The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its men’s basketball Players of the Week. The honorees are Akron senior center Isaiah Johnson and Western Michigan junior guard Thomas Wilder.
For details on these players and other nominees,
click “Read More.”
For details on these players and other nominees,
click “Read More.”
MAC Men’s Basketball East Division Player of the Week
Isaiah Johnson, Akron, Center
Senior, Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills)
Johnson became Akron's 42nd member of the 1,000 point club after a career-high 33-point performance against Central Michigan. Johnson lifted the Zips to a 89-85 win ate in the game, scoring 10 consecutive points in the final six minutes of the game. Johnson added a key block and assist to secure the win. Johnson shot 11-of-19 from the field and 11-of-16 from the free throw line while adding nine rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. Johnson added eight points to his weekly total in a 74-70 win over Miami. He connected with 2-of-3 shots in the paint and added a 4-of-7 effort from the charity stripe. Johnson secured five rebounds, including an offensive rebound and put-back to give Akron its final lead of the game with 2:25 left to play. He added a blocked shot and a steal. For the week, Johnson scored 41 points on 59 percent (13-of-22) shooting from the floor and a 65 percent (15-of-23) performance from the free throw line. He added 14 rebounds (7.0 rebs/g), three assists (1.5 ast/g), two blocked shots (1.0 blk/g), and a steal (0.5 stl/g).
MAC Men’s Basketball West Division Player of the Week
Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan, Guard
Junior, Montgomery, Ill. (Quakerdale Prep-Iowa)
Wilder led Western Michigan to a pair of wins this past week as the Broncos evened their MAC record to 2-2. It was the first time this season WMU has posted back-to-back wins. The Broncos defeated Toledo on Tuesday, 90-74, and Kent State Saturday, 92-88. Wilder averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and going 5-for-8 from behind the arc (62.5). In the win over Toledo, Wilder had 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals. Against Kent State he produced 24 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Isaiah Johnson, Akron, Center
Senior, Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills)
Johnson became Akron's 42nd member of the 1,000 point club after a career-high 33-point performance against Central Michigan. Johnson lifted the Zips to a 89-85 win ate in the game, scoring 10 consecutive points in the final six minutes of the game. Johnson added a key block and assist to secure the win. Johnson shot 11-of-19 from the field and 11-of-16 from the free throw line while adding nine rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. Johnson added eight points to his weekly total in a 74-70 win over Miami. He connected with 2-of-3 shots in the paint and added a 4-of-7 effort from the charity stripe. Johnson secured five rebounds, including an offensive rebound and put-back to give Akron its final lead of the game with 2:25 left to play. He added a blocked shot and a steal. For the week, Johnson scored 41 points on 59 percent (13-of-22) shooting from the floor and a 65 percent (15-of-23) performance from the free throw line. He added 14 rebounds (7.0 rebs/g), three assists (1.5 ast/g), two blocked shots (1.0 blk/g), and a steal (0.5 stl/g).
MAC Men’s Basketball West Division Player of the Week
Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan, Guard
Junior, Montgomery, Ill. (Quakerdale Prep-Iowa)
Wilder led Western Michigan to a pair of wins this past week as the Broncos evened their MAC record to 2-2. It was the first time this season WMU has posted back-to-back wins. The Broncos defeated Toledo on Tuesday, 90-74, and Kent State Saturday, 92-88. Wilder averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and going 5-for-8 from behind the arc (62.5). In the win over Toledo, Wilder had 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals. Against Kent State he produced 24 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Other Nominees
Franko House, Ball State, Forward
Senior, Elkhart, Ind. (Concord)
House averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last week in leading Ball State to a pair of MAC wins. The senior forward scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in Tuesday's win over Miami. He connected on 5 of 6 attempts from the floor and made good on 10 of 12 free throws. House then recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards Saturday as Ball State won at two-time defending MAC Tournament champion Buffalo. For the week, House shot 69 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the foul line, as he helped the Cardinals even their league record at 2-2. Through four MAC games, he is averaging 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Blake Hamilton, Buffalo, Wing
Senior, Pasadena, CA (Pasadena)
Hamilton stuffed the stat sheet for the Bulls this past week with 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals over two games. On Tuesday against Ohio, Hamilton had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while adding six assists. On Saturday against Ball State, Hamilton added 14 points, while finishing with a game high nine assists.
