GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman junior Jordan Lyons was named Andy Katz’s National Player of the Week, it was announced by the NCAA.com’s basketball writer on Monday morning.

Lyons, a native of Peachtree City, Georgia, poured in 54 points in Thursday’s 107-67 win over North Greenville and matched an NCAA Division I record with 15 3-point baskets in the victory. His 54 points was the most by an NCAA Division I player since Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks netted 54 in 2009. On Saturday, Lyons, who is averaging 23.4 points per game, scored a team-high 17 points to propel the Paladins to a 76-68 overtime win at No. 8 Villanova.

Saturday’s victory over the defending national champion Wildcats, coupled with the Paladins’ 60-58 triumph at 2018 NCAA Final Four participant Loyola Chicago eight days earlier, helped 5-0 Furman enter Katz’s Power 36 Poll at No. 34 on Monday. After receiving one vote in the Associated Press Top 25 following its win at Loyola Chicago, Furman picked up 50 points in this week’s poll, placing the Paladins 30th in votes received this week.

Furman’s win over eighth-ranked Villanova represented its first victory over a ranked opponent since 1991 and the highest-ranked opponent that the Paladins had beaten since downing No. 4 North Carolina, 83-70, on Feb. 2, 1979, at the North-South Doubleheader in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Paladins are currently No. 9 in RealTime RPI’s ratings, No. 76 in the latest Sagarin Ratings and No. 73 in ESPN’s BPI. According to ESPN, Furman has the nation’s top Strength of Record, which is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s win-loss record is to achieve.

The Paladins return to action on Wednesday when they host Southern Wesleyan at 6:30 p.m. at Timmons Arena.