Big Production = Weekly Honors

Triple-Doubles, Double-Doubles & More

(St. Louis, MO) – Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference players provided big production for their teams this week. There was a triple-double, multiple double-doubles and thirty-year breakthroughs.

Big Production – Players of the Week

Little Rock’s Johnathan Lawson produced the twenty-seventh triple-double in OVC history and the twenty-first one of this NCAA season. Lawson scored 12 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and handed out ten assists during a road win at Western Illinois. This week’s OVC ‘Player of the Week’ followed that performance with a twelve-point, seven-rebound, four-assist game at Eastern Illinois. This is Lawson’s second weekly honor.

Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson became the first Braves’ player to record three, thirty-point games in a season since the 1990-91 season when he torched Belmont for 31 points. The sophomore guard becomes the first Valley player to be named ‘Player of the Week’ three times this season.

Newcomers Producing

The OVC’s leading rebounder Jon Carroll sparked Morehead State to a pair of wins and helped the Eagles move within one game of first place. This week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’ recorded a 22-point, ten rebound, double-double during MSU’s win over Tennessee Tech and followed that up with an 18-point, nine rebound performance in the Eagle’s victory over Tennessee State.

Illlinois Chicago’s Ejijah Crawford continues to be one of the Valley’s biggest ‘change agents’. The BYU transfer averaged 15 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds during the Flames’ two victories. This week’s honor is Crawford’s second ‘Newcomer of the Week’ award in the last four weeks. UIC is 10-3 since he joined the lineup. UIC’s win at Drake was its first since 1978.

Freshman Shining

UT Martin remains in sole possession of first place in the OVC race, in part to the second half play of Pedro Santos at Southern Illinois Edwardsville. The 6’7 freshman scored 15 points during the Skyhawks’ come-from-behind win in Edwardsville. He is the third Skyhawk rookie to win the ‘Freshman of the Week’ honor.

Head coach Jeremy Shulman says Santos is truly willing to listen to coaching, and can be an outstanding player.

 

Valparaiso played three games last week, winning two of them and freshman J.T. Pettigrew earned two, double-doubles along the way. The Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ averaged 18 points and eleven boards over the three games and joins teammate Rakim Chaney as two-time recipient of the award.

Do Good