MVC/OVC Weekly Honors

Week 13 Reveals Some Favorites

(St. Louis, MO) – Ben Sheppard and Phillip Russell lead their respective leagues in scoring and are starting to rack up weekly honors. Belmont’s Sheppard and Southeast Missouri’s Russell are becoming some of the favorites for post season honors. MVC/OVC weekly honors could be predictive of league wide accolades.

Missouri Valley Conference

Sheppard poured in 35 points against arch rival Murray State and averaged 26 points per game during Belmont’s (17-8, 10-4) two games. While the Bruins continue to be tied for first place, Sheppard is now the first Valley player to earn three, ‘Player of the Week‘ awards. The 6’6 senior leads the MVC with a 19.36 scoring average and ranks among league leaders in eight statistical categories.

Indiana State’s Courvoisier McCauley recorded a double-double in one game and averaged 20.5 points during the Sycamore’s sweep of its week’s game. The DePaul transfer leads the Sycamores (16-9, 9-5) and is sixth in the Valley’s scoring race (16.54 ppg) and leads the Trees in rebounding (5.75). This week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘ award is McCauley’s second and he is the only newcomer to claim multiple ‘Newcomer‘ awards.

Ohio Valley Conference

Phillip Russell’s explosive offensive performance has pushed the Southeast Missouri (13-12, 8-4) guard into a solid lead in OVC’s scoring race. The St. Louis native leads Jr Clay (19.2 to 18.7 points per game) atop the OVC’s statistics. Russell scored 37 and 29 points last week and earned his second ‘Player of the Week‘ award. Almost shockingly, the league’s leading scorer is also tied with Clay as the top distributors (5.3 assists per game). Russell and Southern Indiana’s Jacob Polakovich are the OVC’s only multiple weekly award winners.

Lindenwood (9-16, 4-8) swept a home stand last week and Polk State transfer Keenon Cole averaged 17 points and 7.5 rebounds. This week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘ grabbed his second such honor. His clutch free throws were essential during the team’s tight win over UT Martin. Cole is the OVC’s second best three point shooter (.477). Lindenwood is participating in its first OVC season.

During that UT Martin victory, freshman Tommie Williams enjoyed a break out game. The Belleville, Illinois native scored a career-high 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and added four assists. He is this week’s ‘Co-Freshman of the Week‘.

Eastern Illinois’ Cameron Haffner is the other ‘Co-Freshman of the Week‘. The 6’2 guard earned his third rookie honor and the seventh weekly nod for the Eastern Illinois squad. Haffner averaged 11.5 points, six rebounds and four assists.

MVC/OVC weekly honors are a weekly feature of this site.