SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference today named Davidson forward Ian Johnson as its first men’s basketball Player of the Week for the 2005-06 season.

Johnson, a 6-9, 225-pound senior from Ruckersville, VA, averaged 20.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game through Davidson’s first three contests. Johnson, who led the Wildcats in scoring in each of their first three games, shot 53 percent from the floor (24-of-45) and 93 percent (14-of-15) from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 23 points in an overtime win over St. Joseph’s on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He also added six rebounds and a pair of assists. Earlier in the week, Johnson tallied 20 points and nine boards in a victory over UMass after opening the season with a 19-point outing versus top-ranked Duke. Johnson recorded only one turnover in 104 minutes of playing time.

Others considered for the Player of the Week award included The Citadel’s Demetrius Nelson (career highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in an overtime win over Army), Elon’s Jackson Atoyebi (21 points, 13 rebounds vs. IUPUI), Furman’s Eric Webb (14.6 ppg, 15 3-pointers in five games), Georgia Southern’s Elton Nesbitt (20.7 ppg average over first six games), UNC Greensboro’s Kyle Hines (19.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg in first four games) and Western Carolina’s Antonio Russell (21 points in a win over Bowling Green and career-high 22 points vs. Atlanta Christian).

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