INDIANAPOLIS -- Milwaukee senior guard Steve McWhorter (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Wright State freshman guard Grant Benzinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) has been named the Freshman of the Week, for the week of Feb. 9-15.
McWhorter was key for the Panthers in two wins last week to garner Player of the Week honors. The senior guard matched a career high with 21 points and collected six rebounds and four assists in the win at UIC on Thursday as the Panthers scored their first true road win of the season. On Sunday, he totaled 13 points, nine assists, four boards, two blocks and a pair of steals in a victory over Cleveland State in his final home appearance as a Panther. For the week, he averaged 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.0 bpg, while shooting 50 percent (12-for-24) from the field.
McWhorter, who has started all 63 games in his UWM career, has scored in double digits in 13 of the last 14 games, including each of the last four. Over the Panthers’ last 13 contests, he owns a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (77-28) and in Milwaukee’s last four games is shooting 52 percent (25-for-48) from the field.
Milwaukee finishes its season this week with a trip to Ohio. The Panthers play at Wright State on Thursday night before closing the season on Saturday at Youngstown State.
Benzinger picked up his second Freshman of the Week accolades after a stellar week for the Raiders. Benzinger scored a career-high 31 points versus Oakland on Wednesday night. The 31 points are the most by a Horizon League freshman this season and second-most ever by a Wright State freshman. He added a team-high tying 11 points on Saturday night as he battled a flu bug. For the week, he finished with 42 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in 77 minutes of action.
Benzinger has stepped up his offensive production as the Raiders battle through injuries. His 31-point performance was third consecutive 20+-point outing and he has raised his scoring average from 6.9 to 9.0 over the last four games.
Wright State closes the regular season with two games this week. The Raiders host Milwaukee on Thursday before traveling to UIC on Saturday to face the Flames.
Top Performers for the Week:
Shawn Amiker, Youngstown State (Sr., F) - Amiker scored a team-high 19 points in the Penguin’s lone contest of the week, an 83-70 loss to Detroit. Amiker connected on 5-of-8 from the floor and made all eight of his free throw attempts. Amiker also made a 3-pointer. For the year, Amiker, who is YSU’s career games played leader with 125, is averaging 11.3 points per game.
Kahlil Felder, Oakland (So., G) - Felder handed out a career-high 14 assists in the win over UIC on Sunday. The assists were the most in a single game in the Horizon League this season. He recorded his fourth double-double on the year in the contest as he added 20 points versus the Flames.
Anton Grady, Cleveland State (Sr., F) - Grady posted two double-doubles last week for the Vikings. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the overtime win at Green Bay on Friday and finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds at Milwaukee on Saturday. He added four blocks and three steals in the two games, while shooting 18-of-33 (54.5%) from the field.
Max Hooper, Oakland (Jr., G) - Hooper made 11-of-20 3-point field goals last week and averaged 18.0 points per game. He is shooting 54% from behind the arc over his last 4 games.
Greg Mays, Green Bay (Sr., F) - Mays scored a career-high 34 points in the win over Detroit on Wednesday night. he connected on 10-of-15 field goals and 14-of-17 free throws. He added 19 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots on Friday night versus Cleveland State.
Alec Peters, Valparaiso (So., F) - Peters recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Wright State on Saturday.
Top Freshmen for the Week:
Paris Bass, Detroit (Fr., G/F) - Bass recorded his fourth double-double, third in Horizon League play, with 19 points and 10 rebounds at Green Bay. He was then an efficient 5-7 from the floor with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in just 16 minutes at Youngstown State. Bass also recorded four assists, two blocked shots and a steal at Green Bay. For the week Bass shot 48% (9-19) overall, 100% (1-1) from downtown and 78% (11-14) from the charity stripe.
Nick Daniels, Oakland (Fr., G) - Daniels scored 10 points, connecting on 3-of-4 shots from three-point range, in the win over UIC on Sunday. He has reached double figures in four of his last five games.
Justin Jordan, Milwaukee (Fr., G) - Jordan had four points and six rebounds in the win at UIC on Thursday and had five points in the win over Cleveland State on Sunday.
