SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI’s QJ Peterson has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played Dec. 2-8, while Furman’s Geoff Beans earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week Award, the league office announced Tuesday (Dec. 9).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: QJ Peterson, G, So., Hedgesville, W.Va.
QJ Peterson averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals last week as VMI topped Samford (88-66) before falling at Mercer (90-81).  The sophomore scored a game-high 28 points and dished out six assists at Samford on Thursday.  In Saturday’s game at Mercer, Peterson scored a season-high 32 points and knocked down six 3-pointers while dishing out six assists and pulling down six rebounds.  He currently ranks second in the SoCon and 15^th nationally with 20.8 points per game.

Other nominees: P.J. Horgan (The Citadel), Jalen Riley (ETSU), Stephen Croone (Furman), Ike Nwamu (Mercer), Kayel Locke (UNCG), Darius Jones-Gibson (Samford), Eric Robertson (Chattanooga), James Sinclair (Western Carolina) and Justin Gordon (Wofford).

CRONS Freshman of the Week: Geoff Beans, F, Toledo, Ohio
Furman’s Geoff Beans earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week award after appearing in just his second collegiate game.  Beans came off the bench and scored 21 points in 23 minutes as Furman held off Samford (74-64) Saturday afternoon.  The Toledo, Ohio, native connected on 5-of-10 field goal attempts, including 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.  Beans was 8-of-8 from the free throw line and knocked down six shots from the charity stripe in the final minute to help preserve the Paladins’ win.  He added two rebounds and a steal in the victory.

Other nominees: Jake Wright (The Citadel), Jordan Strawberry (Mercer), Christen Cunningham (Samford), Tucker Thompson (Western Carolina) and Derrick Brooks (Wofford).

SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Nov. 18 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina
Nov. 25 – Karl Cochran, Wofford
Dec. 2 – Casey Jones, Chattanooga
Dec. 9 – QJ Peterson, VMI