MVC/OVC Newcomers Rule

Every Weekly Award Goes to First Year Players

(St. Louis, MO) – Newcomers rule the Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley Conference weekly awards. Everyone of this week’s award winners is playing in his first season with his current team. League officials had to decide whether newcomers received ‘Player of the Week’ or ‘Newcomer of the Week’ honors.

Players of the Week

Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade exploded on the scene this week. The 6’5 junior walk on scored 25 points in a win over Bradley and then topped that by scoring 27 during a victory against Missouri State. This week’s MVC ‘Player of the Week’ connected on an incredible 17 of eighteen long distance shots. Lundblade’s nine triples against the Bears was the best Valley performance this year.

Little Rock’s Johnathan Lawson averaged 21.5 points, four rebounds and 3.5 steals during a pair of Trojan victories. This is the 6’7 junior’s second OVC ‘Player of the Week’ award as he continues to rank in the top ten nationally in three-point percentage (45 percent).

Newcomers Rule

Drake’s Bennett Stirtz is the runaway favorite to win the Valley’s ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Newcomer of the Year’ and is this week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The 6’4 junior averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds during the Bulldogs’ two victories. This is Stirtz’s second ‘Newcomer’ award. He’s claimed two ‘Player’ honors. Stirtz leads the Valley in scoring, assists and steals.

Lawson is also the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The Creighton transfer picks up his second ‘Newcomer’ honor. Little Rock’s leading scorer leads the OVC and is fifth nationally playing over thirty-seven minutes per game.

Rookie Winners

 Valparaiso’s All Wright is now the MVC’s leading rookie, claiming his fourth ‘Freshman of the Week’ award. Wright’s career-high, 32 points against Indiana State, is a Valpo rookie record. Teammate Cooper Schwieger is the reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’.

When you think of how newcomers rule, look no further than Lindenwood University. Lion freshman Jadis Jones has now earned nine of thirteen ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards. Jones averaged ten points and seven rebounds as the Lions split their two games. Just one of the thirteen weekly awards has been won by someone outside of St. Charles, Missouri. Jones’ teammates Clayton Jackson (2) and Aly Tounkara claimed thre of the other four.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of Tyler Lundblade, courtesy of belmontbruins.com.