MAC Announces Men's Basketball Players of the Week
East Division Co-Players of the Week
Justin Turner, Bowling Green
Guard, Redshirt-Sophomore, Detroit, Michigan (Renaissance)
Justin Turner led Bowling Green to a 2-1 week by averaging 20.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Turner, who shot 47.2 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from downtown, scored 20-plus points twice on the week while also posting the second double-double of his career. In a come-from-behind win over Hampton, Turner registered 21 points and four assists. After scoring 11 points the following night at Detroit Mercy to earn Legends Classic All-Tournament Team honors, the native of the Detroit concluded his week with a career performance. In a win over Drexel, Turner recorded 29 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, and a season-high six assists. Turner has scored 20-plus points in four games in 2018-19.
CJ Williamson, Kent State
Guard, Junior, Orlando, Fla.
Williamson has scored in double-figures in his last three games scoring a combined total 47 points. Against Alcorn, Williamson scored a game-high 17 points and added a team-high three steals with three assists while going a perfect 2-of-2 from the Charity stripe. Williamson added 12 points to the Flashes 104 points against Savannah State and brought down a second-best seven rebounds. Williamson's best game was against SEC opponent Vanderbilt and was a big part in taking down the unbeaten Commodores. Williamson scored a career-high 18 points while snagging a career-high four steals. In the game, Williamson shot 5-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-6 from downtown. Williamson went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe and hit two crucial free throws with 2 ticks left in the game that secured Kent State's win over Vanbderbilt. On the season, Williamson is averaging 13.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, and leads the team with 10 steals.
West Division Co-Players of the Week
Levi Bradley, NIU
Wing, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI
NIU senior Levi Bradley was named to the All-Tournament Team as the Huskies won the Men Against Breast Cancer Oakland Hoops Challenge. The Milwaukee, Wis., native averaged 20.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, shooting an incredible 67.6 percent (23-of-37) from the field, including 60 percent (6-of-10) from three-point range and went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line as the Huskies tallied wins over Oral Roberts and Oakland. In the tournament opener against Oral Roberts (Nov. 23), Bradley scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds had four assists and recorded three steals as the Huskies topped the Golden Eagles, 87-66. After scoring nine points against James Madison (Nov. 24), the Huskie senior netted a career-best 30 points, on 13-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three, with five assists and four rebounds as the Huskies defeated host Oakland in the tournament finale (Nov. 25). Bradley’s 13-of-13 ties the best single-game shooting performance in NIU history as Leon Rodgers went 13-of-13 from the field against Rockford on December 6, 2000.
Jaelan Sanford, Toledo
Guard, Senior, Evansville, Ind. (Reitz)
Senior guard Jaelan Sanford earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after leading Toledo to the Gulf Coast Showcase title last week. Sanford averaged a team-high 17.7 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He also shot 50 percent from the field (22-of-44) and 50 percent (6-of-12) from three-point range. The Rockets’ senior co-captain opened the tournament with 18 points and a team-high five assists to help UT roll to a 90-62 blowout win over Florida Gulf Coast. He then tallied 17 points and five rebounds in a 77-64 victory over Sun Belt Conference favorite Louisiana. Sanford closed out the tournament by registering 18 points and a career-high eight rebounds over previously unbeaten UC-Irvine. Thirteen of Sanford’s points vs. the Anteaters came in the second half to help UT rally from a seven-point halftime deficit.
Other Nominees
Loren Cristian Jackson, Akron
Guard, Sophomore, Chicago, Ill.
Loren Cristian Jackson led the Zips at the Cayman Islands Classic and earned All-Tournament Team honors for his efforts. In three games last week, Jackson averaged a career-high 16.3 points per game with 4.3 Assists and 2.3 rebounds. Jackson opened the tournament with a career-best 25-point performance against No. 16 ranked Clemson (L, 72-69). He buried a personal best five 3-pointers (5-of-12, .417) and grabbed a career-high four rebounds with three assists. In the second and third games, he paced the Zips with five assists per game. Jackson added 15 points to his weekly total against Illinois State (L, 73-68) and scored nine points in the win over St. Bonaventure. For the week, Jackson scored 49 points, dished out 13 assists, grabbed seven rebounds and had one steal. He shot 11-of-35 (.314) from the floor, 7-of-24 (.292) from deep, and 20-of-27 (.741) from the free throw line.
