Detroit's Minnerath, Youngstown State's Belin Collect Weekly Awards

by the Horizon League

Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 9:20 am

INDIANAPOLIS -- Detroit senior forward Nick Minnerath [Truro, Mass./Nauset (Jackson CC)] has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Youngstown State junior forward Kamren Belin [Atlanta, Ga./Walton (Cowley College)] has been named the Newcomer of the Week, for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3. The award is the first of Minnerath’s career, while Belin collects newcomer honors for the second straight week.

Detroit (15-8, 7-3 Horizon) solidified its hold on second place in the Horizon League standings with an 83-76 win at Wright State before racing past Youngstown State, 88-77, on ESPNU. Youngstown State (13-9, 5-4 Horizon) split its results, starting the week with an 80-68 victory over first-place Valparaiso ahead of its road loss to the Titans.

Minnerath started the week by leading Detroit to a key road win at Wright State, scoring 18 points and collecting four rebounds. The senior went 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Minnerath saved his best effort of the week for Friday, when he scored a game-high 27 points against Youngstown State.

The effort was the fourth time this season Minnerath has exceeded 20 points, and the forward is one of five Detroit starters averaging 10 or more points on the year. On the week, Minnerath was 14-of-25 from the field, including a 6-of-14 mark from three-point range.

For the second straight week, Belin set a new career high for three-pointers, knocking down six en route to a 19-point effort against Detroit, adding seven rebounds in a losing cause. On Thursday, Belin helped the Penguins topple Valparaiso, finishing with an efficient 16 points.

Belin was 9-for-15 from three-point range on the week. In conference play, Belin is averaging 13.3 points per game, hitting 44.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

Detroit will head on its Wisconsin swing this week, beginning at Milwaukee on Thursday, Feb. 7. The Horizon League Network will have live coverage, beginning at 8 p.m. EST. The Titans will meet Green Bay on Saturday, Feb. 9 in the Horizon League Network Game of the Week at 2 p.m. EST. Youngstown State will travel to northeast Ohio rival Cleveland State on Tuesday, Feb. 5 (7 p.m. EST, Horizon League Network), before hosting Loyola and UIC on Thursday (7:45 p.m. EST, HLN) and Sunday (2:05 p.m. EST, HLN), respectively.

Top Performers for the Week:
Marlin Mason, Cleveland State (So., F) - Came off the bench to score a career-high 22 points in just 19 minutes in the Vikings’ 77-66 victory at UIC.
Alec Brown, Green Bay (Jr., C) - Scored a career-high 25 points to lead Green Bay to a 73-65 win at Loyola, at one point hitting nine consecutive field goals.
Ben Averkamp, Loyola (Sr., F) - Averaged 19.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg, tallying 22 points and 12 rebounds against Milwaukee before posting 17 points and six boards against Green Bay.
Hayden Humes, UIC (Jr., F) - Recorded consecutive double-digit scoring efforts as UIC went 1-1, scoring a game-high 18 in the Flames’ win over Green Bay.
Ben Boggs, Valparaiso (Sr., G) - Matched his season-high with 12 points in Valpo’s 71-40 win against Milwaukee.
Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State (Jr., G) - Posted his second double-double with 28 points and 11 rebound versus Valparaiso, moving into 21st on the YSU career scoring list with 1,154 points.

Top Newcomers for the Week:
Junior Lomomba, Cleveland State (Fr., G) - Posted 13 points for Cleveland State off the bench at UIC, his second-highest career output.
Jordan Fouse, Green Bay (Fr., F) - Led Green Bay in rebounds (20), assists (7), steals (5) on the week, ranking first among all newcomers in rebounds, blocks and steals.
Cully Payne, Loyola (Jr., G) - Contributed 8.5 ppg and 5.5 apg as Loyola split its homestand, recording 10 points and eight assists versus Green Bay.
Josh Crittle, UIC (Sr., C) - Controlled the low block, posting 15 points and nine rebounds against Green Bay.
LaVonte Dority, Valparaiso (Jr., G) - Recorded nine points and five assists in the Crusaders’ win over Milwaukee after scoring 13 at Youngstown State.
Jerran Young, Wright State (Jr., F) - Came off the bench to lead Wright State with 14 points against Detroit, his fifth double-digit scoring effort off the bench this year.

Men’s Basketball Player of the Week:
Nov. 12:          Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Nov. 19:          Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State
Nov. 26:          Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
                        Gary Talton, UIC
Dec. 3:            Cole Darling, Wright State
Dec. 10:          Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Dec. 17:          Daniel Barnes, UIC
Dec. 24:          Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Dec. 31:          Ray McCallum, Detroit
Jan. 7:             Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State
Jan. 14:           Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Jan. 21:           Kevin Van Wijk, Valparaiso
Jan. 28:           Alec Brown, Green Bay
Feb. 4:             Nick Minnerath, Detroit                   

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