INDIANAPOLIS -- Valparaiso sophomore forward Alec Peters (Washington, Ill./Washington) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Detroit freshman guard/forward Paris Bass (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm) has been named the Freshman of the Week, for the week of Nov. 17-23.
Peters averaged 21.3 ppg., and 6.0 rpg. in three Valparaiso wins last week. He started the week with 14 points in just 17 minutes of action in Valpo’s 91-55 win over IU South Bend. Over the weekend, he helped lead the Crusaders to two wins at the Central Michigan Tournament. The sophomore forward had 19 points, on 8-of-9 shooting inside the arc, in Valpo’s 59-46 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He finished the weekend with a career-high 31 points in a 93-70 win over Maine. Peters scored 22 points in the first half as the Crusaders opened up a 25-point halftime lead.
He is now one of just three Valpo men’s basketball players in the last two decades -- joining Bryce Drew and Brandon Wood -- to have three or more 30-plus games in their career.
For the week, Peters shot 69.7 percent from the field (23-of-33), including 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14).
Bass won Freshman of the Week honors after averaging 9.3 ppg. and 4.0 rpg., for the Titans. He recorded eight points and two rebounds in Detroit’s loss at Oregon on Monday night. He followed up that performance with 12 points, six rebounds, a steal and an assist in Detroit’s game at 22nd-ranked Michigan. He closed the week with eight points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in Detroit’s 66-53 win over South Alabama.
Valparaiso (4-1) is back in action this week when it plays three games at the Challenge in Music City in Nashville, Tenn. The Crusaders open with Drake on Friday and play Murray State on Saturday before closing the tournament with a game versus Portland.
Detroit (2-2) opens play on Monday in a subregional of the Progressive Legends Classic. The Titans face Maryland-Eastern Shore Monday at Toledo and will play either the Rockets or Bucknell on Tuesday. UDM closes the week with a home game versus Bowling Green.
Top Performers for the Week:
Anton Grady, Cleveland State (Jr., F) - Grady averaged 17.0 ppg., and 6.0 rpg., in CSU’s three game last week. He scored a career-high 26 points in the Vikings’ win over Tiffin.
Juwan Howard Jr., Detroit (Sr., F) - Howard Jr., averaged 20.7 ppg., and 7.3 rpg., last week for the Titans. He was a perfect 22-of-22 from the foul line for the week. He led the Titans in scoring in all three games last week, including 24 points at 22nd-ranked Michigan.
Marcus Keene, Youngstown State (So., G) - Keene twice scored a career-high last week as helped YSU to a 2-2 record. He posted a then-career-high 24 points on five three-pointers versus Central Michigan on Tuesday. Five days later, he posted a career-best 28 points with six three-pointers in a win over UNC-Greensboro.
Tommie McCune, Oakland (Jr., F) - McCune scored a career-high 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, including 3-of-3 from three-point range, in Oakland’s game versus Western Michigan.
Steve McWhorter, Milwaukee (Sr., G) - McWhorter averaged 18.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg., and 5.3 apg last week for the Panthers. He scored a career-best 19 points and a career-best three blocked shots, while adding five rebounds in UWM’s game versus IUPUI.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay (Sr., G) - Sykes scored 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting in Green Bay’s game at third-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday.
Jake Wiegand, UIC (Jr., F) - He totaled a career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in UIC’s home-opening win over Western Illinois. He became the first UIC player since 1998 to record consecutive double-doubles to open the season. He tallied a game-high 26 points on a career-high 11 field goals made in the game at Kent State.
JT Yoho, Wright State (Jr., F) - Yoho scored 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field in Wright State’s win at Charleston Southern on Saturday.
Top Freshman for the Week:
Grant Benzinger, Wright State (Fr., G) - Benzinger had eight points, including two three-pointers in the win at Charleston Southern on Saturday.
Justin Jordan, Milwaukee (Fr., G) - Jordan had a season-high seven rebounds against Minnesota-Crookston.
Tai Odiase, UIC (Fr., F/C) - Odiase had nine blocked shots last week and ranks second in the HL in blocked shots. He totaled nine rebounds and four blocked shots in UIC’s win over Western Illinois last Monday.
Tevonn Walker, Valparaiso (Fr., G) - Walker averaged 10.7 ppg. in three Valpo wins last week. He had 16 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action versus Maine.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week:
Nov. 10: Chrishawn Hopkins, Wright State
Nov. 17: Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week:
Nov. 10: Justin Jordan, Milwaukee
Nov. 17: Paris Bass, Detroit
Tags: Detroit Mercy - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Valparaiso - Men's Basketball
