Oakland's Benson Earns Fourth Summit League Player of the Week Honor
Keith
Benson, Oakland
Jr.-R, C, 6-11, 225
Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Country Day
ELMHURST, Ill. - Oakland's Keith Benson earned Summit League
Player of the Week honors after a pair of double-double
performances during the week of Jan. 18-24 that helped his team tie
the record for consecutive league victories. By claiming his fourth
Player of the Week award, Benson now has the highest season total
since current San Antonio Spurs standout George Hill claimed a
quartet of accolades for IUPUI during the 2007-08 campaign.
For the week, Benson averaged 22.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.5
blocked shots and one assist per game while converting 7-of-8 free
throw attempts in the final minute of Oakland's wins at North
Dakota State and South Dakota State. The Golden Grizzlies have won
16 straight league games, tying them for the league record
alongside Cleveland State (1992-93 seasons).
At NDSU, Benson totaled 22 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks
in a six-point victory. The center connected on 10-of-11 free throw
attempts, including a clutch 6-of-6 in the game's final 59 seconds
to preserve the win. Two nights later, Benson scored 23 points and
pulled down 11 boards and went 11-of-14 from the charity stripe to
hand SDSU its first home league loss.
Benson has scored in double figures in 15 straight games and 21
of his last 22 outings. He owns a school-Division I record 12
double-doubles and a league-best 12 double-figure rebound games and
11 20-point performances.
Also nominated: David Perez, Centenary; Ben Botts, IPFW;
Robert Glenn, IUPUI; Jay Couisnard, UMKC; Matt Massey, Southern
Utah; Ceola Clark, Western Illinois.
