SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State’s Luke Appel garnered the final TicketSmarter #SummitMBB Player of the Week award of the 2021-22 season, league officials announced Monday. Appel averaged 24.5 ppg off the bench in a pair of Jackrabbit-road wins that saw his squad cap off the first unbeaten season in Summit League history with an 18-0 record.
Appel shined in the 106-102 overtime win at Oral Roberts, keeping SDSU’s historic run alive. He went 16-for-20 from the field to score a career-high 41 points, which also marked the first 40-plus scoring game by a Summit League player this season. His two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play in regulation forced the extra session.
Appel scored the first five points of overtime to give SDSU a lead it would not relinquish. He also pulled down 10 rebounds in 28 minutes of action to record the first double-double of his career. Appel is the only DI player over the last 25 seasons to score 40-plus off the bench, while also pulling down double-figure rebounds.
The Marshalltown, Iowa native added eight points and four rebounds in his reserve role as SDSU finished off its perfect regular season with an 86-75 win at Kansas City.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Luke Appel, South Dakota State
Jr. | F | Marshalltown, Iowa
- Averaged 24.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg in a pair of road wins last week
- Scored a career-high 41 points on 16-of-20 shooting from the floor, and added 10 boards to post first career double-double in OT win at Oral Roberts
- 41 points and 16 made field goals are most by a Summit League player in a game this season
- This is the first Summit League weekly honor for Appel
Also nominated: Josiah Allick, Kansas City; Tasos Kamateros, South Dakota; Anders Nelson, St. Thomas; Grant Nelson, North Dakota State; Trenton Massner, Western Ilinois, Touko Tainamo, Denver; Max Abmas, Oral Roberts.
2021-22 Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
November 15
Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State
November 22
Evan Gilyard II, Kansas City
November 29
Noah Freidel, South Dakota State
December 6
Colton Sandage, Western Illinois
December 13
Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State
December 20
Francis Lacis, Oral Roberts
December 27
Trenton Massner, Western Illinois
January 3
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
January 10
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
January 17
Trenton Massner, Western Illinois
January 24
Tevin Smith, Denver
January 31
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
February 7
Marvin Nesbitt, Jr., Kansas City
Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State
February 14
Sam Griesel, North Dakota State
February 21
Evan Gilyard II, Kansas City
February 28
Luke Appel, South Dakota State
#SUMMITMBB
