Tuesday, November 23, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Campbell’s Lorne Merthie guided the Camels to their first win against an SEC school in 16 years while USC Upstate’s Torrey Craig led the Spartans in scoring in three Charleston Classic games to earn the league’s weekly awards, the conference announced on Tuesday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Lorne Merthie, Campbell (G - Jr. – Sanford, Fla. – Sport Management)

• First A-Sun Player of the Week award
• 3 Games, 15.7 PPG, 53.3 FG Pct, 62.5 3-pt FG Pct 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.7 spg.
• Named MVP of Global Sports Hoops Showcase after leading the Camels to a 2-1 record.
• Picked up 61-54 victory over host Auburn, CU's first win over an SEC school since 1994.
• Scored eight points and a season-high four steals in the Auburn win when the Camels scored 25 points off 24 Tiger turnovers.
• Merthie scored 17 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 0 turnovers in a 97-90 win against Middle Tennessee.
• Merthie added a season-high 22 points (4-for-4 3-pt FG) with four steals in a 60-56 loss to Samford.

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Reed Baker (Sr., FGCU) – Led the Eagles in scoring all three games during a 2-1 week. Produced a pair of 20-point games including a career-high 28 points against SEMO.
• Ian Clark (So., Belmont) – Averaged 16.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG and shot 64 percent in wins against Arkansas State and Marist and a narrow loss to No. 23 Tennessee.
• Ayron Hardy (Sr., Jacksonville) – Posted his third straight game in double figures to lead JU to a 2-1 start. Added seven rebounds, six assists and six steals vs Florida Tech.
• Adnan Hodzic (Sr., Lipscomb) – Averaged 23 PPG and 12.5 RPG in two games, shot 58.1 percent. Totaled 33 points and 16 rebounds in win against Austin Peay.
• Mike Smith (Sr., ETSU) – Scored a career high 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds in win against Tennessee Tech last week. Hit on 9-of-14 shots, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Torrey Craig, USC Upstate (F - Fr. – Rock Hill, S.C. – Undeclared)

• First A-Sun Newcomer of the Week award
• Averaged 16.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG to go along with three blocks, one assist and one steal during Charleston Classic.
• Set career-highs of 13 points and seven rebounds against reigning SoCon champion Wofford and followed that with 17 points against reigning Big South champion Coastal Carolina.
• In finale against East Carolina, Craig again led the Spartans in scoring as he finished with 19 points and grabbed a career-best eight rebounds.

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Chris Davis (Fr., Jacksonville) – Scored all eight his points off the bench and hit a career-high two 3-point field goals in 17 minutes against Florida Tech.
• Eric Griffin (Jr., Campbell) –Named to Global Sports Hoops Showcase all-tournament team. Scored a season-high 20 points (7-9 FG) in a 97-90 win over Middle Tennessee.
• J.J. Mann (Fr., Belmont) – Scored a career-high 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting against Marist Nov. 22. Mann added four points and three rebounds at No. 23 Tennessee Nov. 16.
• Marlon Rivera (Jr., FGCU) – Nearly recorded the first triple-double in program history with 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists during a win over Southeast Missouri State.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts five of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.