Stars of the Valleys Winning Big Games

Top Teams Producing Top Players

(St. Louis, MO) – When the teams at the top of the standings clash, something has to give. This weekend Murray State edged Morehead State for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference and Drake defeated Loyola for the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference. Top teams produce the top players.

Ohio Valley Conference

Murray State’s K.J. Williams is making a bid for the OVC ‘Player of the Year‘ award. The 6’10 junior sparked the Racers to three victories including their showdown win over Morehead State. Williams claimed his third ‘Player of the Week‘ award by averaging 20.7 points and eleven rebounds during the team’s trio of wins. He scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Johni Broome and the Eagles.

Teammate Tevin Brown has claimed three weekly awards and last week established a new OVC career three-point basket mark with 320.

UT Martin’s K.J. Simon is making a bid for the OVC ‘Newcomer of the Year‘ award. The 6’3 junior averaged 16.7 points during the Skyhawks’ three games. Simon claimed his league-leading fourth ‘Co-Newcomer of the Week‘ award. Teammates K.K. Curry and Bernie Andre have also claimed a weekly nod.

Joining Simon and grabbing his second newcomer award is Tennessee State forward Kassim Nicholson. The UAB transfer averaged eleven point and 10.3 rebounds for the Tigers.

Austin Peay’s Elijah Hutchins-Everett looks like he wants to give Southern Illinois Edwardsville’s Ray’Sean Taylor a run for his money in the OVC ‘Freshman of the Year‘ race. The 6’11 forward averaged 17 points and nine rebounds and claimed his third ‘Freshman of the Week‘ award. Taylor has grabbed five of the weekly honors and Southeast Missouri’s Phillip Russell has earned four.

Missouri Valley Conference

Bradley’s Rienk Mast has taken the gloves off. The 6’9 forward is continuing his outstanding play. His eight-game double-digit scoring streak has included four games of twenty or more points and last week he averaged 18.5 points and ten rebounds in Bradley’s two wins. The Valley’s ‘Player of the Week‘ is now the league’s leading rebounder in conference-only games and is fifth in scoring.

Drake’s Tucker DeVries is making a strong case to be this season’s ‘Freshman of the Year‘. The 6’7 wing earned his first ‘Newcomer of the Week‘ award by averaging 15 points and 4.5 assists during a huge week for the Bulldogs. Their victory over Loyola pulled them into a tie with Ramblers for first place.

DeVries is the conference’s leading freshman scorer.