Braylon Rayson, Central Michigan, Guard
Senior, Dallas, Texas (West Mesquite)
Rayson contributed two phenomenal individual efforts last week, helping Central Michigan average over 90 points per game en route to a 1-1 record. In home games versus Akron and Toledo, he averaged 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Rayson's shooting was lights out as he went .528 overall from the field (19-of-36), .533 from beyond the arc (8-of-15) and .900 (9-of-10) from the free throw line. Versus Akron, Rayson scored 27 points and pulled down six rebounds, as CMU dropped a tight one to the MAC front-running Zips. In a win over MAC West rival Toledo, Rayson led the Chippewas with 28 points to go along with a team-best four assists and five rebounds. Rayson, who combines with junior guard Marcus Keene to form the nation's top-scoring backcourt tandem, ranks third in the MAC, averaging 19.2 points per game.
Ty Toney, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Senior, Atlanta, Ga. (Alpharetta)
Toney led the Eagles to a perfect 2-0 week in a pair of Mid-American Conference road games, moving the Green and White into a tie for first place in the MAC West Division. In EMU's first game of the week at Bowling Green, the Atlanta, Ga. native led the Eagles with 16 points on Eastern's way to an 81-53 victory at the Stroh Center, Jan. 10. In that game, Toney went 7-of-14 from the floor, while dishing out four assists and picking up two steals. On Jan. 14, Toney again led the offense in Athens, Ohio as the Eagles knocked off Ohio, giving the Bobcats their first MAC loss as well as their first home loss of the 2016-17 campaign. It was the first time that EMU had won in Athens since the 2002-03 season. In that game, Toney posted a season-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from downtown. Additionally, the senior guard grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and snagged three steals in the Eagles' 53-49 win at the OU Convocation Center. Overall, Toney averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, while boasting an assist/turnover ratio of 1.8. Toney shot at a 52 percent clip, going 13-of-25 from the floor, while connecting on half of his attempts from beyond the arc (4-of-8).
Deon Edwin, Kent State, Guard
Sr., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Edwin had one of his best weeks of the season, and certainly his most efficient. The senior guard posted shooting percentages of 70.4 percent (12-for-17) from the floor, 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from 3-point range and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from the free throw line. Against Northern Illinois in an overtime game, he scored 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting. He also had a team-best four assists. He once again led the Flashes in assists on the road against Western Michigan, paired with his 16 points. Edwin was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor. The Golden Flashes played two close games, and Edwin was solid in the second half of each contest. He shot a combined 7-for-9 in the second half of each game and was perfect from 3-point range.
Marin Maric, NIU, Center
Senior, Split, Croatia (La Lumiere School)
Maric averaged a double-double with 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Huskies won a pair of road games last week at Kent State (Jan. 10) and Bowling Green (Jan. 14). Maric recorded his 16th career double-double against the Golden Flashes, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Huskies erased a 13-point second half deficit to down Kent State, 74-70, in overtime. Maric then posted seven points and 10 rebounds in NIU's 69-52 victory at Bowling Green as NIU improved to 3-1 in league play. Maric currently ranks 19th in the MAC in scoring (13.4 ppg), ninth in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (53.7 percent).
Kenny Kaminski, Ohio, Forward
R-Sr., Medina, Ohio (Medina)
Kaminski knocked down a jumper with a hand in his face with 0.8 seconds left to lift the Ohio men's basketball team to an incredible 74-72 come-from-behind win over Mid-American Conference East Division rival Buffalo last Tuesday (Jan. 10) at Alumni Arena. The Bobcats erased a 15-point second half deficit in the victory. After trailing by a season-high 14 points at halftime, Ohio outscored Buffalo, 46-30, in the second half. Kaminski finished with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Kaminski tied for the team lead with 11.0 points per game over two contests last week for the Bobcats (11-4, 3-1 MAC).
