SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- For the second time in as many months, Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball big man Jake Stephens has earned the Southern Conference Player of the Month honor following his stellar play during the month of December, the league office announced Thursday afternoon.

 

Stephens, a Bunker Hill, W. Va., native, earns his fourth career SoCon Player of the Month award after picking up a pair of selections in 2021-22, in addition to being tabbed November's top player this season. He joins Malachi Smith (2020-22) and Casey Jones (2014-15) as the only two-time UTC representatives.

 

Stephens also becomes just the fourth player in SoCon history to win the award four or more times in a career. Adding to his impressive resume, he's the first back-to-back winner since Fletcher McGee took home honors in January and February of the 2018-19 campaign.

 

The 7'0 center finished the month of December averaging 20.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 51.4% (57-of-111) from the floor and 36.2% (17-of-47) from three. He posted four double-doubles during the month to bring his total to nine this season, third most in NCAA Division I.

 

Stephens highlight of December came in a narrow 82-78 OT loss to Belmont (12/15) as he finished with 32 points and 20 rebounds to become the first player on record at UTC to notch a 30-point, 20-rebound performance. That effort followed his stat line of 31 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a win over Milwaukee (12/6).

 

He recorded at least two blocks in all eight games in the month of December to help UTC to a 5-3 record and a 1-1 tally in SoCon play. Stephens ranks eighth in NCAA DI this season in total blocks (40) and 12^th in blocks per game (2.50).

 

Stephens currently leads the SoCon in both total points (326) and points per game (20.4) while ranking seventh and 15^th, respectively, in all of NCAA DI. He also leads the league in total rebounds (164) and rebounds per game (10.2), respectively sitting fourth and 11^th in the country in those categories.

 

UP NEXT

Chattanooga (9-7, 1-2 SoCon) gets set to host VMI (5-11, 0-3 SoCon) on Saturday in its home league opener inside McKenzie Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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