Click Read More to see details on all the nominees . . .
Bam Bowman, Miami
Forward, Junior, Bowling Green, Ky./Warren Central
Bowman was dominant both down low and from the three-point line last week for Miami. He led the RedHawks with 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the two contests. Bowman averaged 31.5 minutes per game and was 11-for-19 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc. Against Kent State on Tuesday, he had 10 points and seven rebounds. Bowman was even better in Miami's 20-point victory over Ohio Saturday. He had a career-high 23 points and made it a double-double with 12 rebounds. He was only one off his career high in rebounds. Bowman is now averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
MAC West Division Player of the Week
Tayler Persons, Ball State
Guard, Senior, Kokomo, Ind. (Kokomo)
Tayler Persons averaged 22.0 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from 3-point range in leading Ball State to a pair of victories last week. Persons matched his season high with 29 points in Tuesday’s 72-71 victory at Northern Illinois. He tied his career best with six 3-pointers, hitting six of the first seven he took, and made five critical free throws in the final minute, including the game-winner with 1.9 seconds left. The win snapped the Cardinals’ four-game losing streak. Four days later, Persons scored 15 points and handed out five assists in Ball State’s 79-59 victory over Western Michigan. He scored 11 of his points in the second half, as the Cardinals pulled away in a game that was tied at the break.
Other Nominees
Tyler Cheese, Akron
Guard, Junior, Albany, Ga. (Albany HS/ Florida Southwestern State)
Tyler Cheese, Akron Guard, Junior, Albany, Ga. (Albany HS/ Florida Southwestern State) Tyler Cheese helped the men’s basketball squad achive a 1-1 overall record last week, which included a win over arch rival Kent State. Cheese scored double figures both games. In the 72-53 win over the Flashes, Cheese posted a second-best 15 points on 6-of-12 (.500) shooting from the field with eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. At Toledo, Akron fell 63-52as he notched a team-best 19 points. He was 8-of-18 (.444) from the floor with six rebounds and three assists. For the week, Cheese scored 34 points, averaging 17 points per game. He made 14-of-30 (.467) shots from the floor and added a 5-of-7 (.714) effort from the free throw line, Cheese grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out seven assists and had two steals.
Jeremy Harris, Buffalo
Forward, Senior, Greensboro, NC (Paige)
Senior Jeremy Harris led the Bulls in scoring in their 90-76 win over Central Michigan this past week. Harris filled up the stat sheet with 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as the Bulls outscored CMU 52-33 in the second half of action. Harris did most of his damage in the first half though as he helped the Bulls erase an 18-point first half deficit with 15 points over the first 20 minutes of action. Harris second on the Bulls in scoring at 14.0 points per game.
Shawn Roundtree Jr., Central Michigan
Guard, Senior, Edwardsville, Ill. (Mineral Area College)
Senior guard Shawn Roundtree Jr. led Central Michigan in a road setback to No. 23/25 Buffalo, posting a game and season-high 26 points in addition to five rebounds, three assists and one steal. In 37 minutes of playing time, Roundtree shot 9-of-16 (.563) from the field, 5-of-7 (.714) from 3-point range and 3-of-4 (.750) from the free throw line against the Bulls. His five 3-pointers tied a career-high. Roundtree ranks second on the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), 3-pointers (43) and assists (75).
Paul Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Guard, Redshirt Senior, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Redshirt senior Paul Jackson single-handedly carried Eastern Michigan to victory over Northern Illinois, Feb. 9, scoring 20 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead the Eagles to victory. The guard not only shot 9-of-16 (.562) from the field, but the floor general also dished out eight assists while committing just two turnovers. Jackson has now scored 10-or-more points in 12 consecutive games, and has upped his scoring average to a team-high 14.0 on the season.
Jaylin Walker, Kent State
Guard, Senior, Inkster, Mich.
Senior Jaylin Walker led the Flashes this week in games against Miami and Akron.Against Miami, the senior guard led all scorers with 27 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double as he completed an all-around performance with an assist and steal. With his 27 points, Walker’s total games of scoring 20 or more moved to 13 total on the season. He drew nine fouls and went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe. Walker scored the game’s final four points that lifted Kent State to a 70-67 win over Miami. Despite the loss against Akron, Walker finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, 1 assist and steal. On the season, Walker is averaging 22.4 points per game on shooting 40 percent from the field and 41 percent from long range.
Teyvion Kirk, Ohio
Guard, Sophomore, Joliet, Ill. / Joliet West
Sophomore guard Teyvion Kirk led Ohio this weekend as the Bobcats took on Miami. Kirk led Ohio in scoring, dropping 18 points and going 7-of-18 from the field 1-of-3 from three-point range and 3-of-6 from the free throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists and had five steals.
Jaelan Sanford, Toledo
Guard, Senior, Evansville, Ind. (Reitz)
Senior guard Jaelan Sanford averaged a team-high 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game to lead the Rockets to a pair of victories over Akron and Bowling Green. The two wins give Toledo a 2.5-game lead in the MAC’s West Division and put UT just a 0.5 behind the Falcons and Buffalo in the overall MAC standings. Sanford tallied 17 points and six rebounds in the Rockets’ 65-52 win over the Zips. Fifteen of Sanford’s points came in the second half and helped UT outscore Akron 32-16 down the stretch after trailing by a 36-31 margin at the 12:00 mark. In the Rockets’ 78-71 road win over the Falcons, Sanford registered his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. His three-point field goal with 3:00 to play put Toledo ahead 70-68, and the Rockets didn’t trail the rest of the way. Sanford's defensive play helped the Rockets limit their opponents last week to a 33.6 FG% (44-of-131) and a 16.7 3PTFG% (8-of-48)
Seth Dugan, Western Michigan
Center, Senior, Otsego, Mich. (Otsego)
Seth Dugan earned his ninth and tenth double-double of the season over the past week after averaging 17.0 point and 11.5 rebounds per game. The Otsego, Mich., native has registered a double-double in four of the past five games. Dugan collected 17 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes on Tuesday against Bowling Green. Dugan was 7-of-12 from the field against the Falcons while also having one steal and four assists. At Ball State on Saturday, Dugan dominated once again with 17 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. During MAC play, Dugan has averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest while five of his 10 double-doubles have come against conference opponents. The senior center is six double-doubles away from tying the school record for most in a single-season (16). Over the week, Dugan averaged 34.5 minutes and shot 62.5 percent from the field.