SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga guard Malachi Smith has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by GEICO for all contests from Dec. 15-21 after averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in a pair of one-possession wins. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Smith opened his week with 15 points and nine rebounds in the Mocs’ 69-66 home win over UNC Asheville on Wednesday. With Chattanooga clinging to a one-point lead with just under six seconds left in the game, the redshirt sophomore from Belleville, Illinois, came up with a steal on an in-bounds play and was fouled, converting both attempts to ice the game. Smith had five assists and two steals in the contest.
 
Three days later in a battle of 7-0 squads, Smith notched his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 boards at UAB in another 69-66 Chattanooga win. Smith, who added four assists and a steal, shares the NCAA Division I lead with his six double-doubles.
 
Chattanooga, whose 8-0 record is tied for the top mark in DI and which jumped nine spots to No. 16 in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, wraps up its nonconference slate at Tennessee State on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
 
Other nominees: Hayden Brown (The Citadel), Ledarrius Brewer (ETSU), Mike Bothwell (Furman), Keyshaun Langley (UNC Greensboro), A.J. Staton-McCray (Samford), Jake Stephens (VMI), Cory Hightower (Western Carolina) and Max Klesmit (Wofford).
 
2020-21 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Dec. 1     Neftali Alvarez, R-So., G, Mercer
Dec. 8     Myron Gordon, R-Sr., G, Samford
Dec. 15    Myron Gordon, R-Sr., G, Samford
Dec. 22    Malachi Smith, R-So., G, Chattanooga