SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer’s Stephon Jelks has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all games played Dec. 22 through Jan. 4. Jelks averaged a double-double over three games, as he posted 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds during the holidays. It is the second time this season Jelks has claimed the award, after being named the league’s Player of the Week on Nov. 24.

After falling at Ohio State on Dec. 22, Mercer picked up a road win at Kennesaw State (Dec. 30), before opening league play with a victory over Samford.

Jelks began the three-game stretch with nine rebounds at Ohio State. The sophomore then posted a career-high 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the win at Kennesaw State, before tallying 12 points and nine rebounds against Samford.

Jelks leads a balanced Mercer attack with 12.1 points per game and leads the Southern Conference with 9.0 rebounds per contest.

The Bears return to action Tuesday night (Jan. 5) when they visit Chattanooga.

Other top performers in the Southern Conference included The Citadel’s Quinton Marshall, ETSU’s T.J. Cromer, Furman’s Stephen Croone, Samford’s Christen Cunningham, Chattanooga’s Duke Ethridge, VMI’s QJ Peterson, Western Carolina’s Mike Brown and Wofford's Spencer Collins.

SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Nov. 17 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina
Nov. 24 – Stephon Jelks, Mercer
Dec. 1 – QJ Peterson, VMI
Dec. 9 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina
Dec. 15 – Matt Rose, Samford
Dec. 22 – Jestin Lewis, Mercer
Jan. 5 – Stephon Jelks, Mercer