The Mid-American Conference has announced its Men’s Basketball Players of the Week. This week’s top honors went to Richaun Holmes of Bowling Green and Karrington Ward of Eastern Michigan.
MAC Men's Basketball East Division Player of the Week
Richaun Holmes, Bowling Green, Forward
Senior, Lockport, Ill./Lockport
Holmes posted double digit points in both games last week to give him 12 straight games with double figures and help the Falcons go 2-0 overall. Holmes scored 12 points, pulled down six rebounds and turned away four shots in a 65-49 home win over Western Michigan on Wednesday night, Feb. 10. He followed that up with a game-high 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the Falcons' 79-65 road win at Ball State on Saturday. Holmes, who has now posted four 20-point games this season, leads the Falcons in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. Overall for the week, the forward averaged 16.0 points on 61.9 percent shooting overall, including going a percent 2-for-2 behind the three-point line and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He also averaged 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and increased his MAC leading blocked shots total to 61 on the season. Holmes, who already recorded his 500th career rebound and his 200th career block this year, is only a mere 41 points away from reaching 1,000 for his career.
MAC Men's Basketball West Division Player of the Week presented by Yp.com
Karrington Ward, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Senior, Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township
Ward put together an incredible week as the Eagles went 2-0, defeating Miami and Akron in back-to-back games. The six-foot seven-inch high flier averaged 18.5 points and 10 rebounds over the week, playing 37-of-40 minutes in each of the victories. Ward shot 52.2 percent from the floor, while knocking down 60 percent of his three point shot attempts. In addition, he hit 77.8 percent of his free throw opportunities, while playing gritty defense, blocking two shots per game and picking the opponent's pocket once per contest. Ward started the week by putting up his fifth double-double of the season by posting 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles' 83-69 win over Miami, Feb. 10, before recording his sixth double-double of the year in his next game by scoring 15 points and ripping down 10 rebounds in Eastern's 78-74 win versus Akron, Feb. 14. In addition, connected on six field goals in each game, including when he knocked down five of six three point attempts in the contest against Miami before swatting four shots against the Zips.
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MAC Men's Basketball East Division Player of the Week
Richaun Holmes, Bowling Green, Forward
Senior, Lockport, Ill./Lockport
Holmes posted double digit points in both games last week to give him 12 straight games with double figures and help the Falcons go 2-0 overall. Holmes scored 12 points, pulled down six rebounds and turned away four shots in a 65-49 home win over Western Michigan on Wednesday night, Feb. 10. He followed that up with a game-high 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the Falcons' 79-65 road win at Ball State on Saturday. Holmes, who has now posted four 20-point games this season, leads the Falcons in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. Overall for the week, the forward averaged 16.0 points on 61.9 percent shooting overall, including going a percent 2-for-2 behind the three-point line and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He also averaged 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and increased his MAC leading blocked shots total to 61 on the season. Holmes, who already recorded his 500th career rebound and his 200th career block this year, is only a mere 41 points away from reaching 1,000 for his career.
MAC Men's Basketball West Division Player of the Week presented by Yp.com
Karrington Ward, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Senior, Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township
Ward put together an incredible week as the Eagles went 2-0, defeating Miami and Akron in back-to-back games. The six-foot seven-inch high flier averaged 18.5 points and 10 rebounds over the week, playing 37-of-40 minutes in each of the victories. Ward shot 52.2 percent from the floor, while knocking down 60 percent of his three point shot attempts. In addition, he hit 77.8 percent of his free throw opportunities, while playing gritty defense, blocking two shots per game and picking the opponent's pocket once per contest. Ward started the week by putting up his fifth double-double of the season by posting 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles' 83-69 win over Miami, Feb. 10, before recording his sixth double-double of the year in his next game by scoring 15 points and ripping down 10 rebounds in Eastern's 78-74 win versus Akron, Feb. 14. In addition, connected on six field goals in each game, including when he knocked down five of six three point attempts in the contest against Miami before swatting four shots against the Zips.