K.J. Walton, Ball State
Guard, Junior, Indianapolis, Ind. (Brownsburg HS)
K.J. Walton led Ball State with 20 points, three steals and two blocks in Saturday’s win over Evansville. The junior guard also pulled down a season-high seven rebounds. Walton scored 19 of BSU’s 37 first-half points, helping the Cardinals build a double-digit lead at the break. He finished 8-for-9 from the floor, making his final six shots. The Cardinals were plus-17 when he was on the court. Walton has reached the 20-point mark in each of the past two games and is averaging 14.9 per game for the season.
Jayvon Graves, Buffalo
Guard, Sophomore, Malvern, OH (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Sophomore Jayvon Graves averaged 16.0 points per game this past week as he helped the Bulls ride their win streak to five games to start the season. He had 16 points in each of Buffalo's wins, tying his career high in points from last year. On Wednesday night, Graves added a team-high six assists in the win over Dartmouth. He also made his first appearance of the season on ESPN's Top 10 plays. On Saturday, in the win over Marist, Graves hit four three-pointers and he also tied his career high with three blocked shots. Graves is currently second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game.
Kevin McKay, Central Michigan
Guard, Junior, Warren, Mich. (Warren De La Salle)
Junior guard Kevin McKay continued his torrid start to the 2018-19 season on Sunday, spearheading Central Michigan's 103-75 win over Siena Heights. McKay totaled a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go along with 3 steals, 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 assist. He slashed his way to the basket for numerous layups en route to 18 first half points while shooting 80% (8-for-10) from the field. Through six games, McKay has played a major role in CMU's 5-1 start, tying for the team lead in scoring (18.3 ppg) while ranking first in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and steals (15). He also is second in assists (13) and blocks (8).
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan
Forward, Senior, Baton Rouge, LA
Senior James Thompson IV had another strong week in the Eagles’ two games, leading Eastern Michigan in rebounding in both games, averaging 11 boards, and putting up a season-high 24 points against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 24. The Baton Rouge, La. native went an outstanding 10-of-11 from the floor against the Titans, while also pulling down 14 rebounds. Thompson also led the team with eight boards at Rutgers, Nov. 19.
Bam Bowman, Miami
Forward, Junior, Bowling Green, Ky./Warren Central
In Miami's only contest this week Bowman was a consistent threat down low in leading the 'Hawks to a 30-point win over Army on Saturday. He finished tied for team lead with 18 points, going 9-for-11 from the field. He nearly had a double-double, bringing in eight rebounds. Bowman is shooting .625 overall for the season and is Miami's fourth-leading scorer at 8.5 points per game.
Jason Carter, Ohio
Forward, RS Sophomore, Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe
Redshirt sophomore forward Jason Carter led the Bobcats once again this past week. Carter helped lead the Bobcats to a thrilling 85-82 victory over Austin Peay inside the Convo on Nov. 24. In that game, Carter tied his career high with 25 points, while also grabbing 10 rebounds, giving him his second double-double on the year. Carter also tied a team-high with four assists and two blocks. Carter went 11-of-22 from the field and 3-of-8 from the free throw line and was the main part in the Bobcats getting five defensive stops while down five in overtime to help the Bobcats pull out the victory.
Seth Dugan, Western Michigan
Center, Senior,Otsego, Mich.
Dugan over the week guided the Broncos to a 1-2 record after averaging 20.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Dugan scored in double figures in all three games and had double digit rebounds in two games. Over the three-game stretch, the senior center had two double-doubles, his third and fourth of the year in seven games. At the Emerald Coast Classic over the weekend, Dugan registered back-to-back double-doubles and averaged 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in the two games. In the victory over Southern University on Friday, Dugan led all scorers with 28 points along with 10 rebounds and three blocks. At Cincinnati last Monday, Dugan had 12 points and five rebounds with two blocks. For the week, seven-footer shot 60.5 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point land. Overall, Dugan had 62 points, 27 rebounds, three assists and seven blocks. Overall, Dugan is one of just two players in the MAC to be averaging a double-double.
