SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford point guard Justin Coleman has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests from Jan. 16-22. The award is selected by the league office.

Coleman averaged a double-double last week, scoring 20.0 points per game and dishing off 10.0 assists per contest against Wofford and Furman, who are both ranked inside the top 15 of the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.

Against the Terriers on Thursday, Coleman scored 20 points, 17 of which came in the second half as the Bulldogs rallied from a late nine-point deficit to get within two in the final three seconds of a 93-89 loss. Coleman handed out 12 assists, good for his league-best third game of 10 assists or more this season, and pulled down four rebounds.

Two days later against Furman, Coleman again scored an even 20 points, giving him consecutive 20-point outings for the first time this season. He assisted on eight baskets and had two rebounds.

Coleman went 8-for-14 from the floor (57.1 percent) in both contests and was 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from the free-throw line for the week. He totaled 20 assists against just eight turnovers and averaged 3.0 rebounds per game.

The weekly award is the first of Coleman’s career.

Samford (7-13, 3-4 SoCon) returns to action Wednesday at Chattanooga (6-14, 0-7) for a 7 p.m. game at McKenzie Arena.

Other nominees: Zane Najdawi (The Citadel), Desonta Bradford (ETSU), Daniel Fowler (Furman), Marvin Smith (UNCG), Makinde London (Chattanooga), Bubba Parham (VMI), Deriece Parks (Western Carolina) and Fletcher Magee (Wofford).

2017-18 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 14 Ria’n Holland, Mercer
Nov. 21 Fletcher Magee, Wofford
Nov. 28 Devin Sibley, Furman
Dec. 5 Francis Alonso, UNCG
Dec. 12 Fletcher Magee, Wofford
Dec. 19 Marvin Smith, UNCG
Jan. 2 Cameron Jackson, Wofford
Jan. 9 Peter Jurkin, ETSU
Jan. 16 Zane Najdawi, The Citadel
Jan. 23 Justin Coleman, Samford

-www.SoConSports.com-