Outstanding Performances Lead to Victories
(St. Louis, MO) – Winning brings rewards. Four of this week’s five league wide honors recipients came from teams that went 2-0. Three of the five Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference players averaged over twenty points per game and one player is dominating his designation.
Winning Brings Rewards – Players of the Week
Southern Indiana (8-10, 3-5) swept its two OVC games in a narrow fashion. Junior guard Damoni Harrison scored a season-high 26 points in each of the Screaming Eagle victories. He is USI’s first weekly award winner, claiming the ‘Player of the Week’ designation. Harrison is the OVC’s second leading scorer (18.3 ppg).
Southern Illinois has won three straight games including two last week. The Salukis (8-11, 3-5) defeated Missouri State and Northern Iowa and Kennard Davis averaged 21 points and nine rebounds during the SIU victories. The St. Louis native is the Valley’s ‘Player of the Week’.
Newcomers Sparking Victories
Harrison is also the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. In addition to those two 26-point games, Harrison added 16 rebounds, claiming his first double-double. The Tallahassee Community College transfer is the ninth, different OVC ‘Newcomer’ winner.
Illinois Chicago (12-6, 5-3) defeated Murray State and Valparaiso and Javon Jackson played a key role. The Utah State transfer scored 30 points in a double overtime win over the Racers and 17 during a road win against the Beacons. Jackson was the week one ‘Player of the Week’ and this week claims the ‘Newcomer of the Week’ award. Teammate Sasa Ciani grabbed the honor two weeks ago.
Rookie Performers
Lindenwood’s Jadis Jones is the only player nabbing a weekly award that didn’t come from a two-win team. While the Lions dropped two road games, Jones was earning his sixth ‘Freshman of the Week’ award. He recorded a season-best 21 points against USI and scored 16 against Morehead State. The Lindenwood rookie also averaged 7.5 rebounds and went 8 for 8 from the free throw line against the Eagles.
Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson helped his team to a pair of victories. Now a two-time winner of the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ award, Johnson tallied a career high 17 points during the Braves’ win against Indiana State. Johnson and Valpo’s All Wright are the MVC’s only two multiple rookie weekly winners.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Kennard Davis, courtesy of siusalukis.com.
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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
