Men's Basketball:  Players-of-the-Week

February 22

Baldwin-Wallace senior forward Kyle Brown (Strongsville) help to lead the Yellow Jackets to the number six seed in the OAC Tournament. Brown averaged 23 points and 4.5 rebounds-per-game last week and tied a school-record with eight three-pointers in a key 79-74 Yellow Jacket victory over ONU.

Other Nominees: Trevor Halter (MAR)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Joey Meyer (JCU)…Dane Givner (HEID)

February 15

Mount Union junior forward Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls) led the Purple Raiders to a 2-0 record last week and became just the 25th player in school history to score over 1,000 points. Pellerite scored 12 points in a win over Otterbein and then closed the week with 23 points to rally Mount Union to 84-82 double-overtime win against Baldwin-Wallace. On the week, Pellerite averaged 16 points and five rebounds-per-game.

Other Nominees: Kyle Brown (B-W)…Tyler White (WILM)…Nathan Edick (OTT)…Kevin Knab (MAR)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Nick Hershberger (MUSK)…Travis Kinn (HEID)…Chris Zajac (JCU)

February 8

Capital junior guard D.J. Frazier (Cincinnati/Withrow) led the Crusaders to a pair of wins over Marietta and Baldwin-Wallace last week. Against Marietta, Frazier tailed 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, including a blocked three-point attempt with 10 second left. Frazier totaled a game-high 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals in a victory over Baldwin-Wallace.  On the week, Frazier went an impressive 14-of-16 (.875) from the free-throw line.

Other Nominees: Josh Calver (HEID)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Dave Pellerite (MTU)…Rudy Kirbus (JCU)…Trevor Halter (MAR)

February 1

John Carroll sophomore guard Corey Shontz (Andover/Pymatuning Valley) led the Blue Streaks to 2-0 record on the week by hitting the game-tying shot at the end of regulation and tallying a team-high 24 points in what became a 92-89 overtime win at Muskingum. Shontz scored a team-high 18 points to help JCU comeback from an 18 point deficit in an 80-67 win over Baldwin-Wallace. On the week, Shontz averaged 21 points and 2.5 rebounds-per-game.

Otterbein senior Brian Pollock (London) led the Cardinals last week with a career-best seven three-pointers in an 86-83 win over Capital. The team scored a school record 15 three pointers. On the week, Pollock averaged 22 points and 2.5 rebounds-per-game.

Other Nominees: Kevin Knab (MAR)…Jimmy Wood (MTU)…DJ Frazier (CAP)…K. Meyer (ONU)…N. Hershberger (MUSK)…Josh Calver (HEID)

January 25

Heidelberg senior guard Jim Smalley (Middleburgh Hts./Midpark) led the Berg to a 1-1 record last week, including a 76-70 win over Mount Union. On the week, Smalley averaged 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds-per-game. Smalley shot eight-of-14 (.570) from the field and the free-throw line, while tallying three assists, three steals and two blocks.

Other Nominees: Paul Glass (B-W)…Ezra Bradshaw (ONU)…Kevin Knab (MAR)

January 18

Marietta sophomore post Kevin Knab (Lakewood) led the Pioneers to a pair of OAC victories this past week. Knab scored a game-high 17 points against Otterbein and then added a game –high 21 points in an upset over #15 Wilmington. On the week, Knab registered 38 points, shooting 15-of-19 from the field (78.9%) and eight-of-10 (80%) from the free-throw line. He also tallied 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal and three blocks.

Muskingum sophomore forward Kyle Clinedinst (Mt. Vernon) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Muskies past Mount Union last week. On the week, he averaged 20 points-per-game, shooting a remarkable 14-of-18 (77.8%) from the field and 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the free-throw line. Clinedinst also added 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, three steals and one block-per-game.

Other Nominees: Nate Davis (HEID)…Matt Kiger (MTU)…Ezra Bradshaw (ONU)…Corey Shontz (JCU)

January 11

Marietta sophomore wing Trevor Halter (Malvern) led the Pioneers last week with a career-high 29 points in a win over Muskingum and a team-best 21 points against Ohio Northern. On the week, Halter averaged 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals-per-game. Halter shot 19-of 29 (.655) from the field and an impressive nine-of-nine from the free-throw line.

Other Nominees: Zane Meeder (B-W)…Tyler White (WILM)…Dane Givner (HEID)…Brian Pollock (OTT)…Ezra Bradshaw (ONU)

January 4

Otterbein senior guard Brian Pollock (London) led the Cardinals past Hanover and Denison at the Smokey Ballenger Classic. In the Cardinals last three games, Pollock averaged 20 points-per-game, shooting .750 (nine-of-12) from the free-throw line and .542 (13-of-24) from three-point range and tallied 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Other Nominees: Chris Ameen (B-W)…Ben McGarth (CAP)…Josh Calver (HEID)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)

December 21

Ohio Northern senior forward Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) became a member of ONU’s 1,000-Point Club with 15 points against Wittenberg last week.  Meyer also led the Polar Bears past Muskingum with 26 points and seven rebounds. On the week, Meyer shot .643 (18-of-28) from the field,  was five-of-six from the free-throw line and averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists-per-game. This is the third time this season Meyer has earned OAC Player-of-the-Week honors.

