SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman forward Matt Rafferty has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests Dec. 11-17. The award is selected by the league office.
Rafferty turned in well-rounded stat lines in both of the Paladins’ contests last week, averaging 13.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per game.
In Furman’s 77-69 win over Charleston Southern on Dec. 11, the Hinsdale, Illinois, native scored 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, adding six assists, three blocks and four steals. In the Paladins’ 93-50 win over UNCW on Saturday, Rafferty had 13 points, 11 boards, seven assists with no turnovers, four steals and two blocked shots.
For the week, Rafferty shot 73.3 percent from the floor, making 11 of his 15 attempts, including his only 3-point try.
Rafferty has helped Furman to a 12-0 start to the season and a spot in the national polls. The Paladins entered the Associated Press poll for the first time in school history on Dec. 3 and now sit 24th. Furman entered the USA Today Coaches poll on Monday for the first time in school history at No. 25. Furman is ranked third nationally in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
Furman’s start is the best for a SoCon squad since Lefty Driesell’s 1963-64 Davidson team opened 15-0 en route to a 22-4 campaign. The Paladins have won 19 of their last 20 games dating back to last season and 18 straight regular-season contests.
Furman faces its final nonconference test Friday at LSU – coached by former Chattanooga coach Will Wade – in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 8 p.m. Eastern. That contest will air on SECNetwork+.
Other nominees: Kaiden Rice (The Citadel), Daivien Williamson (ETSU), Francis Alonso (UNCG), Brandon Austin (Samford), Jonathan Scott (Chattanooga), Onno Steger (Western Carolina) and Cameron Jackson (Wofford).
2018-19 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 13 Josh Sharkey, Samford
Nov. 20 Jordan Lyons, Furman
Nov. 27 Lew Stallworth, The Citadel
Dec. 4 Lew Stallworth, The Citadel
Dec. 11 Jeromy Rodriguez, ETSU
Dec. 18 Matt Rafferty, Furman
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