SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer forward Jalyn McCreary has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests from Jan. 23-29 after averaging 26 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in a pair of conference wins on the week. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Coming off the bench in both games, McCreary nearly averaged a double-double and shot 62.2 percent from the floor (23-for-37) on the week as the Bears topped ETSU and The Citadel.
 
Against the Bucs on Wednesday, McCreary went 12-for-20 (.600) from the floor and hit both of his free-throw attempts en route to a career-best 26 points in Mercer’s 71-67 win. The redshirt junior from Marietta, Georgia, also pulled down seven rebounds and had a blocked shot as the Bears ended ETSU’s six-game road winning streak in league play.
 
Three days later in a 74-65 win at The Citadel, McCreary matched his career high with another 26 points, this time adding 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. McCreary had two blocked shots and a steal and went 11-for-17 (.647) from the floor and knocked down all four of his free-throw tries.
 
Mercer (11-12, 4-6 SoCon) opens a three-game homestand when it hosts SoCon tri-leader UNCG (14-9, 8-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Bears, who have now won four of their last five games, welcome VMI (5-18, 0-10) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Other nominees: Stephen Clark (The Citadel), Jalen Haynes (ETSU), Jalen Slawson (Furman), Ques Glover (Samford), Jamal Johnson (Chattanooga), Tyzhaun Claude (Western Carolina) and Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford).
 
2022-23 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 14             Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Nov. 21             Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Nov. 28             Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Dec. 5              Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Dec. 12             Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Dec. 19             Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Dec. 26             Jackson Paveletzke, Fr., G, Wofford
Jan. 2               Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
Jan. 9               Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Jan. 16             Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Jan. 23             Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F, Samford
Jan. 30             Jalyn McCreary, R-Jr., F, Mercer