SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer’s Neftali Alvarez has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by GEICO for all contests from Nov. 25-30 after averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in leading the Bears to a 3-0 start to the season. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Alvarez opened his season with 15 points, six assists and two rebounds in Mercer’s 79-48 win over North Georgia on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Two days later, the redshirt sophomore from Cantano, Puerto Rico, nearly posted a triple-double, scoring 17 points, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing off a career-best nine assists as the Bears upset the ACC’s Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 83-73, for Mercer’s first win over a Power 5 opponent since 2015.
 
Alvarez capped his big opening week Monday night with 16 points, another eight boards and three assists as the Bears cruised to an 86-69 win over Georgia State, which entered the contest ranked No. 6 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
 
For the week, Alvarez shot 40.6 percent from the floor (13-for-32) and 85.7 from the free-throw line (18-for-21), including a 10-for-11 showing (90.9 percent) against the Yellow Jackets.
 
Other nominees: Hayden Brown (The Citadel), Ledarrius Brewer (ETSU), Mike Bothwell (Furman), Isaiah Miller (UNC Greensboro), Christian Guess (Samford), Malachi Smith (Chattanooga), Ta’Vonne Bond (VMI), Matt Halvorsen (Western Carolina) and Storm Murphy (Wofford).
 
2020-21 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Dec. 1     Neftali Alvarez, R-So., G, Mercer