Courtesy of PatriotLeague.org
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Loyola Maryland junior guard Andre Walker earned the Patriot League’s The Rock Player of the Week award after leading the Greyhounds to a 2-0 week with victories of over Lehigh and Army West Point. Lehigh freshman guard Jordan Cohen was selected as The Rock Rookie of the Week after averaging 12.3 points per game during a 1-2 week for the Mountain Hawks. This is the first time this season that two guards have swept the weekly honors.
Walker averaged 22.0 points per game, while hitting a game-winner against Lehigh for the second time this season. He also tied his career-high with nine rebounds against Lehigh. Cohen scored in double-figures in two of Lehigh’s three games, going for 16 points in a loss to Boston University last Monday evening. Cohen is the second Lehigh player to earn rookie of the week honors, joining classmate Pat Andree.
After earning player of the week last week, Boston U. senior guard Eric Fanning has been selected as an honorable mention after averaging 19.7 points and 6.3 rebounds during a 2-1 week. He is joined by Bucknell forward Zach Thomas, who led the Bison with 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a decisive victory over American last week. Colgate junior forward Jordan Swopshire earns a spot on the honor roll after recording his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Holy Cross. Crusaders senior guard Robert Champion rounds out the honorable mention selections after finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in a win over Colgate last week.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL THE ROCK PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andre Walker, Loyola Maryland, Jr., G, 6-2, Westbury, N.Y./Christ the King
Walker averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals during a 2-0 week for Loyola Md. Walker scored 19 points, including the eventual game-winner, while tying his career-high with nine rebounds to help sweep the season series against Lehigh on Wednesday evening. He followed with 25 points, going 5-for-7 from deep, while also pulling down five rebounds, dishing out four assists and adding three steals in a victory against Army West Point. Walker shot 50.0 percent (7-for-14) from 3-point range during the week.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN’S BASKETBALL THE ROCK ROOKIE OF THE WEEK,
Jordan Cohen, Lehigh, Fr., G, 6-1, Tarzana, Calif./Campbell Hall
Cohen averaged 12.3 points, shooting 54.2 percent from the floor, while adding 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists during a 1-2 week for Lehigh. He scored in double-figures in both of the team’s losses going for 16 points and four rebounds against Boston U. He scored 14 points and added five rebounds and two assists in a loss at Loyola Md. on Wednesday and scored seven points and had three assists in a win over American on Saturday.
WEEKLY HONORABLE MENTION
Eric Fanning, Boston University, Sr., G, 6-5, Trenton, N.Y./Perkiomen (Pa.)
In three games Fanning averaged 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals to help the Terriers go 2-1, with wins over Lehigh and Lafayette last week. Fanning scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Terriers to its second win over the Mountain Hawks, on Monday evening. He scored 21 points, including 9-of-11 from the free-throw line in a loss to Navy on Thursday. On Sunday, Fanning scored 11 points, pulled down nine rebounds and had two steals to help the Terriers defeat the Leopards.
Zach Thomas, Bucknell, Jr., F, 6-7, Ijamsville, Md./Oakdale
Thomas led the Bison with 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists in an 80-60 victory over American last Wednesday. Thomas scored seven of the team’s points during an game-opening 14-0 run, they sparked a 9-0 run in the second half with a 3-pointer after the Eagles had closed to within eight points. Thomas is currently the only player in the Patriot League to rank in the top-10 in scoring (4th, 15.3 ppg), rebounding (7th, 6.67 rpg) and assists (10th, 3.2 apg).
Jordan Swopshire, Colgate, Jr., 6-7, O’Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt South
Swopshire averaged 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds during a 1-1 week for the Raiders. Over two games Swopshire shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the floor and 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from distance. Against Holy Cross he recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He followed that up with a team-high 13 points, on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range, five rebounds and three steals to help snap Navy’s eight-game winning streak on Saturday.
Robert Champion, Holy Cross, Sr., G, 6-6, Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic
Champion led Holy Cross with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in a victory over Colgate on Wednesday. He hit 5-of-10 shots from the floor during the Crusaders lone game of the week.
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