SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga forward Z. Mason has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played Dec. 31-Jan. 6, while The Citadel’s Brian White earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week Award, the league office announced today (Jan. 7).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Z. Mason, Chattanooga, Sr., F, Nashville, Tenn.
Z. Mason led the Mocs to two road wins last week as Chattanooga topped Furman (72-63) and The Citadel (82-78) in league play. Mason posted back-to-back double-doubles as he began the week with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Paladins. The Nashville, Tenn., native followed that performance with 30 points and 14 rebounds in a come-from-behind win against the Bulldogs. Mason scored 26 of his 30 points in the second half against The Citadel and has now recorded double-doubles in each of his last five games. The senior shot 45 percent from the field and was 4-of-13 from 3-point range last week. Mason added two assists, three steals and nine blocked shots in UTC’s two games. He ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (19.1 ppg) and is second in rebounding (9.1 rpg).

Other nominees: Jay Canty (Appalachian State), Matt Van Scyoc (The Citadel), De’Mon Brooks (Davidson), Lucas Troutman (Elon), Kayel Locke (UNCG), Tim Williams (Samford), Trey Sumler (Western Carolina) and Karl Cochran (Wofford).

CRONS Freshman of the Week: Brian White, The Citadel, F, Richmond, Va.
The Citadel’s Brian White averaged 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last week for the Bulldogs as The Citadel dropped a pair of games last week. After scoring eight points in a nonconference matchup at Radford, the Richmond, Va., native tallied 20 points and eight rebounds against the Mocs on Monday night. White shot 48 percent from the floor last week and added three blocked shots for the Bulldogs. He leads all Southern Conference freshmen in scoring with 14.4 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. White is also the top freshman rebounder with 7.3 boards per game, which is good for fifth in the SoCon.

Other nominees: Tevon Saddler (UNCG), Isaiah Williams, (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
Jan. 7 – Z. Mason, Chattanooga