Triple Double Performance

(St. Louis, MO) – A triple double sparked this week’s Ohio Valley Conference award winner and an MVP performance created the Missouri Valley Conference honoree. Both of those players are emerging sophomores that are leading their respective teams to outstanding starts.

Ohio Valley Conference

Murray State’s Ja Morant recorded his second career triple-double sparking the Racers to a win over Missouri State. Morant scored 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and distributed 12 assists while recording the OVC’s 18th triple-double. Morant, this week’s ‘Player of the Week‘ leads the nation averaging 10.3 assists per game.

Eastern Illinois’ Josiah Wallace recorded a triple double of his own. He scored double digits and averaged 24 points per game in the Panthers three games. EIU won two of three games at the ‘Battle in the Blue Ridge’ tournament. Wallace, this week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘ scored a career high 31 points in an overtime win.

The ‘Freshman of the Week‘ award was split between two guards. Eastern Kentucky’s Jomaru Brown and Tennessee Tech’s Hunter Vick both reached the 20-point plateau, in their respective teams’ only game of the week.

Missouri Valley Conference

Bradley’s Elijah Childs earned the Cancun Challenge’s MVP award and is this week’s Valley ‘Player of the Week‘. The 6’7 sophomore led the Braves to wins over the Big Ten’s Penn State and over SMU as Bradley won their first in-season tournament in 35 years. Childs averaged 19.5 points per game in Cancun and when the team returned home he recorded a double-double against Chicago State.

Southern Illinois’ Eric McGill led the Salukis in scoring in their two games at the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational. The 6’2 junior averaged 16 points and 5.5 rebounds for the week and is the current ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. SIU split its two games in Sin City.