INDIANAPOLIS -- Valparaiso senior forward Kevin Van Wijk (Hoofddorp, Netherlands/Katholieke Scholengemeenschap Hoofddorp) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Green Bay freshman forward Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s) has been named the Newcomer of the Week, for the week of Jan. 14-20. The award is the first of the season for both players and the third of Van Wijk’s career.
Valparaiso (15-5, 5-1 Horizon) rallied for last-minute wins twice last week, overcoming a 22-point, second half deficit to stun Detroit, 89-88, on Thursday before erasing a seven-point deficit with seven minutes to play to beat Wright State, 69-63. The wins gave the Crusaders sole possession of first place in the Horizon League.
Green Bay (10-9, 4-2 Horizon) moved into a tie for third in the League standings by finishing its four-game homestand with victories over Youngstown State, 67-58, and Cleveland State, 77-50. The Phoenix own a 9-1 record at the Resch Center this season, having won seven straight home games.
Van Wijk keyed the comeback at Detroit, finishing with a career-high 31 points. The senior went 13-for-15 from the floor, including a perfect 8-of-8 in the second half. The 31-point effort bested Van Wijk’s previous career high of 22 points, set on Nov. 20, 2011.
With first place on the line against Wright State, Van Wijk controlled the low block, going 6-for-9 from the floor, tallying 18 points and adding a career-high four assists. Van Wijk had a pair of baskets down the stretch as Valparaiso overcame a 51-44 deficit with 7:44 to play.
With 62.8 field-goal percentage, Van Wijk leads the Horizon League. Seven field goals shy of entering the national rankings, Van Wijk would be tied for sixth nationally should he qualify. In conference play, Van Wijk is shooting 72.9 percent from the floor. The senior has moved to the top spot in Valparaiso’s career field-goal percentage chart, sitting at 60.3 percent.
Fouse averaged 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds during the week, finishing a rebound shy of a double-double with a 12-point, 9-rebound effort in the Phoenix’s 67-58 victory over Youngstown State. On Saturday, Fouse notched his third career double-double, leading Green Bay with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The freshman filled the box score in both games, recording five assists, seven streals and five blocks. On the year, Fouse leads all Horizon League freshmen in rebounds, blocks and steals.
Valparaiso and Green Bay will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 23, with the Crusaders hosting the Phoenix. ESPN3 will carry the game, which tips at 8:05 p.m. EST. Green Bay will wrap its week on Friday, Jan. 25, traveling to Milwaukee. ESPNU will have live coverage, beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
Top Performers for the Week:
Nick Minnerath, Detroit (Sr., F) - Scored a career-high 36 points in Detroit’s 89-88 loss to Valparaiso, going 12-of-17 from the floor.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay (So., G) - Averaged 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 4.5 apg as Green Bay went 2-0 on the week, extending its home winning streak to seven.
Christian Thomas, Loyola (So., F) - Matched his career high with 16 points at UIC before tallying a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double in Loyola’s win at Chicago State.
Cole Darling, Wright State (Jr., F) - Posted a game-high 22 points, nearly leading Wright State to a key road win at Valparaiso.
Top Newcomers for the Week:
Bryn Forbes, Cleveland State (Fr., G) - Led Cleveland State with 16 points in its loss at Milwaukee, hitting four three-pointers. Added a career-best four steals at Green Bay.
Austin Arians, Milwaukee (Fr., F) - After playing just two minutes in Milwaukee’s first three League games, moved into the starting lineup and averaged 17.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg, scoring a career-high 19 points in the Panthers’ win over Cleveland State.
Cully Payne, Loyola (Jr., G) - Pitched in 4.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 4.0 apg as Loyola split a pair of road games last week.
Kamren Belin, Youngstown State (Jr., F) - Recorded a career-high 21 points, helping lead Youngstown State to a 75-72 win over Milwaukee.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week:
Nov. 12: Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Nov. 19: Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State
Nov. 26: Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Gary Talton, UIC
Dec. 3: Cole Darling, Wright State
Dec. 10: Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Dec. 17: Daniel Barnes, UIC
Dec. 24: Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Dec. 31: Ray McCallum, Detroit
Jan. 7: Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State
Jan. 14: Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Jan. 21: Kevin Van Wijk, Valparaiso
Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week:
Nov. 12: Jordan Aaron, Milwaukee
Bobby Hain, Youngstown State
Nov. 19: JT Yoho, Wright State
Nov. 26: Josh Crittle, UIC
Dec. 3: Bryn Forbes, Cleveland State
Dec. 10: Juwan Howard, Jr., Detroit
Dec. 17: Devon Turk, Loyola
LaVonte Dority, Valparaiso
Dec. 24: Jerran Young, Wright State
Dec. 31: Cully Payne, Loyola
Jan. 7: Josh Crittle, UIC
Jan. 14: Bryn Forbes, Cleveland State
Jan. 21: Jordan Fouse, Green Bay
Tags: Green Bay - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Valparaiso - Men's Basketball
