NORMAL, Ill. – Behind a strong week where he averaged 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, Illinois State redshirt junior forward Sy Chatman has been named the MVC Player of the Week.
This is the first career Player of the Week honor for Chatman, and the second for Illinois State this season.
Chatman made 62 percent of his shots (16-of-26) during the week and converted on 13-of-17 free throws (76.5%). He also added two assists, two steals, and one blocked shot.
He opened the week with a 22-point, seven-rebound effort in a loss at nationally ranked Wisconsin, where he was 7-of-10 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line. On Sunday Chatman scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out two assists with a steal and a blocked shot.
For the season Chatman averages 15.4 points per game – sixth-most in the MVC, while his rebounding average of 6.5 boards per game is fifth highest in the conference. He also is tied for the lead in the MVC with both 22 blocked shots and 1.5 blocked shots per game, while he also ranks eighth in field goal percentage (55.9%).
He has five games this season in which he has scored 20 or more points, as he and Antonio Reeves are one of just six duos in NCAA Division I to have both players with five or more games of 20 or more points, and are joined by Illinois, Nevada, South Alabama, St. Thomas and VMI.
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