OVC/MVC Stirring Performances

Winning Games and Posting Numbers

(St. Louis, MO) – Weekly awards in the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conferences were given to players delivering stirring performances. As league races heat up and year end player awards come into view, the weekly awards are adding up for several players.

Players of the Week

Eastern Illinois had a break through week, winning three games and forward Kooper Jacobi was the backbone to it all. The 6’7 forward continues to lead the Ohio Valley Conference in rebounds and this week averaged 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Jacobi is the tenth different OVC player to be named ‘Player of the Week’.

Illinois State sophomore Chase Walker posted back-to-back twenty-point games and handed out ten assists. The 6’9 forward averaged 23 points, five rebounds and five assists and is the Valley ‘Player of the Week’ for the second time this season. During league contests, Walker is the league’s ninth leading scorer and third in field goal percentage.

Stirring Performances by Newcomers

UT Martin’s Josue Grullon averaged 22.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. He scored a career high 31 points against Southeast Missouri and a then a career best 14 rebounds against Little Rock. He’s the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’ for the second time, and it’s the third time a Skyhawk claimed the ‘Newcomer’ honor.

Drake’s Bennett Stirtz is the favorite to win the league’s ‘Player of the Year’ award and this week he is its ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The Northwest Missouri transfer averaged 25 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds during Drake’s two-win week. Stirtz leads the Valley in scoring, assists and steals.

Rookies

Jadis Jones continues to dominate the OVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards. The Lindenwood rookie earned his eighth ‘Freshman’ honor. The New Madrid, Missouri native averaged 10.5 points and three rebounds during the Lions’ two games. With five weeks left, Jones is three weekly awards away from tying the league’s all-time record.

Evansville’s Gabriel Pozzato is fully healthy and Valley fans and teams are seeing his full array of talents. The native Italian scored 51 points during the Purple Aces’ two victories. Pozzato won the season’s first ‘Freshman of the Week’ honor and this week claims his second in-a-row and third overall. Pozzato averages 16.2 points per game.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of Kooper Jacoby, courtesy of eiupanthers.com.