Winning MTEs & Weekly Awards

OVC/MVC Weekly Honors

(St. Louis, MO) – All three Ohio Valley Conference weekly award winners are claiming at least their second honor. At least two players were a part of their team’s winning MTEs & weekly awards.

During week four of the season, two Missouri Valley Conference teams and one OVC squad were champions of multi-team events and stars on those teams were honored. The outstanding freshman class in the Valley is really crowded and one OVC player is dominating that classification.

Winning MTEs & Weekly Awards

While Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah posted outstanding all-round numbers, his team claimed the UTC Coke Zero Classic. Nkrumah averaged 17 points, five rebounds, five steals and 4.5 assists during the Tigers’ three games. He receives his second OVC ‘Player of the Week’ award helping TSU to three-straight wins. The 6’6 senior ranks fifth nationally in steals per game (3.38).

While Tennessee State neighbor Belmont was claiming the Coconut Hoops Tournament, Tyler Lundblade was named the MVP. Lundblade averaged 19.3 points-per-game and is this week’s MVC ‘Player of the Week’. His award is the first this season for the 8-0 Bruins. He leads the Valley in free-throw percentage, made three-pointers and is third in scoring.

Newcomers Making Their Mark

Southern Indiana had a 2-0 week and Ismail Habib posted some big numbers. The Portland State transfer averaged 21 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists and is the OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. He leads the OVC in scoring (19.0 ppg), three-point baskets (26), minutes played (33.7 per game) and this is his second ‘Newcomer’ award.

Drake split a pair of games with ‘power five’ conference teams and Jalen Quinn was outstanding. The Loyola Chicago transfer scored 20 points during the Bulldogs’ loss to LSU and added 31 in their win over Georgia Tech. He averaged 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists against that top competition and is the Valley’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’. Quinn is the Valley’s second leading scorer (17.5 ppg) and is fifth in assists (3.88).

Profound First-Year Players

Tennessee Martin’s Matas Deniusas is undefeated in nabbing the OVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards. He’s 4-0. UT Martin played just one game and the 6’9 forward tallied 14 points and five rebounds during the Skyhawks’ win over Brescia. He’s amongst the league-leaders in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage and blocked shots.

Four Missouri Valley Conference freshmen rank in the league’s top 16 in scoring. Murray State’s Roman Domon led the Racers last week scoring 40 points in three games. The native of France is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ becoming the third different rookie to claim the weekly award. Ironically, the MVC’s top scoring freshman, Illinois Chicago’s Andy Johnson (14.9 ppg) is yet to earn one of the awards. Valparaiso’s Rakim Chaney (14.0), Illinois State’s Ty’Reek Coleman (13.6) are ranked tenth and eleventh in the league scoring race. Domon (12.1) is sixteenth and Johnson is ninth.

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Editor: Cover photo of Ismail Habib, courtesy of USIScreamingEagles.com.