This week’s honorees are Jordan Dartis (Ohio) and Eugene German (Northern Illinois). For details on these and other nominees, click Read More.
Jordan Dartis, Ohio
Guard, Junior, Newark, Ohio
Junior guard Jordan Dartis (Newark, Ohio) put together a week full of milestones for the Ohio men's basketball team (10-14, 3-9 MAC) last week, helping the Bobcats split a pair of Mid-American Conference contests. Dartis averaged a team-high 22.5 points, shooting 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from the field -- including 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from beyond the arc.
He also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Dartis exploded for a career-high 38 points behind 10 three-pointers to help Ohio dominate MAC East Division rival Akron, 99-75, last Tuesday (Feb. 6) at the Convocation Center in Athens. After sitting out Ohio's 101-98 double overtime loss to MAC West Division foe Central Michigan last Saturday (Feb. 3) with a nagging hip injury, Dartis announced his return to the starting lineup in a big way.
His 38-point effort marked the most by a Bobcat since former Ohio guard Jaaron Simmons dropped 38 on the Zips on Feb. 4, 2017, in a 85-70 triumph at the Convo. Dartis scored at least 30 points for the first time in his career and became the second Bobcat to reach the 30-point mark this season, joining senior guard Mike Laster (Detroit, Mich.), who posted a career-high 31 in a 78-68 win over Northern Illinois on Jan. 6, 2018, at the Convo. Dartis went 13-of-20 from the field -- including a scorching 10-of-15 from beyond the arc.
His 10 made treys marked the most by a Bobcat since former Ohio guard Javarez Willis drilled 10 in a 95-65 victory over archrival Miami on March 6, 2015. Dartis is now tied with Willis for the third-most three-pointers made in a game in program history. He also finished Tuesday's game with five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 32 minutes of action. Dartis then finished with 13 points after going 5-of-14 from the floor with three treys as Ohio suffered a 69-60 loss to MAC West Division foe Western Michigan on Saturday (Feb. 10) at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. Dartis eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark, becoming the 39th Bobcat to reach that milestone.
MAC West Division Player of the Week
Eugene German, Northern Illinois
Guard, Sophomore, Gary, Ind. (21st Century Charter)
Playing against the top two teams in the MAC, NIU sophomore Eugene German averaged 29.0 points and 7.0 rebounds for the week and made an overtime, game-winner in the final seconds to lift the Huskies over MAC-leading Buffalo.
German scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds on Saturday (Feb. 10) against the Bulls, but he saved the best for last as, with the game tied at 88, he banked home the game-winning layup with four seconds to go as the Huskies knocked off the first-place Bulls.
Earlier in the week at Toledo (Feb. 6), the Gary, Ind., native scored a career-best 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists as the Huskies pushed MAC West leader Toledo to the limit before falling, 82-77.
German’s 30 points was the most scored by a Huskie in a game since Xavier Silas netted 34 on Feb. 12, 2011, against Kent State. German, who leads the MAC in scoring at 20.0 points per game, shot 49 percent (24-of-49) from the field for the week and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the free-throw line. The Huskie sophomore has had 13 20-plus point games this season and has scored in double figures in all 25 games.
Daniel Utomi, Akron
Guard, Sophomore, Houston, Texas
Utomi led Akron through a 1-1 week with a 69-63 home triumph over Central Michigan after falling 99-75 at Ohio. Utomi opened the week with a 21-point performance against Ohio and taxed Central Michigan for 20 points en route to a 41-point week or 20.5 points per game average. He shot 44.8 percent from the field (13-of-29) that included a 6-of-16 effort from downtown. He also led Akron at the free throw line with an 81.8 percent performance (9-of-11) while collecting 12 rebounds (6.0 rebs/g) to go along with two steals and assists and a blocked shot. Against Ohio, Utomi was red-hot from the floor, shooting 60 percent on 6-of-10 field goals. From long distance, he buried 4-of-6 buckets for a 66.7 3-point percentage. He went 5-of-6 from the free throw line with four rebounds and two steals. Against Central Michigan, Utomi went 7-of-19 from the floor with two 3-pointers. He drained 4-of-5 free throws while adding six rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.
Tahjai Teague, Ball State
Forward, Sophomore, Indianapolis, Ind. (Pike)
Tahjai Teague averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last week in leading Ball State to a pair of victories. The sophomore forward scored 20 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in Friday’s 87-68 win over Kent State. Seven of his rebounds came on the offensive end. He made his first eight shots from the floor and also added four assists in helping the Cardinals to their first win over the Golden Flashes since 2005. Earlier in the week, Teague scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Ball State’s 59-56 victory over Bowling Green. He also had three steals and helped to hold the Falcons to 35.9 percent shooting. Teague’s play helped Ball State improve to 7-5 in conference play, maintaining a tie for the third-best record in the league. He shot 61.9 percent from the floor for the week.
Antwon Lillard, Bowling Green
Guard, Junior, Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Central Catholic)
Antwon Lillard, a junior guard from Cleveland, Ohio, led Bowling Green to a 1-1 week with a pair of strong efforts. For the week, Lillard averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks. The junior opened the week with the third double-double of his career, as he went 6-for-12 from the floor, and registered 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals. In a 19-point comeback win over Eastern Michigan, Lillard shined in a number of areas on his way to a final line of seven points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Lillard is shooting 46.9 percent from the floor on the season.
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan
Center, Junior, Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist)
Junior James Thompson IV had a historic week, becoming just the third player in Eastern Michigan University history and 17th in Mid-American Conference history to join the 1,000 point, 1,000 rebound club thanks to his 11-rebound performance at Bowling Green, Feb. 10. The Baton Rouge, La. native also helped the Eagles to their first win over Kent State in the M.A.C. center since the 1997-98 season with a 12-point, 8-rebound showing. Thompson collected his 17th double-double of the season against Bowling Green with 11 boards and 10 points, giving the center six more than the next closest player in the league.
Tre'Shaun Fletcher, Toledo
Guard, Senior, Wilmar, Akr. (Univ. of Colorado)
Senior Tre'Shaun Fletcher led the Rockets to a pair of victories by averaging at team-high 19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 4.0 apg and shooting 50.0 percent (12-of-24) from the field vs. Northern Illinois and Miami. Fletcher tallied 20 points, six rebounds and five assists against the Huskies before notching his 11th double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds against the RedHawks.
Reggie Jones, Western Michigan
Forward, Sophomore, Marion, Ind. (Marion)
Reggie Jones totaled 33 points (16.5 avg) to help WMU secure a 2-0 week with victories over Miami and Ohio. Jones also averaged 6.5 rebounds while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 50 percent from three and 70 percent from the free-throw line. Against Miami, Jones earned the start for WMU, playing a career-high 35 minutes and led the Broncos in Points (20), rebounds (8) and assists (5). Against the RedHawks, Jones went 7-of-13 from the field and knocked down three from long distance. On Saturday against Ohio, Jones came off the bench and scored 13 points to go along with five rebounds in just 17 minutes played. The sophomore forward shot 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field and was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. This season, Jones is third on the team, averaging 10 points per game.