EIU's Wallace Named OVC Newcomer of Week

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Published on January 8 2019 6:14 am
Last Updated on January 8 2019 6:14 am

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois sophomore guard Josiah Wallace was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after helping to lead the Panthers to a 2-0 start in OVC play with overtime wins against UT Martin and SIUE.

Wallace was the Panthers leading scorer in both games averaging 25.5 points per game shooting 45.9 percent from the field.  On Thursday, Wallace helped carry the EIU offense in the early portion of the game scoring 18 of his 27 points in the first half.  He added six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots in the win.  In Saturday’s win over SIUE, he scored 24 points including the first five EIU points in the overtime period.  Wallace added six assists, four rebounds, a block and a steal.   He was 13-of-15 from the foul line for the weekend as he ranks fifth in the OVC in free throw percentage at 81.8 percent.  Wallace is averaging a team best 15 points per game which ranks seventh in the OVC.

This is the second time this season that Wallace has earned OVC Newcomer of the Week honors.  He previously won the award after his performance at the Battle in the Blue Ridge tournament over Thanksgiving weekend in Asheville, N.C.   It is the second straight week that an EIU player has won OVC Newcomer of the Week honors as Shareef Smith collected the honor last week when the Panthers swept all three OVC weekly awards.

EIU returns to action this Thursday as they travel to Jacksonville State.  The game is set for a 7:15 pm tip on ESPN+.