NSU's Bransford Wins Second Weekly MIAA Accolade

Jermaine Bransford was named the MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week.

The senior forward from Sand Springs, Okla., joins Washburn's Will McNeill as the only two-time winners of the award this season. Bransford also picked up the honor Dec. 20.

This is also the second-straight week a member of the RiverHawks won athlete of the week honors, as junior guard Bryton Hobbs earned his first-career laurel a week ago.

Bransford used two double-doubles and a career performance to power Northeastern State to a perfect 2-0 week. He began with 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in NSU's win over Pittsburg State Jan. 23, and he then posted a game-high 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds on the road against Missouri Southern State Jan. 26.

For the week, Bransford recorded 19.5 points and 14.0 boards per game. He also dished out six assists and only turned the ball over twice in 74 minutes of action. He shot 55 percent (17-for-31) from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. He also helped hold Missouri Southern State to a season-low 54 points.

Bransford leads the MIAA in rebounding this season (10.1 rpg) and is eighth in scoring (15.6 ppg). He also ranks 11th in the NCAA in double-doubles and is 17th in the nation in rebounding.

Northeastern State (14-4, 7-3 MIAA) is set to put its four-game win streak on the line at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in Maryville, Mo., against Northwest Missouri State (13-5, 6-3 MIAA).