Other Nominees: Scott Robertson (CAP)

December 14

Wilmington senior guard R.J. Brown (Circleville) had 23 points, 10 rebounds and four steals as the Quakers won their eighth straight with a 107-105 victory over No. 2 John Carroll in three overtimes.

Other Nominees: Chris Ameen (B-W)…Cory Ratai (OTT)…Jim Smalley (HEID)…Jimmy Wood (MTU)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)

December 7

Ohio Northern senior forward Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) led the Polar Bears to a 2-0 record last week with victories over Capital (66-62) and Heidelberg (86-79). Meyer recorded a double-double against Heidelberg with 17 points and 10 rebounds. On the week, Meyer averages 16 points and eight rebounds-per-game and tallied three assists and two steals.

Other Nominees: Josh Calver (HEID)…Scott Robertson (CAP)…Jimmy Wood (MTU)…Kyle Brown (B-W)…Corey Shontz (JCU)

November 30

John Carroll sophomore center Matt Crozier (Philadelphia, PA) posted his second double-double of the season as the #2 Blue Streaks defeated #9 Wooster, 71-63, last week. Crozier led JCU with 18 points, 10 rebounds and one steal.

Other Nominees: Kevin Knab (MAR)…Josh Calver (HEID)…Kyle Brown (B-W)…Dave Pellerite (MTU)

November 23

Ohio Northern senior forward Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) averaged 33.5 points and seven rebounds –per-game en route to being named to the Wheaton All-Tournament team. Meyer shot .583 from the field (14-of-24) and was eight-of-11 (.727) from the free-throw line.

Other Nominees: Tyler White (WILM)…Cory Ratai (OTT)…Cory Bourguin (MUSK)…Promis Cabbil (B-W)…Matt Crozier (JCU

November 17

Muskingum senior forward Tyler Felt (Cambridge) averaged a double-double with 20.5 points and ten rebounds –per-game en route to being named the Washington and Lee University Tournament MVP. Felt finished the week with a .577 FG% (15-of-26) and was 10-of-13 from the free-throw line (. 796).

Other Nominees: Travis Kinn (HEID)…Kyle Brown (B-W)

November 24

Capital senior wing Ryan Wood (Pickerington/Central) was named MVP after the Crusaders swept both games of the Case Western Alumni Tip-Off Tournament last week. He led the team with 21 points-per-game and tallied four assists and one steal. Wood scored 18 points against Bluffton in the opening game and then added 24 more points in the championship win over Monmouth. He was 13-of-21 (.619) from the field, eight-of-13 (.615) in three-point field goals and was an impressive eight-of-10 (.800) from the free-throw line.

Ohio Northern junior wing Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) led the Polar Bears to the Mount Saint Joseph Invitational title with 24 points and four rebounds-per-game. Meyer scored 25 points against Spalding (Ky.) in the opening round and then added 23 points in the title game victory over host Mount Saint Joseph. He was a remarkable 20-of-33 (.606) from the field and eight-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also contributed four blocks, two assists and one steal on the weekend. For his efforts he was named MVP.

Other Nominees: Dave Pellerite (MTU)…Kyle Tuley (HEID)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)…Maurice Haynes (JCU)

December 1

Otterbein junior guard Brian Pollock (London) led the Cardinals in scoring, minutes played and assists at the Christopher Newport Tournament (Va.) last weekend. In two games Pollock scored 57 points, shooting 54.7 % (19-of-36) from the field, 75% (nine-of12) from the free-throw line and 52.6% (10-of-19)  form three-point range. He also added nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. For his efforts, he was named the All-Tournament Team.

Other Nominees: Nate Stahl (CAP)…R.J. Brown (WILM)…Travis Kinn (HEID)…Andrew Bene (B-W)…Luke Conley (MTU)…Rudy Kirbus (JCU)…Sam Bastian (ONU)

December 8

Capital senior post Quintin Mitchell (Toledo/Libbey) came off the bench to lead  the team in scoring and rebounding as the Crusaders topped Ohio Wesleyan 82-70 and Baldwin-Wallace 92-87 in overtime last week. He scored 10 points and was four-of-six from the field, along with four rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist in only 16 minutes of play against Ohio Wesleyan. Mitchell followed with 21 points, nine rebounds and two steals against Baldwin-Wallace. On the week, he tallied 31 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, three steals and two blocks.

