Tuesday, December 28, 2010

MACON, Ga. – ETSU senior Mike Smith nearly averaged a double-double and landed on the Cancun Governor’s Cup All-Tournament Team  to claim the Atlantic Sun Player of the
Week accolade while FGCU’s Marlon Rivera earned his first Newcomer of the Week award after averaging 10 assists in two contests, the conference announced on Tuesday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mike Smith, ETSU (Guard – Sr. – Vandalia, Mo. – Business)
• First A-Sun Player of the Week award.
• Averaged 14.3 points, nine rebounds, and shot 60 percent from the floor.
• Named to the all-tournament team for the Cancun Governor’s Cup.
• Posted a 20-point, 16-rebound effort in the Bucs’ dominating 79-51 defeat of Appalachian State.
• Joined on the all-tournament team by Colorado State’s Travis Franklin, Ole Miss’ Zach Graham, St. Louis’ Brian Conklin, and Southern Miss’ Gary Flowers.

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Anthony Banks (So., FGCU) – Produced third 20-point game in a win against N.C. Central (21 points, six rebounds):  led the team with 16 points and six rebounds against IUPUI.
• Junard Hartley (Jr., Campbell) –Hit a 3-pointer from deep in the left corner with 1.4 seconds remaining to lift Campbell to a 57-56 victory against UNC Wilmington.
• Brian Mills (Sr., Mercer) – Notched his third double-double of the season versus Georgia. Led all scorers (21) and rebounders (12), despite UGA's significant size advantage; added three assists and a block.

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: Marlon Rivera, FGCU (Guard – Jr. – Rio Piedras, P. R. – Criminal Justice)
• First A-Sun Newcomer of the Week award.
• Had seven rebounds and 12 assists during a win against N.C. Central.
• The 12 assists tied for the most by an A-Sun player this season and are the second-most in FGCU Division I history.
• Followed with 11 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists against IUPUI .
• Has totaled least five assists and five rebounds in five straight games.

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Marvelle Harris (Fr., Campbell)  – Notched his third double-figure scoring game in the last four outings with 11 points, plus seven rebounds in CU's 57-56 win against Colonial Athletic Association member UNC Wilmington.
• Chandler Hash (Fr., USC Upstate) – In his first game in the Spartan starting lineup, Hash totaled 11 points, with three treys, at Auburn, both were one off career-highs he set against NC State.

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