INDIANAPOLIS – Cleveland State junior guard Trey Lewis (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield Heights) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Oakland freshman forward Jalen Hayes (Lansing, Mich. / Sexton) has been named the Freshman of the Week, for the week of Jan. 12-18.
Lewis won his first Player of the Week honor this season after leading the Vikings to two road wins last week. The Preseason First-Team All-League selection scored 13 points, tied his season-high with seven rebounds and had three assists in the Vikings’ 55-50 win at Wright State on Wednesday. Lewis clinched the game for Cleveland State completing a three-point play with :24 seconds left in the game to give the Vikings a four-point lead. On Saturday night, Lewis scored a game-high 29 points, connecting on seven three-pointers, as the Vikings won at Youngstown State, 74-61. Lewis scored 16 points in the first half as CSU opened a nine-point halftime lead. After the Penguins closed to within three in the opening minutes of the second half, Lewis hit his next four shots, three of which were three-pointers, as the Vikings went on a 25-10 run to put the game away. Lewis’ 29 points in the game were the most by a Horizon League play last week and his seven three-pointers in the YSU game are the most in a conference game this season.
For the season, Lewis ranks fifth in the League in scoring at 16.5 ppg., and is second in the conference with 56 three-pointers made and an average of 2.8 three-pointers per game.
Cleveland State (11-9, 5-1) is alone in first after opening League play with four of its first six games on the road. The Vikings have one game on the schedule this week, hosting Detroit on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Hayes won his third Freshman of the Week honor this season after helping the Golden Grizzlies to two wins last week. He opened the week with six points and a career-best nine rebounds as Oakland handed preseason favorite Green Bay its first League loss, 70-64. On Sunday, Hayes scored a career-high 17 points, hitting seven-of-nine field goals as Oakland raced past Albion, 83-68.
Oakland is back in action on Thursday when it hosts Milwaukee at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Top Performers for the Week:
Kahlil Felder, Oakland (So., G) - Felder had a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists in Oakland’s 69-66 win over Green Bay on Thursday. It was his second double-double of the season. On Sunday, he set a career-high and tied an O’rena record with 13 assists in the Golden Grizzlies win over Albion.
Vashil Fernandez, Valparaiso (Sr., C) - Fernandez led all players in scoring (14) and rebounds (9) in Valpo’s win over Wright State on Saturday. He added two blocks in the victory. In 4 conference games, he is averaging 10.2 ppg., and 7.6 rpg, while shooting 72.4% from the field.
Jay Harris, UIC (Sr., G) – Harris scored a game-high 22 points and passed out eight assists in the Flames last second loss to Detroit.
Steve McWhorter, Milwaukee (Sr., G) - McWhorter notched his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 assists in Milwaukee’s 77-62 win over Youngstown State. He added four rebounds and two steals in the victory. The 12 assists are the most by a Panther since Jan. 3, 2012.
Corey Petros, Oakland (Sr., C) – Petros averaged 15.5 ppg. on 86.7% shooting last week. He connected on all eight of his field goals in Oakland’s win over Albion.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay (Sr., G) - Sykes scored 18 of his game-high 28 points after halftime as the Phoenix overcame a halftime deficit to win at Detroit. He hit 7-of-10 shots in the second half. He tallied 19 points and five assists at Oakland on Thursday. He has scored in double figures in 31 straight conference games.
Top Freshmen for the Week:
Paris Bass, Detroit (Fr., G/F) – Bass scored a career-high 19 points, to go along with six rebounds and two blocked shots in the Titans 69-68 win over UIC on Wednesday. The win was Detroit's first on road in League play. Bass then finished with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot and a steal in the tough 70-64 loss to Green Bay on Saturday.
Justin Jordan, Milwaukee (Fr., G) – Jordan scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds, passed out two assists and had one steal in UWM’s win over Youngstown State.
Tevonn Walker, Valparaiso (Fr., G) - Walker scored 11 points in Valpo’s win at Wright State on Saturday. He added five rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week:
Nov. 10: Chrishawn Hopkins, Wright State
Nov. 17: Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Nov. 24: Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Dec. 1: Bobby Hain, Youngstown State
Dec. 8: Jay Harris, UIC
Dec. 15: Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Dec. 22: Carrington Love, Green Bay
Dec. 29: Kahlil Felder, Oakland
Jan. 5: Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Jan. 12: Trey Lewis, Cleveland State
Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week:
Nov. 10: Justin Jordan, Milwaukee
Nov. 17: Paris Bass, Detroit
Nov. 24: Paris Bass, Detroit
Dec. 1: Nick Daniels, Oakland
Dec. 8: Grant Benzinger, Wright State
Dec. 15: Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Dec. 22: Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Dec. 29: Tevonn Walker, Valparaiso
Jan. 5: Paris Bass, Detroit
Jan. 12: Jalen Hayes, Oakland