Franko House, Ball State, Forward
Senior, Elkhart, Ind. (Concord)
House averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last week in leading Ball State to a pair of MAC wins. The senior forward scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in Tuesday's win over Miami. He connected on 5 of 6 attempts from the floor and made good on 10 of 12 free throws. House then recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards Saturday as Ball State won at two-time defending MAC Tournament champion Buffalo. For the week, House shot 69 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the foul line, as he helped the Cardinals even their league record at 2-2. Through four MAC games, he is averaging 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Blake Hamilton, Buffalo, Wing
Senior, Pasadena, CA (Pasadena)
Hamilton stuffed the stat sheet for the Bulls this past week with 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals over two games. On Tuesday against Ohio, Hamilton had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while adding six assists. On Saturday against Ball State, Hamilton added 14 points, while finishing with a game high nine assists.
Braylon Rayson, Central Michigan, Guard
Senior, Dallas, Texas (West Mesquite)
Rayson contributed two phenomenal individual efforts last week, helping Central Michigan average over 90 points per game en route to a 1-1 record. In home games versus Akron and Toledo, he averaged 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Rayson's shooting was lights out as he went .528 overall from the field (19-of-36), .533 from beyond the arc (8-of-15) and .900 (9-of-10) from the free throw line. Versus Akron, Rayson scored 27 points and pulled down six rebounds, as CMU dropped a tight one to the MAC front-running Zips. In a win over MAC West rival Toledo, Rayson led the Chippewas with 28 points to go along with a team-best four assists and five rebounds. Rayson, who combines with junior guard Marcus Keene to form the nation's top-scoring backcourt tandem, ranks third in the MAC, averaging 19.2 points per game.
Ty Toney, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Senior, Atlanta, Ga. (Alpharetta)
Toney led the Eagles to a perfect 2-0 week in a pair of Mid-American Conference road games, moving the Green and White into a tie for first place in the MAC West Division. In EMU's first game of the week at Bowling Green, the Atlanta, Ga. native led the Eagles with 16 points on Eastern's way to an 81-53 victory at the Stroh Center, Jan. 10. In that game, Toney went 7-of-14 from the floor, while dishing out four assists and picking up two steals. On Jan. 14, Toney again led the offense in Athens, Ohio as the Eagles knocked off Ohio, giving the Bobcats their first MAC loss as well as their first home loss of the 2016-17 campaign. It was the first time that EMU had won in Athens since the 2002-03 season. In that game, Toney posted a season-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from downtown. Additionally, the senior guard grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and snagged three steals in the Eagles' 53-49 win at the OU Convocation Center. Overall, Toney averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, while boasting an assist/turnover ratio of 1.8. Toney shot at a 52 percent clip, going 13-of-25 from the floor, while connecting on half of his attempts from beyond the arc (4-of-8).
Deon Edwin, Kent State, Guard
Sr., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Edwin had one of his best weeks of the season, and certainly his most efficient. The senior guard posted shooting percentages of 70.4 percent (12-for-17) from the floor, 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from 3-point range and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from the free throw line. Against Northern Illinois in an overtime game, he scored 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting. He also had a team-best four assists. He once again led the Flashes in assists on the road against Western Michigan, paired with his 16 points. Edwin was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor. The Golden Flashes played two close games, and Edwin was solid in the second half of each contest. He shot a combined 7-for-9 in the second half of each game and was perfect from 3-point range.
Marin Maric, NIU, Center
Senior, Split, Croatia (La Lumiere School)
Maric averaged a double-double with 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Huskies won a pair of road games last week at Kent State (Jan. 10) and Bowling Green (Jan. 14). Maric recorded his 16th career double-double against the Golden Flashes, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Huskies erased a 13-point second half deficit to down Kent State, 74-70, in overtime. Maric then posted seven points and 10 rebounds in NIU's 69-52 victory at Bowling Green as NIU improved to 3-1 in league play. Maric currently ranks 19th in the MAC in scoring (13.4 ppg), ninth in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (53.7 percent).
Kenny Kaminski, Ohio, Forward
R-Sr., Medina, Ohio (Medina)
Kaminski knocked down a jumper with a hand in his face with 0.8 seconds left to lift the Ohio men's basketball team to an incredible 74-72 come-from-behind win over Mid-American Conference East Division rival Buffalo last Tuesday (Jan. 10) at Alumni Arena. The Bobcats erased a 15-point second half deficit in the victory. After trailing by a season-high 14 points at halftime, Ohio outscored Buffalo, 46-30, in the second half. Kaminski finished with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Kaminski tied for the team lead with 11.0 points per game over two contests last week for the Bobcats (11-4, 3-1 MAC).
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