SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina guard Trey Sumler has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played Dec. 17-30, while Furman’s William Gates Jr., earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week Award, the league office announced today (Dec. 31).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trey Sumler, Western Carolina, Sr., G, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Western Carolina’s Trey Sumler averaged 26.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists over a three-game stretch as the Catamounts went 2-1 over the holidays.  Sumler tallied 18 points in WCU’s win over Charleston Southern (92-84) on Dec. 18 before scoring a game-high 21 points in 65-63 loss at Georgia (Dec. 21).  The senior then scored 40 points in the Catamounts’ 106-72 win over Milligan Monday night.  Sumler shot 62 percent from the floor over the three games, connected on 65 percent of his 3-point attempts (13-of-20) and was 14-of-15 from the free throw line.  A preseason all-conference selection, Sumler ranks third in the league in scoring (19.8 ppg) and is second in assists (4.3 apg).   He also ranks third in free throw shooting percentage (.844).    

Other nominees: Tab Hamilton (Appalachian State), Ashton Moore (The Citadel), Brian Sullivan (Davidson), Stephen Croone (Furman), Kyle Cain (UNCG), Z. Mason (Chattanooga), Tim Williams (Samford), and Karl Cochran (Wofford).

CRONS Freshman of the Week: William Gates Jr., Furman, G, Schertz, Texas
Furman’s William Gates Jr., averaged 13.0 points and 3.0 rebounds as the Paladins went 2-1 over their last three games.  Gates scored 16 points off the bench in Furman’s win over Liberty (Dec. 20) before leading the Paladins with 13 points in a loss at California (Dec. 28).  The Schertz, Texas native recorded 10 points in Monday’s win over UC Davis (Dec. 30).  Gates shot 61 percent from the field over the three games and was 5-for-10 from three-point range.  The guard has now scored in double figures in nine of his last 13 games and ranks third in the league among freshmen with 10.8 points per contest. 

Other nominees: Brian White (The Citadel), Tevon Saddler (UNCG), Jordan Capps (Samford) and Eric Garcia (Wofford).

 
SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Nov. 12 – Jelani Hewitt, Georgia Southern
Nov. 19 – Stephen Croone, Furman
Nov. 26 – Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
Dec. 3 – Jelani Hewitt, Georgia Southern
Dec. 10 – Tanner Samson, Elon
Dec. 17 – Sebastian Koch, Elon
Dec. 31 – Trey Sumler, Western Carolina