(CLICK READ MORE TO SEE OTHER TOP PERFORMERS . . . )
Other Top Performers:
Pat Forsythe, Akron, Center
Junior, Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick High School
Forsythe helped the Zips to a 1-1 record last week, averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He shot 45.5 percent from the field (10-of-22) and 81.8 percent from the line (9-of-11). In Akron's 61-52 win over Kent State, Forsythe led the Zips with 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. In Akron's 78-75 loss at Eastern Michigan, Forsythe scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds (three offensive), while adding one assist, one blocked shot and one steal.
Justin Moss, Buffalo, Forward
Junior, Romulus, MI/Romulus
Moss averaged 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds this past week for the Bulls capped off by his career-high 33 points against Toledo. Moss added 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the year. Moss went 14-of-23 from the floor, setting a new career high in field goals made. He added 13 points against Central Michigan. Moss continues to lead the Bulls and the MAC in scoring and rebounding
Chris Fowler, Central Michigan, Guard
Junior, Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day
Fowler led Central Michigan to back-to-back conference road wins for the first time since 2000-01 and two season series sweeps last week, lifting the Chippewas into first place in the MAC West. Versus Ohio on Tuesday night, Fowler primarily played the role of distributor, dishing out 7 assists to go along with 6 points and 5 rebounds. John Simons scored 4 of CMU's first 6 shots, as the Chippewas jumped out to a quick 15-0 lead, and Fowler assisted on each of his four baskets. At Buffalo on Saturday afternoon, Fowler returned to his role as leading scorer, posting a game-high 22 points, his 19th game in double figures and his fifth 20-plus point performance of the season. He helped CMU rally from a 13-point halftime deficit and scored the game-winning point, sinking a free throw with eight seconds remaining. He also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
Devareaux Manley, Kent State, Guard
Oakland, Calif./Castlemont
Manley continued to play at a high level and averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game to help a short-handed Kent State team split a pair of road games against two of the top teams in the conference. Manley notched his fourth 20-point performance of the season in a loss to rival Akron on Tuesday. In front of a national television audience on ESPNU, Manley was part of a Kent State backcourt that outscored Toledo's 58-36 in earning a big road victory. Manley scored 17 points and matched a career-high with 3 steals.
Eric Washington, Miami, Guard
Junior, Columbia, SC/Keenan
Washington accounted for 44 percent of Miami's scoring last week as the RedHawks split a pair of games, picking up a thrilling 77-66 win over Ohio Saturday to snap a three-game losing skid this season and a seven game-losing streak in the series with Ohio. Washington scored 17 points and had seven assists against the Bobcats. He recorded his fourth 20-point effort of the season, the most 20-point games of any RedHawk this season, scoring 20 at Eastern Michigan. He averaged 18.5 ppg, shooting 55.0 percent from the field and contributed to another 27 points averaging 5.5 apg. Washington shot 50 percent from 3-point range, sinking 4-of-10 triples and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line, knocking down 11-of-15 charity tosses. He also added two steals and six rebounds in last week's games. With his 11 assists last week, seven coming against the Bobcats, he moved into a tie for 6th on Miami's single-season list with 138 in 2014-15.
J.D. Weatherspoon, Toledo, Forward
Senior, Columbus, OH/Northland
Weatherspoon registered a pair of double-doubles last week, averaging 16.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg against Buffalo and Kent State. Weatherspoon also shot a team-best 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the field. In the Rockets' 92-88 win at Buffalo, Weatherspoon tallied 17 points and 10 boards. He then tallied 16 points and 10 boards vs. Kent State, including a pair of free throws to tie the contest at 75-75 with 31.7 seconds remaining in overtime.
David Brown, Western Michigan, Guard
Graduate Student, Roscoe, Ill. / Hononegah
Brown was the Broncos' top performer in their win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, scoring a game-high 17 points against the Huskies and helping WMU to a home win. The sixth-year senior guard averaged 13.0 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in the Broncos' games against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, shooting just 38.1 percent from the field but contributing a much better 55.6 field goal percentage against the Huskies that included a 3-of-6 performance from three-point range. Brown leads the Broncos in scoring with a 15.6 points per game average and is shooting 43.0 percent from the field on the season.
