NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 12, 2019 – Sophomore guard RJ Cole of Howard has been tabbed as this week’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, presented by the U.S. Marines, it was announced today. Cole’s teammate, freshman guard Raymond Bethea, is the MEAC Rookie of the Week, while junior forward Cletrell Pope of Bethune-Cookman is the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Cole (6-1, Soph., G, Union, N.J.) averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in victories on the road over Florida A&M on Saturday and Bethune-Cookman on Monday. He scored 32 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists against B-CU on Monday after netting 20 points, grabbing four rebounds and garnering seven assists in the win over the FAMU last Saturday.
 
Bethea (6-6, Fr., G, Atlantic City, N.J.) averaged 10.5 points along with 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal in the Bison’s win at Florida A&M on Saturday and their 79-73 win at Bethune-Cookman on Monday. He had 13 points with five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in the B-CU game as well as eight points, two rebounds and one blocked shot in the FAMU game.
 
Pope (6-9, Jr., F, Northport, Ala.) averaged 13.5 rebounds and 19.5 points in a week that saw the Wildcats upset league-leading Norfolk State before dropping a 79-73 decision to Howard, both in Daytona Beach, Fla.  In the NSU game, Pope had a 15-rebound, 20-point double-double before getting another double-double against HU with 19 points and 12 rebounds. He added three blocked shots and one steal in the two games.
 
Other Top Performers
Dejuan Clayton (CSU) averaged 24.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 60.1 percent from the floor (17-of-28) in losses at Savannah State and South Carolina State.
 
Justin Ravenel (FAMU) scored 29 points while grabbing five rebounds, five assists and one steal as the Rattlers fell to Howard and Norfolk State. He had 11 points against Howard and 18 against Norfolk State.
 
Amari Hamilton (NCAT) averaged 13.5 points over the last two games, scoring 27 points in an 82-52 victory over Delaware State.
 
Sylla Ibrahim (NCAT) saw action in one game during the week, a 68-61 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, grabbing nine rebounds while scoring 14 points, blocking two shots and making two steals.
 
Tyrone Lyons (NCAT) scored nine points with 10 rebounds and three assists in the Aggies’ 82-52 victory over Delaware State on Monday.
 
Raasean Davis (NCCU) led the Eagles in rebounding and averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in wins over UMES and Delaware State.
 
Zaccary Douglas (NCCU) averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebounds as the Eagles posted victories over Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State. He knocked down six 3-pointers and shot 56.5 percent from the floor in those games.
 
BJ Fitzgerald (NSU) recorded his second career double-digit scoring game with 10 points along with five rebounds in the Spartans’ 84-76 loss at B-CU on Saturday.  In that game, he also grabbed five rebounds. 
 
Nic Thomas (NSU) tied a career-high with 26 points in his lone appearance during the week, a 66-54 win over Florida A&M.  In making 10 consecutive free throws, that became one of just eight times ever in NSU hoops history that feat has been accomplished.
 
Steven Whitley (NSU) posted averages of 9.0 rebounds and 15.5 points as the Spartans lost to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday before rebounding with a win over Florida A&M on Monday.