Norfolk State redshirt senior Jonathan Wade and Maryland Eastern Shore senior Bakari Copeland were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, the conference announced today. Howard’s Charles Williams earned Rookie of the Week honors, while Derrico Peck, of Maryland Eastern Shore, was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Wade averaged 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals as Norfolk State finished the week 2-0 and won its fourth straight contest. The 6-4 redshirt senior from Panama City, Fla. was red hot from the field after shooting 67.9 percent (19-of-28) over the past two contests along with 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the free throw line and 41.7 percent (5-of-12) beyond the three-point line.
Wade has scored 20-plus points in five straight games and is coming off a 31-point, three-steal outing versus Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 28. He also grabbed nine rebounds with 23 points at Coppin State.
Copeland had an all-around week with averages of 23.5 points, nine rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals en route to a 2-0 performance by the Hawks. He also shot 54.5 percent from the field and was near-perfect from the free throw line with a 21-of-22 (95.5 percent) performance.
The Decatur, Ga. native had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds along with five assists in a win over South Carolina State while scoring 25 points with five rebounds at Florida A&M. Copeland stuffed the stat line this past week as he ranked in nine of the MEAC’s 13 statistical categories.
Williams averaged 22.5 points, four rebounds and two steals over the past two games. He scored 37 points with seven rebounds versus Savannah State while also shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field. The 6-5 freshman from Richmond, Va. has won the Rookie of the Week honor five times this season.
Peck tied for the MEAC lead with five blocks over the past two games as MDES finished with back-to-back wins. A graduate student from Atlanta, Ga., Peck also averaged 1.5 steals and six rebounds. Versus SC State, Peck blocked five shots, logged two steals and grabbed five rebounds.
Other Top Performers
Kyle Benton (NCCU) totaled 19 rebounds, with seven off the defensive glass, against Howard and North Carolina A&T State.
Jordan Butler (NSU) recorded 14 points and 16 rebounds in wins over Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman.
Dejuan Clayton (CSU) averaged 13.5 points, while shooting 71 percent (10-of-14) from the free-throw line, against Norfolk State and Morgan State.
Patrick Cole (NCCU) totaled 51 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and two steals in wins over Howard and North Carolina A&T State.
Tiwian Kendley (MSU) shot 44 percent (16-of-36) from the field and averaged 29.5 points, in wins over South Carolina State and Coppin State.
Dexter McClanahan (SSU) scored a career-high 29 points, with six 3-pointers, in the win at Howard.
Desmond Williams (FAMU) averaged 18 points, 6.5 rebounds, one block and 2.5 steals against Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State.