Pat Forsythe, Akron, Center
Junior, Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick High School
Forsythe helped the Zips to a 1-1 record last week, averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He shot 45.5 percent from the field (10-of-22) and 81.8 percent from the line (9-of-11). In Akron's 61-52 win over Kent State, Forsythe led the Zips with 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. In Akron's 78-75 loss at Eastern Michigan, Forsythe scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds (three offensive), while adding one assist, one blocked shot and one steal.
Justin Moss, Buffalo, Forward
Junior, Romulus, MI/Romulus
Moss averaged 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds this past week for the Bulls capped off by his career-high 33 points against Toledo. Moss added 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the year. Moss went 14-of-23 from the floor, setting a new career high in field goals made. He added 13 points against Central Michigan. Moss continues to lead the Bulls and the MAC in scoring and rebounding
Chris Fowler, Central Michigan, Guard
Junior, Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day
Fowler led Central Michigan to back-to-back conference road wins for the first time since 2000-01 and two season series sweeps last week, lifting the Chippewas into first place in the MAC West. Versus Ohio on Tuesday night, Fowler primarily played the role of distributor, dishing out 7 assists to go along with 6 points and 5 rebounds. John Simons scored 4 of CMU's first 6 shots, as the Chippewas jumped out to a quick 15-0 lead, and Fowler assisted on each of his four baskets. At Buffalo on Saturday afternoon, Fowler returned to his role as leading scorer, posting a game-high 22 points, his 19th game in double figures and his fifth 20-plus point performance of the season. He helped CMU rally from a 13-point halftime deficit and scored the game-winning point, sinking a free throw with eight seconds remaining. He also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
Devareaux Manley, Kent State, Guard
Oakland, Calif./Castlemont
Manley continued to play at a high level and averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game to help a short-handed Kent State team split a pair of road games against two of the top teams in the conference. Manley notched his fourth 20-point performance of the season in a loss to rival Akron on Tuesday. In front of a national television audience on ESPNU, Manley was part of a Kent State backcourt that outscored Toledo's 58-36 in earning a big road victory. Manley scored 17 points and matched a career-high with 3 steals.
Eric Washington, Miami, Guard
Junior, Columbia, SC/Keenan
Washington accounted for 44 percent of Miami's scoring last week as the RedHawks split a pair of games, picking up a thrilling 77-66 win over Ohio Saturday to snap a three-game losing skid this season and a seven game-losing streak in the series with Ohio. Washington scored 17 points and had seven assists against the Bobcats. He recorded his fourth 20-point effort of the season, the most 20-point games of any RedHawk this season, scoring 20 at Eastern Michigan. He averaged 18.5 ppg, shooting 55.0 percent from the field and contributed to another 27 points averaging 5.5 apg. Washington shot 50 percent from 3-point range, sinking 4-of-10 triples and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line, knocking down 11-of-15 charity tosses. He also added two steals and six rebounds in last week's games. With his 11 assists last week, seven coming against the Bobcats, he moved into a tie for 6th on Miami's single-season list with 138 in 2014-15.
J.D. Weatherspoon, Toledo, Forward
Senior, Columbus, OH/Northland
Weatherspoon registered a pair of double-doubles last week, averaging 16.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg against Buffalo and Kent State. Weatherspoon also shot a team-best 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the field. In the Rockets' 92-88 win at Buffalo, Weatherspoon tallied 17 points and 10 boards. He then tallied 16 points and 10 boards vs. Kent State, including a pair of free throws to tie the contest at 75-75 with 31.7 seconds remaining in overtime.
David Brown, Western Michigan, Guard
Graduate Student, Roscoe, Ill. / Hononegah
Brown was the Broncos' top performer in their win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, scoring a game-high 17 points against the Huskies and helping WMU to a home win. The sixth-year senior guard averaged 13.0 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in the Broncos' games against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, shooting just 38.1 percent from the field but contributing a much better 55.6 field goal percentage against the Huskies that included a 3-of-6 performance from three-point range. Brown leads the Broncos in scoring with a 15.6 points per game average and is shooting 43.0 percent from the field on the season.
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