AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Games: January 11 and 13, 2024
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Austin Page, C, So., UT Dallas
UT Dallas sophomore center
Austin Page (Frisco, Texas) averaged 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 73.9 percent (17-for-23) from the field, leading the Comets to a pair of home conference wins. He went 6-for-9 from the field, recording 20 points, four boards and three blocks in Thursday's 79-71 victory over East Texas Baptist. Page followed with a career-high 28 points, eight rebounds and three more blocks while going 11-for-14 shooting in Saturday's 103-81 win against LeTourneau.
OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
Hardin-Simmons senior forward
Will Bartoszek (Rockwall, Texas) led the Cowboys in scoring averaging 20 points a game this week. He also pitched in 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals. Bartoszek made 17 free throws while averaging over 36 minutes a game. Bartoszek used a 19-point second half to eclipse the 1,000-career point mark against Concordia Texas.
Concordia Texas junior guard
DJ Pigford (Grand Prairie, Texas) exploded for a career-high 36 points in an overtime victory over Hardin-Simmons (who was previously undefeated in conference play). The junior only had 11 points at the half and led the charge with 25 points in the second half and overtime after the Tornados trailed by seven at the break. Pigford would not be denied getting to the paint as he shot 12-14 at the charity stripe, which also served as career-highs.
Howard Payne sophomore guard
Ben Phillip (Boerne, Texas) broke the HPU single-game record for three-pointers made, sinking nine triples in an 84-83 win over Sul Ross State University this past week. Phillip led the Yellow Jackets with a career-high 27 points on an incredible 75% shooting. He also pulled down five rebounds to go along with one assist.
LeTourneau senior guard
Deonte Jackson (Nacogdoches, Texas) averaged 25.5 points, shooting 51.3 percent from the field, with 3.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game in a 1-1 week for LeTourneau. He had 21 points, four steals, and two rebounds in an 86-75 win at Ozarks before dropping 30 points with six rebounds, three steals, and three assists in a loss at UT Dallas. The 30-point game was the 10th of his career. He also eclipsed 1,500 career points during the
win at Ozarks.
McMurry junior guard
Matt Pena (El Paso, Texas) was able to be a threat behind the arch, hitting eight three-pointers that led to 24-of-his-26 points coming against Mary Hardin-Baylor in a one-point loss. Against Concordia, Pena shot an impressive 6-7 with a trio of three pointers. Pena was able to score 41 points, rack up 8 rebounds and 4 assists over the week. Pena has become one of the best shooters on the War Hawk team that averages 87 points a game.
Ozarks senior guard
Tim Eldridge (Spring, Texas) averaged 20.0 points while hitting 64 percent
from the field over two games for the Eagles. Eldridge scored 23 points and dished out five assists against LeTourneau. He followed that performance with a 17-point effort against East Texas Baptist. He averaged 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.