Tuesday, January 18, 2011

MACON, Ga. – Ian Clark paced Belmont to blowout victories against Lipscomb and Campbell to win his first Atlantic Sun Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week honor of the year. Stetson’s Luis Jacobo averaged 17 points against Mercer and Kennesaw State to earn Newcomer of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Ian Clark, Belmont (Guard – So. – Memphis, Tenn. – Undeclared)

• Second A-Sun Player of the Week award; First this season
• Averaged 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 65 percent shooting (67 percent from three-point distance)
• Scored a season-high 20 points – including 17 in the first half – on an ultra-efficient 7-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from behind the arc against Campbell
• Part of a team defensive effort that limited Camels’ leading scorer Lorne Merthie to five points 
• Had 12 points (four three-point field goals), a season-high five rebounds, and three steals against Lipscomb

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Ayron Hardy (Sr., Jacksonville) - Led JU in scoring vs USC Upstate, totaling 15 pts. Picked up four steals in two games, giving him at least one steal in every game but two this season
• Adnan Hodzic (Sr., Lipscomb) - Averaged 20 points and 5.5 rebounds. Tied his season-high with 33 points against Campbell. He shot 12-for-16 from the floor against the Camels
• Kelvin McConnell (Sr., Kennesaw State) - Made six 3-pointers at FGCU passing Golden Ingle for second place on the Owls all-time list. He scored a total of 22 points to lead all scorers in the game, added 16 in win at Stetson
• Matt Sauey (Jr., UNF) - Led the team in scoring (11.0 PPG) for the week and ranked second in rebounding (4.0 RPG). Blocked five shots, including four in the win against USC Upstate
• Jeff Smith (Sr., Mercer) - Had a game-high 21 points in loss at Stetson and was the only Bear in double-figures (13 points) in win at FGCU.
• Micah Williams (Sr., ETSU) – Averaged 20 points per game in wins at UNF and at Jacksonville. Hit six free throws in final two minutes of regulation at UNF

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Luis Jacobo, Stetson (Forward – Fr. – Sanford, Fla. – General Studies)

• First A-Sun Newcomer of the Week award
• Led the Hatters in scoring against both Mercer and Kennesaw State
• Scored career-high 18 points against Mercer
• Followed up with 16 against Kennesaw State

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Aaron Anderson (So., Kennesaw State) - Recorded his third double-double of the season posting 10 points and 10 rebounds at Stetson. Averaged 7.0 PPG and 9.0 RPG for the week
• Torrey Craig (Fr., USC Upstate) - Averaged 16.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG at Jacksonville and UNF. He now leads the league in conference-only scoring, averaging 18.6 PPG
• J.J. Mann (Fr., Belmont) - Averaged 8.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.5 APG as Belmont defeated Lipscomb and Campbell. Recorded his ninth double figure scoring game of the season with 10 points against Campbell Jan. 15
• Keith McDougald (Fr., Jacksonville) - Tied for the team lead against Upstate with 15 points. Scored eight in the overtime period to lead JU to the win
• Christophe Varidel (Fr., FGCU) - Led the team in scoring against both Kennesaw State and Mercer. Scored a season-high 18 the Owls, followed with 15 points against Mercer
• Jimmy Williams (Jr., UNF) - Posted back-to-back double figure scoring performances and averaged 10.5 PPG. Scored nine points in the decisive second half against USC Upstate

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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.