Four Players Garner Men's Basketball Weekly Honors
MAC Co-East Division Player of the Week
Justin Turner, Bowling Green
Guard, Redshirt-Sophomore, Detroit, Mich. (Renaissance)
Justin Turner, a redshirt-sophomore guard, led Bowling Green to a 2-0 week by averaging 25.0 points, 4.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Turner shot 48.5 percent (17-of-35) from the field, including a 41.6 percent (5-of-12) clip from downtown, while going a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. Turner began the week with a 20-point game in a blowout victory versus Ohio (Jan. 8). In BGSU’s overtime win at Central Michigan (Jan. 12), the Detroit native willed his team to a victory. He dropped 30 points, including 12-straight points in OT. Turner, who leads the league in scoring in MAC games (23.3 PPG), also had six assists in the contest. Turner has scored over 20 points a MAC-best 10 times this season.
Jeremy Harris, Buffalo
Wing, Senior, Greensboro, NC (Paige High School)
Senior Jeremy Harris had a career week for the Bulls as he averaged 25.5 points in the two wins for Buffalo against Toledo and Miami (OH). Harris also added 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. In the 110-80 win over Toledo, Harris had a career high 34 points, including a career best six three pointers. Harris had 21 of those points in the first half, while adding seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Harris followed that up with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists on Saturday in the victory over Miami. The Greensboro, NC native leads the Bulls in scoring in MAC games at 20.0 per game.
MAC Co-West Division Player of the Week
Elijah Minnie, Eastern Michigan
Forward, Redshirt Senior, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Lincoln Park)
Elijah Minnie's offensive explosion helped carry the Eastern Michigan Eagles to a 2-0 week with a thrilling double-overtime win at Ball State, 84-82, and a record-setting drubbing of Kent State, 95-61. Minnie shot 8-of-13 from the floor against the Cardinals, knocking down 6-of-8 from beyond the three-point line for a total of 25 points, including the game-tying three at the end of regulation. The redshirt senior followed that performance with an 8-of-14 showing from the floor that included a 5-of-9 showing from beyond the arc. In total, the forward averaged 23.5 points per game, while also pulling down 7.5 rebounds and swatting 2.5 shots per game.
Minnie is averaging 22.7 points per game since conference play began.
Eugene German, Northern Illinois
Guard, Junior, Gary, Ind. (21st Century Charter)
Eugene German averaged 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists as the Huskies won a pair of games this past week and remain the lone unbeaten team in the MAC West Division. German opened the week with 23 points, on 7-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line, in an 83-70 Huskie victory at Miami (Jan. 8). The junior from Gary, Ind., then scored 27 points, including five three-pointers, in a 73-56 win over Akron (Jan. 12) in NIU’s conference home opener as the Huskies improved to 3-0 in league play. In addition to his 27 points, German added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Zips.
Other Nominees
Larry Austin Jr., Central Michigan
Guard, Senior, Springfield, Ill. (Vanderbilt)
Senior guard Larry Austin Jr. opened Mid-American Conference in style, recording two double-doubles while helping Central Michigan to a 1-1 record. For the week, he averaged 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. On Tuesday, in an thrilling overtime win over Akron, Austin scored 13 points to go along with a season-high 11 assists and six rebounds. He hit the game winning shot, driving to the basket and deftly dropping in a contested layup with just seconds remaining. In a tight overtime loss to Bowling Green on Saturday, Austin shined again, totaling 26 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks, all team-highs. Austin, who has scored in double digits in all 16 games this season, ranks third in the MAC in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. He also ranks first in assists (5.4 apg) and second in steals (2.3 spg).
Phillip Whittington, Kent State
Forward, Junior, Columbus, GA
Philip Whittington helped secure the Flashes first conference win last Tuesday against Western Michigan, 88-73. Whittington eclipsed career-highs with 13 points and 15 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the season. Against Eastern Michigan Whittington scored in double-figures with 13 points, his fifth-straight double-figure game. In the last five games, Philip Whittington is averaging a double-double per game with 13.0 pts and 10.0 rebounds.
Nike Sibande, Miami
Guard, Sophomore, Indianapolis, Ind. (Crispus Attucks)
Sibande was Miami's leading scorer at 17.0 points per game this past week. He finished 10-for-24 from the field, including draining seven 3-pointers in two games. Against Northern Illinois on Tuesday he led the 'Hawks with 16 points. He followed that up with 18 points against 19th-ranked Buffalo on Saturday.
Jason Carter, Ohio
Forwar, RS Sophomore, Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe
Redshirt sophomore Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) led the Ohio mens' basketball team (89-6, 1-2 MAC) this past week, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 44.8 percent (1-of-29) from the field, 70.0 percent (7-of-10) from three-point range and 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from the free throw line. He also averaged a team-high 7.5 rebounds and dished out three assists, had one block and one steal. Against Bowling Green on Jan. 8, Carter scored a game-high 22 points, going 8-of-17 from the field, while hitting a career-high five three-pointers. He also grabbed six boards, dished out on assists and had one steal. Then on Jan. 12 at Ball State, Carter scored 13 points, going 5-of-12 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. He also crabbed a team-high nine rebounds, dished out two assists and had one steal in the 70-52 victory.
Seth Dugan, Western Michigan
Center, Senior, Otsego, Mich. (Otsego)
In two games last week Seth Dugan led the Broncos with 9.0 rebounds per game and ranked second with 16 points per game. Of his total 18 rebounds in the week, eight came on the offensive glass including five against Toledo on Saturday. In each contest, the senior center played over 30 minutes and committed just four fouls combined. Versus Toledo, Dugan registered his sixth double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and recording 12 rebounds. Earlier in the week against Kent State, Dugan scored 16 points and had four rebounds, four assists and one block.
