INDIANAPOLIS -- Wright State junior forward Cole Darling (Holt, Mich./Holt) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Cleveland State freshman guard Bryn Forbes (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) is the Newcomer of the Week, for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2.
Wright State (5-2) rolled past visiting Morehead State, 66-57, on Saturday afternoon, while Cleveland State (6-2) picked up a road win at Ball State, 69-63, before rallying for a 78-73 victory over Toledo.
In his first full game back since an injury, Darling helped Wright State shred Morehead State’s trapping, half-court pressure, recording a career-high 29 points. Darling was 8-of-9 from the floor in the first half, consistently running the baseline to get behind the Eagle’s defense for layups. Darling finished the game 10-for-13 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 mark from three-point range.
Darling’s 0.511 efficiency-per-possession rating was the highest among all players in the game; for the year, the junior ranks ninth in the Horizon League with a 0.30 overall efficiency-per-possession rating. Despite playing in just four games, Darling leads a balanced Wright State offense with 12.8 ppg.
Off to a slow start in his freshman season, Forbes broke out on Wednesday night, scoring all 18 of his career high total in the second half as Cleveland State rallied for the road win at Ball State. Ranked the No. 3 shooting guard in the state of Michigan in high school, Forbes was 4-of-8 from three-point range and 6-of-11 in the game.
The freshman followed up the effort with 16 points as Cleveland State came from behind again to record the win over Toledo. Forbes was 6-for-11 again, knocking down two of his five three-point attempts.
Wright State will travel to Bowling Green for a 7 p.m. ET tip on Monday, before returning to the Nutter Center on Saturday, Dec. 8 to host VMI at 7 p.m. ET. The Horizon League Network will have live coverage of the game. Cleveland State will meet No. 18/18 N.C. State on Dec. 8, with ESPN3 carrying the game at 1 p.m. ET.
Top Performers for the Week:
Charlie Lee, Cleveland State (So., G) - Keyed Vikings’ 2-0 week, averaging 19.5 ppg and 6.5 apg, including a career-high 22 against Toledo.
Ray McCallum, Detroit (Jr., G) - Led the Titans with consecutive 20-plus point efforts, scoring 25 against Bowling Green ahead of 24 points at Pittsburgh.
Jordan Hicks, Loyola (Sr., G/F) - Scored in double digits in consecutive games for the first time this year, posting 15 against Tennessee Tech and 12 versus Furman.
Paris Gulley, Milwaukee (Sr., G) - Returned to Milwaukee’s lineup after missing the first six games of the year, scoring 24 points at Northern Iowa.
Josh Crittle, UIC (Sr., C) - Led UIC with 13 points and nine rebounds in the Flames’ 50-44 win at Northwestern, averaging 11.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg on the week.
Damian Eargle, Youngstown State (Sr., F) - Recorded back-to-back double-doubles, going for 18 points and 10 rebounds in YSU’s loss to Kent State before a 10-point, 15-rebound performance in a 58-49 win at Bowling Green.
Top Newcomers for the Week:
Cully Payne, Loyola (Jr., G) - Scored a season-high 18 points against Tennessee Tech, then handing out nine assists in Loyola’s win against Furman.
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
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
Tags: Cleveland State - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Wright State - Men's Basketball
