McCollum named Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
11/29/2010 9:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following an incredible week which saw him score 89 points in only three games, Lehigh sophomore C.J. McCollum was recognized on Monday with his first-career Patriot League Player of the Week honor. McCollum enjoyed an incredible week which saw him score 20, 42 then 27 points against Cornell, Kent State and Bryant. McCollum's first-career player of the week comes a season after tying a Patriot League record by winning rookie of the week nine times.McCollum was also recognized on ESPN.com's Weekly Watch for his outstanding performance. UConn's Kemba Walker was named Player of the Week while McCollum was one of nine other players in the nation listed among “More Players Who Wowed Us.”
The Mountain Hawks (3-3) posted two wins last week, beginning with Monday's 60-57 thriller over defending Ivy League Champion and Sweet 16 participant Cornell, and ending with an 88-68 triumph over Bryant on Sunday evening.
A native of Canton, Ohio, McCollum played close to home on Friday as well, posting a career-high 42 points at defending MAC Regular Season Champion Kent State, who stood at No. 16 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. He shot an incredible 15-of-25 from the field, 3-of-7 from three-point range and 9-of-11 from the free throw line.
Those 42 points tied for third on Lehigh's single-game scoring list and were only eight shy of not only breaking the school's single-game scoring record, but also becoming Lehigh's first-ever player to score 50 in a game. He became the Mountain Hawks' first 40-point scorer since Joe Knight had 45 against Colgate in 2005. McCollum scored 38 of his 42 points in the game's final 28:12 after scoring only four in the first 11:38.
McCollum began the week against the Big Red by recording his fifth-career double-double (and second in as many home games), scoring 20 points while tying a career-high with 13 rebounds. He hit a clutch three-pointer with only 1:03 left in regulation to break a 53-53 tie and put Lehigh up for good.
He finished his week where he started six days later at Stabler Arena, this time scoring 27 against Bryant on 8-of-15 shooting, 5-of-10 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. McCollum also added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in the convincing victory.
McCollum has now recorded 19 or more points in each of the last five games since scoring only seven in the season-opener at Penn State. That has helped raise his average to a Patriot League leading 22.5 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 per contest, which is good for third in the league.
The Mountain Hawks travel to defending America East Champion Stony Brook on Wednesday before returning home to host Atlantic 10 foe Fordham in a Saturday evening showdown at Stabler. Tickets for all home games are now on sale and may be purchased on Lehighsports.com or by calling the ticket office at (610) 7LU-GAME.
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