SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s James Sinclair has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played through Nov. 17, while Samford’s Christen Cunningham earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week Award, the league office announced Tuesday (Nov. 18).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: James Sinclair, G, Sr., Savannah, Ga.
James Sinclair averaged 25.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists in two games against SEC opponents last week.  The senior began the week with a game-high 20 points at Mississippi State on Friday night. He followed that performance with a career-high 31 points at Alabama on Monday.  Sinclair shot 53 percent from the field for the week and knocked down 44 percent (7-16) of his shots from 3-point range.  He went 10-of-14 from the free throw line over the two games.

Other nominees: Ashton Moore (The Citadel), Jalen Riley (ETSU), Ike Nwamu (Mercer), R.J. White (UNCG), Tyler Hood (Samford), Justin Tuoyo (Chattanooga), QJ Peterson (VMI) and Jaylen Allen (Wofford).

CRONS Freshman of the Week: Christen Cunningham, G, Georgetown, Ky.
Cunningham started the first two games of his collegiate career at Samford last week.  The Georgetown, Ky., native scored a team-high 10 points in Samford’s opener at Purdue. He added five rebounds and two assists against the Boilermakers.  In Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, Cunningham finished with eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.  For the week, he dished out eight assists and had just three turnovers.

SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Nov. 18 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina