BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the second time this season, Little Rock redshirt freshman
Ethan Speaker has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week after a pair of strong performances.
Speaker averaged 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games this week, shooting 52.9% from the floor and 83.3% from the free throw line. Speaker flirted with a double-double against Philander Smith, setting career-highs with 16 points and nine rebounds while going 7-of-11 from the floor with a steal and an assist. He followed that up with an eight-point, five-rebound performance at Jacksonville State on 2-of-6 shooting while going 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
The Boulder City, Nevada native has come on strong in his first year on the court, averaging 7.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in nine games this season, scoring in double figures four times. He leads the team in field goal percentage at 56.0% while making 68.8% of his free throw attempts.
Speaker adds to Little Rock's weekly OVC total this year, joining fellow redshirt freshman
Chris Walker in being named Freshman of the Week twice this year. The honor brings the Trojans' total to five for this year with
Myron Gardner also being named Player of the Week on November 21.
Little Rock returns to action with a pair of games this week against a pair of in-state opponents, beginning Tuesday, December 20 when the Trojans host Central Arkansas in the second installment of the Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Governor's I-40 Showdown. Opening tip against the Bears is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center.
OVC Players of the Week – December 19
Co-Player: Yaakema Rose, Eastern Illinois
Co-Player: Jaylen Sebree, Tennessee Tech
Newcomer: Yaakema Rose, Eastern Illinois
Freshman: Ethan Speaker, Little Rock
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