NORFOLK, Va. - Howard’s R.J. Cole and South Carolina State’s James Richardson have been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Co-Men's Basketball Players of the Week, the conference announced today. Cole also was named Rookie of the Week while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Martin was selected as Defensive Player of the Week.

Cole averaged a MEAC-best 28.5 points as the Bison finished with a 1-1 mark. Along with topping the league scoring chart this past week, Cole also dished out 6.5 assists with 1.5 steals while shooting 92.9 percent (13-of-14) from the free throw line while playing 40 minutes each game. Cole scored 30 points, tallied six assists and was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line versus Washington Adventist on Dec. 14 and returned to the court on Monday with a 27-point, seven-assist, five-rebound, three-steal performance at Jacksonville State.

Richardson had a solid week as he led the Bulldogs to a pair of wins over Charleston Southern and Jacksonville. He averaged 20.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. He shot 51.7 percent from the field and 70 percent from the charity stripe. Against Charleston Southern, Richardson scored 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting with four steals and two blocks.
Martin averaged 3.5 blocks and 10 rebounds in two games last week for the Rattlers. The 7-0 junior center finished with 13 rebounds, blocked six shots and had a steal at Southern. At Georgia Tech on Sunday, Martin grabbed seven rebounds and blocked one shot.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Zion Cousins (Howard) had a career-high five blocks in the win over Washington Adventist and averaged nine rebounds in two games.

Karonn Davis (Coppin State) scored 22 points with four assists versus the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Raasean Davis (North Carolina Central) captured his fourth double-double of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds in the win over McNeese State. He also shot 63.6 percent from the floor and recorded a pair of blocks.

Brandon Goldsmith (North Carolina Central) set career-highs in points (19), rebounds (8) and steals (3) in a win over McNeese State. He scored 16 points in the first half alone.

Derrick Jamerson Jr. (Norfolk State) averaged 18 points and five rebounds in two games played. He drained six three-pointers en route to a career-high 24 points and six rebounds in the win over Mid-Atlantic Christian.

Jordan Perkins (North Carolina Central) led the Eagles in assists for the fourth consecutive game with eight versus McNeese State and shot 50 percent from the floor with eight points.

Mastadi Pitt (Norfolk State) averaged 12 points and two assists this past week highlighted by a career-high six assists in the win over Mid-Atlantic Christian.

Steven Whitley (Norfolk State) averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and 2.3 steals on the week, highlighted by a double-double of 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the win against Mid-Atlantic Christian.