NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 14, 2020—North Carolina Central redshirt senior Jibri Blount and Bethune-Cookman senior Cletrell Pope were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, the conference office announced today. North Carolina A&T State’s Fred Cleveland, Jr. was named Rookie of the Week, while Pope also earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Blount (F, 6-7, r-Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) averaged 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game for the Eagles, shooting a combined 17-for-30 (.567) from the floor. He opened the week with a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double against Delaware State – a game in which he went 10-for-20 from the floor and also had two blocks and two steals – before dropping 19 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Pope (F, 6-9, Sr., Northport, Ala.) averaged 20.5 points and 16.5 rebounds per game for the Wildcats, notching double-doubles in wins over Coppin State (12 points, 15 rebounds) and Morgan State (career-high 29 points, 18 rebounds). Pope was a combined 14-for-22 (.636) from the floor for the week – going 9-for-11 in the Morgan State contest, to go along with an 11-for-16 effort at the free throw line – and he had four steals in the game.
 
Cleveland, Jr. (G, 5-10, Fr., Chicago, Ill.) dropped 13 points to go along with five steals and four assists in the Aggies’ 98-77 win over Delaware State on Monday. He hit two 3-pointers in the game, and on Saturday, he had seven points, four rebounds and three assists against Maryland Eastern Shore. For the week, Cleveland, Jr. averaged 10.0 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds a contest.
 
Other Top Performers
Joe French (B-CU) dropped 20 points against Coppin State.
 
Dejuan Clayton (CSU) dropped 23 points and had six rebounds against Bethune-Cookman.
 
Reggie James (CSU) had seven points and four rebounds against Bethune-Cookman.
 
Brendan Medley-Bacon (CSU) grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked five shots against Bethune-Cookman.
 
MJ Randolph (FAMU) recorded a double-double (20 points, 15 rebounds) against Coppin State after dropping 19 points against Morgan State.
 
Zion Cousins (HOW) recorded a double-double (21 points, 14 rebounds – both career highs) against South Carolina State.
 
Charles Williams (HOW) dropped 34 points against South Carolina State.
 
Ronald Jackson (NCAT) had 22 points and 12 boards against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Jermaine Bishop (NSU) had 20 points and hit five 3-pointers against Howard.
 
Devante Carter (NSU) recorded a double-double (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds) against Howard, to go along with three steals.
 
Tashombe Riley (SCSU) had 24 points and six rebounds against Howard.