SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga graduate student Jake Stephens has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests from Jan. 2-8 after averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds in splitting a pair of SoCon games on the week. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Stephens opened his week with his ninth double-double of the season in the Mocs’ 73-61 loss at UNCG on Wednesday. The center from Bunker Hill, West Virginia, scored 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, also dishing off a game-best seven assists. Stephens, who also had a blocked shot and a steal, was 6-for-14 from the floor (.429) and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
 
In Saturday’s 85-78 against VMI, Stephens scored a season-best 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against his former team, falling two points shy of his career high. The 37 points were the most scored by a Chattanooga player since 2013 and the most against a Division I opponent since 2011. Stephens, who is tied for third in DI with 10 double-doubles, was 11-for-18 from the field (.611), including a 5-for-6 effort from 3-point range (.833). He went 10-for-13 from the free-throw line (.769), adding another block and another steal.
 
Stephens claimed his sixth weekly honor this season and 11th of his career. Only SoCon Hall of Famer Stephen Curry of Davidson, who had 16 selections from 2006-09, has more.
 
Chattanooga (10-7, 2-2 SoCon) hosts Western Carolina (10-7, 3-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET before visiting Samford (10-7, 4-0) on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET for a contest that will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
 
Other nominees: Mike Bothwell (Furman), Keyshaun Langley (UNCG), Logan Dye (Samford), Asher Woods (VMI), Russell Jones Jr. (Western Carolina) and B.J. Mack (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