MAC Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week
Enrique Freeman, Senior, Akron, Forward
Cleveland, Ohio (St. Martin De Porres)
Enrique Freeman had another superb week as he helped lift the Akron Zips to two wins. The senior forward finished shooting over 75% from the field (19-of-25) as he recorded a pair of 20+ point, 10+ rebound performances. Freeman now has seven double-doubles on the season while scoring 20+ points in five games this season. He entered Saturday as just 1-of-9 players in Div. I to average a double-double and was the only player in the MAC to currently record this feat.
 
He started the week with a 21-point, 18 rebound performance against Bradley where he finished shooting 9-of-13 from the field. Freeman kept Akron in the game in the first half as he scored 11 of the Zips' 26 first-half points. His 21 points and 18 rebounds led all players in each category. Freeman also had four blocks, four steals, and two assists against the Braves. Freeman then added a 21-point, 10-rebound effort on the road against Northern Kentucky. Putting together a 10-of-12 (.833) performance from the field, Freeman notched the two biggest points of the game late in the second half. Down by a point, Freeman collected a pass from Ali Ali with three seconds left and unleased a seismic two-handed dunk to push the Zips in front for the 77-76 win. He had one steal and one block against the Norse as well.
 
MAC Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week
Basheer Jihad, Junior, Ball State, Forward  
Detroit, Mich. (North Farmington)
Jihad set his career-high twice, scoring 26 points in a 68-65 win at Detroit Mercy on Wednesday night before upping it to 27 points in Sunday's 83-71 victory over SIUE. The junior hit the go-ahead shot in his hometown Wednesday with 1:07 to play to lead the Cardinals to their first road win of the season. Jihad leads Ball State in scoring (19.3 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) averages and total blocks (10) on the season.