#HLMBB Players of the Week: Jan. 15
Lance Rinker
INDIANAPOLIS — Wright State’s
Grant Benzinger was tabbed Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after helping the Raiders take sole possession of first place in the conference standings with a win at Northern Kentucky. Meanwhile, Cleveland State’s
Tyree Appleby — who averaged 16.5 points, 7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in two games — garnered the league’s Freshman of the Week honor for the third time this season.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grant Benzinger | Wright State | Sr. | Guard | Cincinnati, Ohio
Playing in Highland Heights, Ky., just across the Ohio River from his hometown of Cincinnati, Wright State senior Grant Benzinger scored 31 points to lead the Raiders to an 84-81 road win at Northern Kentucky on Thursday, allowing WSU to take sole possession of first place in the Horizon League standings. Benzinger — who finished one point shy of his career high of 32 points — shot 8-of-13 on the night, including 4-of-7 marksmanship from 3-point range, and converted 11 of his 13 attempts from the foul line. He also hauled in seven rebounds and recorded one block and one steal as the Raiders extended their winning streak to six games. In five league games, in which WSU has gone 5-0, Benzinger has averaged 19 points and 6.8 rebounds.
2017-18 Players of the Week
Nov. 13 – Kendrick Nunn, Oakland
Nov. 20 – Lavone Holland II, Northern Kentucky
Nov. 27 – Kameron Chatman, Detroit Mercy
Dec. 4 – Martez Walker, Oakland
Dec. 11 – Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Dec. 18 – Kendrick Nunn, Oakland
Dec. 26 – Jalen Hayes, Oakland
Jan. 2 – Sandy Cohen III, Green Bay
Jan. 8 – Cameron Morse, Youngstown State
Jan. 15 – Grant Benzinger, Wright State
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Tyree Appleby | Cleveland State | Fr. | Guard | Jacksonville, Ark.
Appleby posted a balanced average stat line of 16.5 points, 7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in two games last week. In a narrow, 85-84 setback at Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Appleby scored 19 points and dished out a career-high seven assists in addition to grabbing four rebounds and recording a pair of steals. On the defensive end, he limited freshman counterpart Jermaine Jackson Jr., who erupted for a career-high 32 points on Friday versus Youngstown State, to just six points on 2-of-9 shooting. Appleby recorded 14 points, 7 assists, three rebounds, and three steals in the Vikings’ 81-68 loss at Oakland on Friday. He shot 50 percent from the field in the two contests (10-of-20), 4-of-11 from 3-point range, and converted all but one of his 10 free throw attempts.
2017-18 Freshmen of the Week
Nov. 13 – Everett Winchester, Wright State
Nov. 20 – Jermaine Jackson Jr., Detroit Mercy
Nov. 27 – Everett Winchester, Wright State
Dec. 4 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Dec. 11 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
Dec. 18 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Dec. 26 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Jan. 2 – P.J. Pipes, Green Bay
Jan. 8 – Loudon Love, Wright State
Jan. 15 – Tyree Appleby, Cleveland State
