MAC East Division Co-Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Daeqwon Plowden, Bowling Green, Forward
Junior, Philadelphia, Pa. (Mastery Charter North)
Plowden led Bowling Green to a second-consecutive 2-0 week, as the Falcons earned wins over Western Michigan (Jan. 14) and Northern Illinois (Jan. 18). The Falcons have now won a league-best four games in-a-row. On the week, Plowden shot 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from the floor and 55.5 percent (5-of-9) from downtown. Plowden averaged 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. Plowden began the week with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting in a road win at Western Michigan. The junior had six rebounds in the contest, as well, and went 2-for-3 from deep. Plowden then logged his sixth double-double of the season in a win over Northern Illinois, as he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. In the victory over the Huskies, Plowden connected on 3-of-6 attempts from three-point range.
Jeenathan Williams, Buffalo, Forward
Sophomore, Rochester, NY (Prolific Prep)
Williams had arguably the best week of his career as he averaged 22.0 points in Buffalo's two wins this past week. Williams, who has now scored in double figures in nine straight games, scored a career-high 26 points in UB's win over Ohio on Tuesday. He scored 24 of those points in the second half, including a stretch where he scored 13 straight Buffalo points. Williams also had seven boards against the Bobcats. On Saturday, Williams added a game-high 18 points in the win at Central Michigan, while adding five rebounds. Williams is now third on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game.
MAC West Division Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Tahjai Teague, Ball State, Forward
Senior, Indianapolis, Ind. (Pike)
Teague averaged 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds last week, leading Ball State to a pair of MAC wins and the Cardinals’ first 4-1 league start in eight years. The fifth-year senior scored 23 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds Tuesday at Eastern Michigan, pacing BSU to a 69-52 victory with his sixth double-double of the season. He hit his final nine attempts from the floor to finish 9-for-12, while his 17 rebounds matched the highest total by a MAC player in a league game this year. Teague then led a balanced attack with 14 points to go along with four boards and three blocks in Saturday’s 71-62 home win over Miami. The victory moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the MAC West Division and a share of the overall league lead with Akron and Bowling Green. So far this conference season, Teague ranks among the top 10 in the MAC in scoring (17.2), rebounding (9.6), blocks (1.8), steals (1.4) and field goal percentage (.548).
Other Top Performances
Loren Cristian Jackson, Akron, Guard
Junior, Chicago, Ill. (Victory Rock Prep)
Loren Cristian Jackson recorded a career-high 33 points en route to 50 total points last week, leading the Akron Zips to a 1-1 record. Jackson averaged 25.0 points per game, shooting 52 percent from the floor (16-of-31) which included a 61 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc (11-of-18). He added a 7-of-9 (.778) performance from the charity stripe with 11 assists, five steals and two rebounds. Jackson aided the Zips 72-49 road win against Northern Illinois with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 from deep. He dished out eight assists and three steals while draining his only free throw attempt and grabbing one rebound. Against Toledo, Jackson was red-hot, scoring a career-best 33 points on 64 percent shooting from downtown (7-of-11) and 50 percent from all areas of the floor (10-of-20). He went 6-of-8 (.750) from the free throw line with three assists, two steals and a rebound.
Daeqwon Plowden, Bowling Green, Forward
Junior, Philadelphia, Pa. (Mastery Charter North)
Plowden led Bowling Green to a second-consecutive 2-0 week, as the Falcons earned wins over Western Michigan (Jan. 14) and Northern Illinois (Jan. 18). The Falcons have now won a league-best four games in-a-row. On the week, Plowden shot 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from the floor and 55.5 percent (5-of-9) from downtown. Plowden averaged 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. Plowden began the week with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting in a road win at Western Michigan. The junior had six rebounds in the contest, as well, and went 2-for-3 from deep. Plowden then logged his sixth double-double of the season in a win over Northern Illinois, as he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. In the victory over the Huskies, Plowden connected on 3-of-6 attempts from three-point range.
David DiLeo, Central Michigan, Forward
Senior Iowa City, Iowa (New Hampton School [N.H.])
DiLeo totaled 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last weekend, both above his season averages, in helping Central Michigan to a 1-1 record. On Tuesday, DiLeo played a big role in the Chippewas' claiming their first road win, a 74-67 decision at Toledo, as he scored 16 points, all in the first half, to allow CMU to remain close and put it position to make a second half run. On Saturday, versus Buffalo, DiLeo headlined the Chippewas, just missing his 12th career double-double. He scored a team-high 17 points and collected 9 rebounds and two steals against the Bulls. DiLeo is just 8 3-pointers shy of breaking the CMU career mark and moving into 3rd place on the MAC list.
