SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s Mike Brown has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played Jan. 5-12, while Furman’s Devin Sibley earned the CRONS Freshman of the Week Award, the league office announced Tuesday (Jan. 13).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mike Brown, G, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.
Mike Brown averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the floor during the week as Western Carolina fell to UTC (66-60) before topping UNCG (82-72).  Brown opened the week with 14 points and four rebounds against the Mocs before scoring a career-high 27 points against the Spartans.  Brown went 8-of-10 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds in the win.

Other nominees: Quinton Marshall (The Citadel), Kris Acox (Furman), Jestin Lewis (Mercer), Darius Jones-Gibson (Samford), Eric Robertson (Chattanooga) and Karl Cochran (Wofford).

CRONS Freshman of the Week: Devin Sibley, G, Knoxville, Tenn.
Furman’s Devin Sibley has been named the CRONS Freshman of the Week award after averaging 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in two games last week.  Sibley scored a personal-best 21 points, all in the second half, against UNCG as the Paladins rallied for a 71-64 victory over the Spartans on Thursday night.  Saturday afternoon against VMI, Sibley recorded nine points and four rebounds.   The Knoxville, Tenn., native shot 44 percent from the field and made 73 percent of his free throws (11-for-15) last week.

Other nominees: Jake Wright (The Citadel), Christen Cunningham (Samford) and Devin Peterson (Western Carolina).

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
Dec. 16 – Tevon Saddler, UNCG
Dec. 23 – Tyler Hood, Samford
Jan. 6 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina
Jan. 13 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina