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. 13-19 after averaging 31.5 points and 6.5 rebounds and shooting 67 percent from the floor against a pair of mid-major ranked opponents on the road. The award is selected by the league office.
Smith opened his big week Wednesday with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6 percent) as the Mocs dropped a 76-68 decision at Belmont, which entered the contest ranked one spot ahead of Chattanooga at No. 7 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. Smith added seven rebounds, two steals and an assist and was 4-for-5 from the free-throw line on the day. He played all 40 minutes.
Three days later, the Belleville, Illinois, sophomore dropped a career-high 36 points in an 87-76 loss at Murray State in another top-10 mid-major matchup. Smith shot an impressive 14-for-17 from the floor (82.4 percent) and added six rebounds and a steal against the Racers, who entered the contest ranked No. 10 in the mid-major poll. Smith was 7-for-7 from the free-throw line on the day. His 36 points were the most for the Mocs since 2013 and the most for UTC on the road since 1995.
The weekly award is Smith’s second of the season.
Chattanooga (9-3) wraps its nonconference schedule when it hosts Middle Tennessee (9-3) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Mocs will open SoCon play Dec. 30 when they host ETSU on ESPNU.
Other nominees: Hayden Brown (The Citadel), Alex Hunter (Furman), Jalen Johnson (Mercer), De’Monte Buckingham (UNCG), Ques Glover (Samford), Kamdyn Curfman (VMI) and Max Klesmit (Wofford).
2021-22 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Nov. 15 Mike Bothwell, Sr., G, Furman
Nov. 22 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Nov. 29 Max Klesmit, So., G, Wofford
Dec. 6 Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman
Dec. 13 Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI
Dec. 20 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
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