Noah Morgan, Eastern Michigan , Guard/Forward
Junior, Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Mount Vernon)
Morgan led the Eagles averaging 18.5 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists despite dropping both Mid-American Conference matchups last week. The Mount Vernon, N.Y. native led the team with a 46.4 percent field goal percentage (13-of-28) and drained three triples. Morgan notched a career-high 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting in a heartbreaker 60-58 loss to Ohio, Jan. 18. He led the Eagles in the second half against the Bobcats with 18-straight points, and pulled down five rebounds in 36 minutes of play. Morgan posted another double-digit scoring performance on Tuesday, Jan. 14 with 14 points against Ball State. The junior went 4-of-9 from the field and led the Green and White with two 3-pointers in 34 minutes of action. Morgan leads the team averaging 13.4 points per game in MAC play, and has scored in double-figures in 10-of-18 games this season, including the last three.
Anthony Roberts, Kent State, Guard
Sophomore, Detroit, Mich.
Roberts had his seventh-straight double-figure scoring game after scoring 19 points in both games this week. Against Miami, Roberts added 19 points and two rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and connecting on 3-of-6 from three-point range. In the game against Western Michigan, Roberts led the team with his 19 points on 8-of-12 in 27 minutes. On the season, Roberts is averaging 13.3 points per game and has scored in double-digits in 15 games.
Nike Sibande, Miami, Guard
Junior, Indianapolis, Ind. (Crispus Attucks)
Sibande did a little bit of everything last week, averaging 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. He finished with a double-double in both games. Against Kent State, Sibande led Miami with 25 points and brought home 10 rebounds. He was 8-for-14 from the field and hit two 3-pointers. Against Ball State on Saturday, Sibande scored 16 points and had another 10 rebounds. For the week he shot 53.6 percent and also had four assists and two steals.
Eugene German, NIU, Guard
Senior Gary, Ind. (21st Century Charter)
German averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the week. German opened the week with 17 points and eight rebounds against Akron (Jan. 14), he then recorded 19 points, four rebounds and three assists at Bowling Green (Jan. 18). German, who leads the MAC in scoring, has 1,932 career points and is just 64 away from T.J. Lux (1995-2000) for the NIU career record.
Ben Vander Plas, Ohio, Forward
RS Sophomore, Ripon, Wis. (Ripon HS)
Vander Plas led the Bobcats on the court this pas week. Overall, Vander Plas averaged 25.0 points per game, while going 19-of-34 (.559) from the field, 6-of-12 (.500) from three-point range and 6-of-8 (.750) from the free throw line. He also averaged 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while averaging 37.5 minutes on the court. On Jan. 14 at Buffalo, Vander Plas put together the best game of his career to date. Vander Plas scored a career-high 28 points, going 11-of-20 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range and was 2-of-2 at the line. He grabbed five rebounds and had two blocks. Then on Jan. 18 at Eastern Michigan, Vander Plas was a force once again, scoring 22 points, going 8-of-14 from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point range and was 4-of-6 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out three assists in the 60-58 road victory.
Marreon Jackson, Toledo, Guard
Junior, Cleveland, Ohio (Garfield Heights)
Jackson averaged a team-high 26.5 ppg and 5.5 apg to go along with a 47.6 three-point FG (10-of-21), 90.0 free-throw percentage (9-of-10), 2.5 rpg and 1.5 spg in two games last week. Jackson erupted for a career-high 36 points to help Toledo to a 99-89 victory over Akron, a win that handed the Zips their first league and home defeat. Jackson scored 14 points in a 2:15 stretch that helped the Rockets rally from an 11-point second-half deficit. He finished the day 11-of-20 from the field, 7-of-12 from three-point range and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Jackson also paced Toledo with 17 points and six assists against Central Michigan on Tuesday night. Jackson’s career-high outburst came 11 days after scoring a career-high 32 points at Kent State. The Cleveland, Ohio native ranks among the Top Five in the MAC with 18.2 ppg (2nd), 6.1 apg (2nd), 2.1 spg (T-2nd) and a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (4th).
Michael Flowers, Western Michigan, Guard
Junior, Southfield, Mich. (Southfield A&T)
Flowers led Western Michigan to a split against MAC East foes, averaging 23 points and 3.5 assists in 35.5 minutes played. For the week Flowers shot a stellar 47.2 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. On Tuesday against Bowling Green, Flowers posted a game-high 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field. It was Flowers’ 16th career 20-point game and the fourth this season. On Saturday against Kent State, Flowers led the Broncos with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field to go along with two three-pointers and four assists. Flowers has now scored in double figures in 22 straight games dating back to last season and has played over 30 minutes in each of the past five contests. Flowers ranks third in the MAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game.
