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by: Kris Gardner, United States Basketball Writers Association member. Credentialed media member since 1997. USBWA approved online journalist. Voter of Katrina McClain, Naismith, USBWA, and Wooden awards.

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Marcus Sasser Named AAC Player of the Week for Week 1 of 2021-22 Season

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UPDATED: November 15, 2021 -- 4:57 p.m. CT

Marcus Sasser was honored Monday as the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

The Dallas native opened the year with 25 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals against Hofstra on Tuesday as the Cougars rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit.

Sasser followed that game with a 26-point effort in a 79-46 win over Rice on Friday. In addition to connect on 8-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-9 from the 3-point line, Sasser led all players with five assists without a turnover.

Sasser posted his third and fourth consecutive games with 20+ points, becoming the first Cougar to accomplish that feat since guard Rob Gray at the end of the 2016-17 (last two games) and start of the 2017-18 season (first two games).


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In addition to his scoring, Sasser also tops the Cougars with 4.0 assists per game and owns an impressive 2.67-to-1 assist-turnover ratio.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Marcus Sasser * Junior * Guard * Houston

Sasser recorded back-to-back 25-plus point game to open the 2021-22 season in wins over Hofstra (25 points) and Rice (26). The junior guard also dished out 4.0 assists per game. Dating back to last season, Sasser has recorded four consecutive 20-plus point games.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Emoni Bates * Guard / Forward * Memphis

Bates led the Tigers to a pair of wins last week, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In his collegiate debut against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, Nov. 9, Bates recorded 17 points, including four 3-pointers, four rebounds and four assists, while against NC Central, he scored 15 points and grabbed another four rebounds. For the week, he shot 56.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.


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Weekly Honor Roll

Tristen Newton * Sophomore * Guard * East Carolina

Newton helped lead the Pirates to a 3-0 week, averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 54.1 percent from the field. He had a career-high 30 points in a win against Western Carolina on Sunday, November 14.

Darin Green, Jr. * Junior * Guard * UCF

Green averaged 18.5 points and shot 53.8 percent from 3-point range in a pair of wins for the Knights. In a road win at Miami on Saturday, November 13, the junior guard scored 23 points and made seven 3-pointers.

Khalif Battle * Sophomore * Guard * Temple

Battle scored 48 points over two games for the Owls while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. He dropped 22 in a win over UMES on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and followed that up with 26, including five 3-pointers, against USC on Saturday.

Jalen Cook * Freshman * Guard * Tulane

Cook averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the Green Wave. Cook scored 28 in a season-opening win against Southeastern Louisiana.

Jeriah Horne * Graduate * Forward * Tulsa

Horne averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in a 1-1 week for the Golden Hurricane. Horne scored a career-high 28 points against Northwestern State in his comeback game with Golden Hurricane after spending a season at Colorado upon graduation from Tulsa.

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