Chattanooga guard Malachi Smith has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by GEICO for all contests from Jan. 3-9 after averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals in leading the Mocs to a pair of league wins. The award is selected by the league office.
Smith scored 24 points and had five rebounds in Chattanooga’s 75-67 road win over Wofford on Wednesday, adding three assists and three steals. He shot 58.3 percent from the floor (7-for-12), including a 5-for-8 (.625) showing from 3-point range.
Three days later, Smith had 27 points and four boards in an 85-67 home win over The Citadel.
The sophomore from Belleville, Illinois, again had three assists and added two steals. He was 10-for-20 from the floor and 4-for-8 on 3-point attempts.
Smith has scored in double figures in 10 straight contests, surpassing 20 points in eight of them and averaging 25.0 points per game and shooting 61.1 percent from the floor over that span.
The player of the week award is Smith’s third of the season (Nov. 22, Dec. 20).
Chattanooga (13-3, 3-0 SoCon) visits Western Carolina (7-8, 1-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET before hosting Furman (11-6, 3-1) for a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network on Saturday at 3 p.m
Other nominees: David Sloan (ETSU), Mike Bothwell (Furman), Shannon Grant (Mercer), Kobe Langley (UNCG), Jermaine Marshall (Samford), Nicholas Robinson (Western Carolina) and Max Klesmit (Wofford).
2021-22 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Nov. 15 Mike Bothwell, Sr., G, Furman
Nov. 22 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Nov. 29 Max Klesmit, So., G, Wofford
Dec. 6 Jalen Slawson, Sr., F, Furman
Dec. 13 Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI
Dec. 20 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga
Dec. 27 Ques Glover, So., G, Samford
Jan. 3 Jake Stephens, Sr., C, VMI
Jan. 10 Malachi Smith, So., G, Chattanooga