- LOUIS – Missouri State senior Lamont West (F, Cincinnati, Ohio) was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week on Monday (Feb. 17) after helping lead the Bears to a pair of league wins last week.
West, a graduate transfer from West Virginia, had a spectacular week, averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in an impressive fashion. He posted season highs in back-to-back games, scoring 15 points to lift the Bears past Drake at JQH Arena on Feb. 12, before surpassing that with a 22-point outburst in Sunday’s road win at Indiana State.
West also led the Bears in rebounding in both games — both game highs — with 7 boards vs. Drake and 9 at Indiana State.
He also dropped in three 3-pointers against both foes and finished the week 11-of-21 (.524) from the field, 6-of-11 (.545) from 3-point range and a perfect 9-of-9 (1.000) at the free throw line with 3 steals. West also had 3 dunks in Sunday’s win at Indiana State.
Valparaiso’s Javon Freeman-Liberty was named MVC Player of the Week this week.
West is the second Missouri State player to earn the Valley’s top newcomer distinction this season, joining teammate Gaige Prim who earned the honor on Nov. 25.
The Bears, winners of three of their last four games, travel to Bradley on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against the Braves at Carver Arena. The game is the featured MVC game of the week on FOX Sports Midwest and the MVC TV Network. MSU returns to JQH Arena on Saturday to battle Loyola in a nationally-televised game at 2:30 p.m.
