SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- For the third time in the first four weeks of the season, Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball graduate big man
Jake Stephens has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Stephens, who averaged 26.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 blocks last week, has now won the award eight times in his career with five honors coming during his tenure at league foe VMI. He was named POTW once in 2020-21, four times in 2021-22 and now three times in the current 2022-23 season.
How does eight career POTW selections stand in league history? Stephens becomes just the fifth student-athlete in SoCon history to win the award eight or more times and the first since Stephen Curry (Davidson). Curry (2007-09) is the all-time leader with 16 POTW laurels.
Helping Chattanooga to a 2-0 record last week, Stephens posted 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-5 3PT) and notched his fourth double-double of the season behind a 10-rebound effort in an 81-74 win at Tennessee Tech. He also added six assists and two blocks in the victory.
In Saturday's 82-71 win at Gardner-Webb, Stephens scored 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting (3-of-6 3PT) and hauled in nine rebounds while blocking five shots. The performance marked his third-straight game with 26 or more points and his fourth 20+ point game this season.
For the season, Stephens leads the SoCon in points per game (21.0) and rebounds per game (9.1), with his scoring average ranking 16th in NCAA DI. He sits sixth in NCAA DI in defensive rebounds per game (8.25), and is ranked 10th in total double-doubles (4).
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
UP NEXT
Chattanooga (5-3) hosts Milwaukee (7-3) in a mid-major showdown tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6, inside McKenzie Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The game will feature the annual Teddy Bear Toss to benefit the Chattanooga Forgotten Child Fund.
TEDDY BEAR TOSS GAME DETAILS | BUY TICKETS
· Chattanooga vs. Milwaukee – Tuesday, Dec. 6 – 7 p.m. ET
· Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed teddy bears/animals
· Fans who walk-up and bring an item are eligible for 50% off select tickets (100/200 level reserved, 200 corner, 200 baseline)
· All donations will benefit the Chattanooga Forgotten Child Fund
· Taco Tuesday – First 100 students will receive FREE tacos – Tacos will be available in concessions for fans to purchase
ADDITIONAL TICKET INFORMATION
Game tickets may be purchased by visiting the link above, calling The McKenzie Arena ticket office at
423-266-MOCS (6627), or stop by in-person at the Gate 3 ticket office.
Normal business hours for the box office are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Box Offices located at Gates 2 and 3 will open on game day 90 minutes prior to tip-off for on-site sales. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid lines on the day of game. Fans are also encouraged to choose Print-at-Home or Mobile Delivery for their purchased tickets.
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