Horizon League Men's Basketball Players of the Week (Jan. 23)

INDIANAPOLIS – Valparaiso’s Alec Peters led all league players in points and rebounds last week and has been named Horizon League Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. The senior also became the school’s all-time leading scorer during his 30-point, 10-rebound outing against UIC after becoming the program’s all-time leading rebounder against Green Bay. Milwaukee’s Bryce Nze has been named Freshman of the Week after converting 19-of-24 field goals and posting offensive ratings (KenPom) of 137 and 136 against UIC and Cleveland State.

Player of the Week | Alec Peters | Valparaiso | Sr. | F | Washington, Ill.
Peters broke a pair of Valpo career records last week and averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds per game in leading the Crusaders to the two largest margins of victory in Horizon League play to date this season.

Peters opened the week with 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in Valpo's 24-point win over then-undefeated Green Bay - with his final rebound against the Phoenix, he set Valpo's career rebounding record with his 911th career board. Peters followed with 30 points and 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action in a 31-point win over UIC, breaking Bryce Drew's career scoring record at Valpo of 2,142 points with his seventh point of the game.

This is Peters’ fourth player of the week award this season and the ninth of his career. The nine career honors ties him with Oakland’s Kay Felder for the third-most weekly awards in league history.

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

Freshman of the Week | Bryce Nze | Milwaukee | Forward | Hartland, Wis.
Nze had an exceptionally efficient week in helping the Panthers to a pair of league wins. He became the first Milwaukee freshman in 16 years to score 20-plus in a game, netting 22 on 10-of-12 shooting against UIC.

He added 13 points, 7 rebounds and a career-high 5 assists in the win over Cleveland State. He shot 79.2 percent (19-of-24 FG) for the week, averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in just 18.7 minutes per outing. The newcomer from Hartland, Wis., is currently shooting 67.0 percent from the floor this season.

This is the first Freshman of the Week honor for Nze and is the first for a Milwaukee player since Justin Jordan earned the honor Nov. 17, 2014.

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
Jan. 23 – Bryce Nze, Milwaukee