Newcomers Shine During Week Two Awards

No Returners Honored This Week

(St. Louis, MO) – Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference newcomers are taking all of the weekly awards. Week two awards went to two freshmen and three transfers. There just may a changing of the guard in the MVC and OVC!

Week Two Awards – OVC

UT Martin won two of three games last week including an upset of Eastern Kentucky and Jacob Crews was a double-double machine. The 6’8 wing averaged 19 points and twelve rebounds during the Skyhawks’ three games, recording a pair of double-doubles. The OVC’s second leading rebounder (10.0 per game) also averages 15 points-per-game.

Not only is Crews the ‘Player of the Week‘, but the Daytona State transfer is this week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. Crews has grabbed at least nine rebounds in four of UTM’s five games.

Lindenwood’s Colin Ruffin is the OVC’s ‘Freshman of the Week‘. The 6’4 guard’s numbers weren’t explosive but he was a vital part of an extremely successful week for the Lions. LU went 3-1 has Ruffin hit the game-winner against Omaha and scored ten points.

Week Two Awards – MVC

Illinois Chicago’s Isaiah Rivera is a newcomer, but he isn’t the Valley’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. The 6’5 guard is the ‘Player of the Week‘ for averaging 18 points and three assists during the Flames’ huge win over Loyola Chicago and its victory over Aurora. A Colorado State transfer, Rivera scored 23 points during UIC’s transformative win over the Ramblers.

John A. Logan transfer Isaiah Stafford is the ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. Valparaiso’s 6’2 guard scored 48 points during the Beacons’ two games. He was dazzling in dropping 30 points on the Fighting Illini and added 18 during a win over Green Bay.

Drake’s Kevin Overton tallied 41 points during the Bulldogs two victories. The ‘Freshman of the Week‘ converted eight long distance attempts and is Drake’s third leading scorer (16.8 ppg).

The women’s week two awards were announced earlier.