Monday, February 12, 2007

MACON, Ga. – Point guard Ben Smith played like a veteran last weekend to give Jacksonville a pair of critical home court victories on his way to earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week honors as announced by the league office on Monday.

Smith led the Dolphins in scoring in both victories, highlighted by 14 points in the team’s upset of league leader ETSU. The Dublin, Ga., native helped JU snap the Bucs’ 10-game winning streak. On Saturday, he scored a career-high 20 points against Kennesaw State, knocking down two free throws with 21 seconds left to ice the win for JU. Late in the second half, the freshman gave JU the lead for good after converting a 4-point play. That win ended a three-game win streak for the Owls. The point guard did not commit a turnover in the Dolphins win over ETSU and hit 11-of-13 at the foul line for the week. He also managed to shoot 10-of-20 from the floor including 3-of -5 from the three-point line. Prior to these two games, Smith had yet to lead the Dolphins in scoring during his debut season.

Jacksonville climbed into a tie for third place overall with Lipscomb while extending their homecourt win streak to 11 games. JU has won six of their last seven games and three straight.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2006-07 men’s basketball campaign.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
• Brian Fisk, Lipscomb
(Sr. – G – Newbern, Tenn. – Psychology Major)
Led Lipscomb to sweep of Belmont with 15 points and lockdown defense

• Golden Ingle, Kennesaw State
(Sr. – G – Orem, Utah – Management Major)
Hit buzzer-beating basket to lift KSU past UNF in overtime

• Andy Wicke, Belmont
(So. – G – Hendersonville, Tenn. – Environmental Studies Major)
Knocked down five three’s versus Lipscomb

• Eric Smith, Campbell
(Sr. – G – Chicago, Ill. – Sport Management Program)
Scored 25 points in back-to-back games versus Stetson and Mercer

• Shaddean Aaron, Mercer
(Jr. – G – Pomona, Calif. – Computer Science Program)
Averaged 22.5 ppg in 1-1 weekend for Mercer