Other Nominees: Kyle Brown (B-W)…Jake Hessey (HEID)…Chris Switzer (MTU)…Rudy Kirbus (JCU)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)

December 15

Wilmington junior forward Brandon Rogers (Xenia) averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds-per-game as the Quakers beat undefeated Capital and Marietta last week. He shot 61% (14-of-23) from field –goal range, hit 69% (nine-of-13) of his free-throws and was 50% from three-point range (two-of-four). Rogers also added two assists, two steals and six blocks on the week.               

Other Nominees: Chris Switzer (MTU)…Chris Zajac (JCU)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)…Ezra Bradshaw (ONU)

December 22

Ohio Northern junior wing Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) had team-highs of 24 and 22 points as the Polar Bears defeated Heidelberg and John Carroll last week. Meyer earned his third double-double of his career with 24 points and 10 rebounds against Heidelberg. On the week he tallied 46 points,19 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Other Nominees: Nate Stahl (CAP)…Tyler Ledford (WILM)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)…Chris Switzer (MTU)

January 5

Baldwin-Wallace  senior  center Andrew Bene (Hinckley/Medina Highland) scored 39 points, grabbed 23 rebounds, connected on 73.7% of his field goals (14-of-19) and added four assists, two blocks and two steals to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 2-0 record at the Otterbein Smokey Ballenger Classic. For his efforts he was named the MVP.

Other Nominees: Justin Gaines (WILM)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Brian Pollock (OTT)…Maurice Haynes (JCU)…Joe Puch (MAR)

Mount Union sophomore forward Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls) led the Purple Raiders with 21 points against Capital and a game-high 26 points against Wilmington last week. On the week, Pellerite was 73% (17-of-23) from the field, 89% (eight-of-nine) from the free-throw line and 83% (five-of-six) from three-point range, while adding 15 rebounds and seven assists.

Other Nominees: Louis Tumblin (B-W)…Trevor Halter (MAR)…Travis Kinn (HEID)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)..Ryan Wood (CAP)

January 19

Marietta freshman forward Kevin Knab (Lakewood) scored a career-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds to posted his first double-double in the Pioneer’s win over Mount Union and then add 12 points and nine rebounds in their win against Baldwin-Wallace. On the week, Knab shot 77.8% (14-of-18) from the field and was a perfect six-of-six from the free-throw line, while adding five assists, one steal and two blocks.

Other Nominees: Casey Brown (CAP)…Brian Dandrea (JCU)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)

January 26

Heidelberg junior  forward Travis Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) scored a career-high 27 points, with eight of them coming in overtime to lead the Berg past  Baldwin-Wallace . On the week, Kinn tallied 37 points, shooting 60% (15-of-25) from the field and 78% (seven-of-nine) from the free-throw line, while adding 16 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

John Carroll junior forward Rudy Kirbus (Willoughby Hills/St. Ignatius) tallied 14 points, shooting 56% (five-of-nine) from the field and 60% (three-of-five) from three-point range in just 17 minutes of play to help lead the Blue Streaks past Otterbein. Kirbus also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

February 2

Ohio Northern junior post Kyle Meyer (Columbus Grove) led the Polar Bears to a 2-0 record last week with a game-high 23 points in an 82-79 victory overall Baldwin-Wallace and added 23 points in a 94-88 overtime win at Heidelberg. Meyer also added five rebounds-per-game and tallied three assist, two steals and one block on the week.

Other Nominees: Andrew Bene (B-W)…Chris Switzer (MTU)…Kevin Knab (MAR)…Nate Stahl (CAP)…Chris Zajac (JCU)…Tyler Felt (MUSK) 

February 9

Baldwin-Wallace senior center Andrew Bene (Hinckley/Medina Highland) led the Yellow Jackets last week with 19 points and 11.5 rebounds-per-game. Bene shot 85.7% (12-of-14) from the free-throw line and added two assists, three steals and two blocks on the week.

Other Nominees: Brian Pollock (OTT)…Josh Calver (HEID)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)…Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Maurice Haynes (JCU)      

February 16

Otterbein junior guard Brian Pollock (London) led the Cardinals last week with a total of 53points, including career-high 32 points in a victory at Baldwin-Wallace. He also tallied 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals on the week, while shooting 17-of-30 (55%) from the field, 12-of-20 (60%) from the free-throw line and seven-of-14 (50%) from three-point range.

Other Nominees: Andrew Bene (B-W)…Nate Stahl (CAP)…Chris Switzer (MTU)…Kevin Colson (WILM)…Jim Smalley (HEID)…Ezar Bradshaw (ONU)…Maurice Haynes (JCU)…Pat Byrne (MUSK)

February 23

Baldwin-Wallace senior center Andrew Bene (Hinckley/Medina Highland) averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds-per-game to lead the Yellow Jackets last week.  On the week, Bene shot 22-of-36 (61%) from field-goal range and six-of-eight (75%) from the free-throw line, while adding three blocks, one assist and giving up no turnovers.

Other Nominees: Chris Switzer (MTU)…Quintin Mitchell (CAP)….Kyle Meyer (ONU)…Trevor Scott (MUSK)…Rudy Kirbus (JCU).