Brits in College: Week 5 Recap

By Rowan Shiell on December 14, 2013

December is normally that time of the season when teams wrap up their last non conference games. Players should focus on their studies (can’t forget that side of the deal) while coaches also use this time to assess their teams and get ready for conference play which normally starts in January. Not to mention the holidays are upon us.

This meant that there weren’t as many games on this week.

Choosing a player of the week was really close but in the end we went with the player who not only had decent stats but also helped his team win.

Player of the Week

Jesse Chuku | Lehigh | Sophomore | Forward

Jess Chuku, last week’s player of the week, almost had a double double, scoring eight points and rebounded the ball nine times as Lehigh defeated UMBC. Chuku, playing in his first season Lehigh after a redshirt year, also had a steal and two blocks.

Two days later the Londoner got his second double double of the season, 15 points and 10 rebounds, as Lehigh notched another victory against LIU Brooklyn. Chuku also recorded two blocks and two steals in the fourth consecutive victory for Lehigh.

Best Of the Rest

Fahro Alihodzic | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Senior | Forward

Alihodzic scored 13 points to help UAB get past Northeastern on Saturday. The senior, who scored four points in the final minute to secure the win, also had six rebounds.

Chris Caird | Drake | Junior | Forward

On Saturday Chris Caird scored a season high 21 points in a loss to Iowa. The forward made five of his eight three point attempts and dished out an assist to go with five rebounds.

Will Neighbour | UALR | Senior | Forward

Neighbour recorded his ninth career double double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, in a loss to Tulsa on Tuesday. He also had two assists, a steal and a block.

The game was played three days later than expected due to poor weather conditions.

Luke Nelson | UC Irvine | Guard | Freshman

Luke Nelson had 12 points and four assists in a loss to Pepperdine on Saturday. UC Irvine won the first half by ten points but had a poor second half.

Alex Young | UC Irvine | Guard | Sophomore

Alex Young was a key part of a second half rally nailing a three pointer to help bring the score to 71-69. However with time running out UC Irvine were forced to foul, putting the Pepperdine on the line for free throws to ice the game.

Young finished with 12 points, eight assists, two steals and five rebounds.

Mike Ochereobia | Western Illinois| Centre | Senior

In an exhibition game against Grace Bible College, Ochereobia missed only one shot, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds to go with three blocked shots in 25 minutes of play.

Gabriel Olaseni | Iowa | Forward | Junior

On Saturday Olaseni logged 17 minutes in a blowout victory over Chris Caird’s Drake, mentioned above.

Two days later he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a victory over Fairleigh Dickinson.

If you missed Iowa’s feature on Gabe feel free to catch up with it here.

Ovie Soko | Duquesne | Forward | Senior

Duquesne gave Penn state a battle, on Wednesday, but lost down the stretch when their leading scorer, Ovie Soko, fouled out. Soko recorded 19 points, nine rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes of action.

As a team Duquesne made a despairing 27% of their field goal attempts. Three throws kept them in the game with Soko making 12 of 14 attempts.

Adam Thoseby | South Dakota | Guard | Sophomore

Thoseby started his week by scoring only five points in a one point loss to Wyoming on Saturday. However, three days later he scored a season high 16 points on 6/10 shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds in a loss to Kansas State.

Ross Wilson | Rice| Forward | Sophomore

After a four game absence, Ross Wilson played 26 minutes of Rice’s triple overtime victory over South Alabama on Saturday. The forward also had five rebounds, a steal and a block.

Prince Ibeh | Texas | Sophomore | Centre

Prince scored 11 points to go with six rebounds and four blocks as Texas needed overtime to get by Temple on Saturday.

Ben Mockford | St Francis (NY) | Senior | Guard

Mockford’s best game of the week was against Army, on Saturday, where he scored a dozen points.

Image Credit: LeHigh Basketball

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