INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald led the Norse to an unbeaten week, averaging 22.7 points and seven rebounds, and has been named Horizon League Player of the Week. UIC’s Tarkus Ferguson and Northern Kentucky’s Carson Williams share the final Freshman of the Week honor.
Player of the Week | Drew McDonald | Northern Kentucky | Soph. | Forward | Cold Springs, Ky.
McDonald led Northern Kentucky to a 3-0 week and the No. 4 seed at the Little Caesars Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship with wins over three of the top-six seeds in the league tournament: Valparaiso, Wright State and UIC.
He averaged 22.7 ppg, scoring at least 18 or more points in all three games. He help Northern Kentucky to 21 wins in its first season eligible for the NCAA tournament. McDonald shot 61.5 percent from the floor and 94.4 percent at the line.
This is McDonald’s third Player of the Week award of the season (Dec. 5, Jan. 9).
2016-17 Horizon League Players of the Week
Nov. 14 – Mark Alstork, Wright State
Nov. 21 – Mark Alstork, Wright State
Nov. 28 – Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Dec. 5 – Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky | Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Dec. 12 – Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky
Dec. 19 – Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Dec. 26 – Tai Odiase, UIC
Jan. 2 – Charles Cooper, Green Bay
Jan. 9 – Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky
Jan. 16 – Jaleel Hogan, Detroit
Jan. 23 – Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Jan. 30 – Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Feb. 6 – Isaiah Brock, Oakland
Feb. 13 – Cameron Morse, Youngstown State
Feb. 20 – Martez Walker, Oakland
Feb. 27 – Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky
Co-Freshman of the Week | Tarkus Ferguson | UIC | Guard | Belleville, Ill.
Ferguson averaged 12.3 points, a team-high 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game over UIC’s three contests. In the first game of the week, the guard narrowly missed out on a triple-double for the second time in his young career as he registered 11 points, nine rebounds and a game-high eight assists against Green Bay.
He also blocked a career-high three shots against the Phoenix. On Friday at Northern Kentucky, Ferguson did record his fifth double-double in Horizon League play behind 22 points and 10 rebounds. He also added seven assists (to one turnover) and a career-high four steals against the Norse.
He shot over 64 percent from the field Friday night with three 3-pointers. On Sunday at Wright State, Ferguson tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
This is Ferguson’s first Freshman of the Week honor of the season and is the fourth UIC player to win the award - the first time in Horizon League history that four players from one team have earned Freshman of the Year honors.
Co-Freshman of the Week | Carson Williams | Northern Kentucky | Forward | Owenton, Ky.
Williams saved his best performance of the week for league-leading Valpo, playing a pivotal role in the critical conference win, dropping 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 7-of-7 at the line to cap off a perfect week for the Norse. He shot nearly 60 percent for the week, and hit 10-of-11 averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds per game, helping Northern Kentucky to a 3-0 week and the No. 4 seed at the Little Caesars Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship.
This is Williams’ fourth Freshman of the Week honor of the year.
2016-17 Horizon League Freshman of the Week
Nov. 14 – Carson Williams, Northern Kentucky
Nov. 21 – Marcus Ottey, UIC
Nov. 28 – Isaiah Brock, Oakland
Dec. 5 – Corey Allen, Detroit Mercy
Dec. 12 – Isaiah Brock, Oakland
Dec. 19 – Carson Williams, Northern Kentucky
Dec. 26 – Godwin Boahen, UIC
Jan. 2 – Braun Hartfield, Youngstown State
Jan. 9 – Mason Faulkner, Northern Kentucky
Jan. 16 – Corey Allen, Detroit Mercy
Jan. 23 – Bryce Nze, Milwaukee
Jan. 30 – Corey Allen, Detroit Mercy
Feb. 6 – Isaiah Brock, Oakland
Feb. 13 – Dominique Matthews, UIC
Feb. 20 – Carson Williams, Northern Kentucky
Feb. 27 – Tarkus Ferguson, UIC/Carson Williams, Northern Kentucky
