MAC Men’s Basketball East Division Player of the Week
Ivo Baltic, Ohio
Junior, Forward, Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill South)
Baltic started the week going 10-of-14 for a season-high 22 points at Northern Iowa on Tuesday evening. He surpassed his season-high in the first half with 16 points. Baltic finished one board shy of a double-double, which would have been the second of his career, as he scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the home win over the Aggies. He has led the team in rebounding five times this season, tops among the Green & White, and finished the week shooting 70 percent from the floor.
MAC Men’s Basketball West Division Player of the Week
Matt Stainbrook, Western Michigan
Sophomore, Center, Bay Village, Ohio (Lakewood St. Edward)
Stainbrook was a significant factor in the Broncos’ 2-0 record last week, helping them to a home win over Winthrop and an exciting road victory at Oakland. Stainbrook averaged a double-double for the week, averaging 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds over the course of two games. Against Winthrop, Stainbrook notched nine points on 4-of-9 (.444) and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds, playing 36 minutes in the Broncos victory. Stainbrook would be a key part of the Broncos’ victory at Oakland three days later, scoring 16 points on 8-of-11 (.727) shooting and also recording six rebounds and four assists in the win. Stainbrook also averaged 1.5 blocks per game for the Broncos over the week. The win over Oakland was significant for a number of reasons: not only was it the biggest win by a road opponent at the O’Rena in 48 games, but the win was also the 150th win for head coach Steve Hawkins as coach of the Broncos. He is now one of only three coaches in program history to win 150 games as a Bronco.
Other Nominees
Zeke Marshall, Akron
Akron, Junior, Center, McKeesport, Pa. (McKeesport)
Marshall continues to be a dominate force for the Zips as Akron ran its home winning streak to 14 games last week and four-straight for the season. For the week, Marshall averaged 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game in Akron’s two victories. In Akron’s 88-62 win over Youngstown State on Dec. 19, Marshall score nine points and had 11 rebounds while dishing out two assist. He also had one blocked shot and one steal. In the Zips’ 79-52 win over North Carolina A&T on Dec. 21, Marshall posted a game-high 20 points and grabbed eight boards. He also dominated in the paint, blocking five shots and altering a number of other shots. For the week, Marshall shot 45.0 percent from the field (9-of-20) and was 11-of-16 from the charity stripe (68.8 percent). During Akron’s four-game winning streak, Marshall is averaging 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game and is shooting 56.4 percent from the field (22-of-39).
Scott Thomas, Bowling Green
Senior, Forward, Ashley, Ohio (Buckeye Valley)
Thomas had 18 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals as the Falcons won on the road for the first time this year. Bowling Green trailed by 10 points in the first half and by four at the break but Thomas scored in the clutch to help the Falcons get the win. With BGSU trailing by a point, Thomas scored on a jumper with 7:19 left and then knocked down a three-pointer a minute later to give the Falcons a 46-4
Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
Senor. Forward, Goodyear, Ariz.
Watt had a team-high 18 points and 8 rebounds against BYU. The senior forward shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. Watt also two assists, (wo steals and a blocked shot in 32 minutes of action.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device. 2 lead -- one Bowling Green would never relinquish. He closed out the win by scoring five of BGSU's final seven points.
Justin Greene, Kent State
Senior, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Lincoln)
Greene averaged 12 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 block in three games last week in Utah to earn a spot on the Athletes in Action Classic Sponsored by Gossner Foods. The 6-7 senior forward produced a double-double in the first two games of the Classic, including a team high 13 points in the opener vs Saint Peter's which improved Kent State to 4-0 in away/neutral to start the season for only the second time in school history and the first time in 75 years (1936-37).
Julian Mavunga, Miami
Senior, Forward, Indianapolis, Ind. (Brownsburg)
Mavunga had another strong week for the RedHawks ... he averaged 19.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg and 3.0 apg while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 92.9 percent from the free-throw line ... against Evansville, Mavunga handed out a game-high five assists and added two blocked shots while going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line ... his five assists helped Miami to its most assists as a team this season ... he added double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds and 18 points in 40 minutes of action againt the Purple Aces ... at No. 2 Ohio State, Mavunga had a dominant performance ... he amassed his 21st double-double and seventh of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds ... he also tied a career high with three blocked shots ... all three sums led all players ... it was his 12th 20-point performance of his career and fourth this season.
Julius Brown, Toledo
Freshman, Guard, Markham, Ill. (Hillcrest)
Brown averaged 16.5 ppg, 5.0 apg and 2.0 rpg in the Rockets' two games last week. He also posted a 52.2 FG% (12-of-23), 53.8 3PTFG% (7-of13) and a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio. Brown tallied a season-high 29 points (the most by a Rocket this season) against Florida Gulf Coast. He shot 10-of-15 from the field and was 7-of-11 from three-point range. His seven treys were the most by a Rocket since Nick Moore buried seven vs. NIU on Jan. 8, 2003.