MBB: Neal earns National Player of the Week honors
12/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. -- UTA point guard Erick Neal earned Lou Henson Award national player of the week honors after leading the Mavericks to an impressive victory at No. 12 Saint Mary's last week.
The 5-foot-11 junior helped the Mavericks registered 13 points and eight assists against the Gaels and led a defensive effort that limited the efficient SMC perimeter to just 22 percent shooting and 8 turnovers. Earlier in the week he had 15 points and a career-best 13 assists in a home win over UT Dallas.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball. Neal's teammate, junior forward Kevin Hervey, was named earlier this season to the Henson Award Watch List.
The award is named in honor of Lou Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005 he was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
WEEKLY HONORS
Week 5 (Dec. 12) Erick Neal (UTA)
Week 4 (Dec. 5) Kevin Hervey (UTA)
Week 3 (Nov. 28) Bryson Scott (Fort Wayne)
Week 2 (Nov. 21) Eric Mika (BYU)
Week 1 (Nov. 14) Mike Aaman (Wagner)
