier this year. He’s made a lot of growth within the last month.”

Weekly Stars – The Rookies

Freshman Eddie Ricks made it a sweep of the OVC’s weekly awards for Morehead State. Coming off Preston Spradlin’s bench the 6’7 wing averaged thirteen points and 3.5 rebounds. This is Ricks’ second ‘Freshman of the Week’ award. He claimed the week one honor.

Valparaiso’s Cooper Schwieger has grabbed the MVC’s last two ‘Freshman of the Week’ honors. The 6’9 forward earned his second straight double-double during the Beacons’ first game last week and narrowly missed his third in the second game. For the week, he averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. The Link Year Academy grad has hauled in at least eight rebounds in five straight games.

Valpo coach Roger Powell Jr says Schwieger has been improving all season.

“Cooper Schwieger is becoming a man,” said Powell. “I saw his potential early, but these last three games he’s just been able to take it and get a lot more comfortable.”

This Weekend

Saturday could be a consequential day at the top of the standings of each of the leagues. Indiana State and Drake are tied for the Valley’s top spot with identical 7-1 records. Each of those teams entertain some of the league’s top contenders. The Sycamores host the league’s hottest team in Bradley (6-2) and the Bulldogs entertain the nearly has hot Northern Iowa Panthers (5-3). The Braves have won eight straight and the Panthers have won eight of their last ten games.

The OVC’s two, one-loss teams meet on Saturday. Morehead State (15-5, 6-1) host Western Illinois (12-7, 5-1) in a potential first place battle.

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