NDNU's Bennie Murray claims first PacWest honor

Argo's Bennie Murray claims first PacWest Player of Week honor

PHOENIX, AZ - Notre Dame de Namur sophomore guard Bennie Murray (Fairfield, CA/Will C. Wood) has been named the first Pacific West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for 2009-10.

The honor was announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Thursday, Nov. 26, for games contested Oct. 30-Nov. 22.

Murray led the Argos to a 1-2 week by averaging 21.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He ranked second in scoring and tied for third in rebounding for the week in the PacWest, while his 57.1% shooting from the field ranked him fourth in the league.

Murray made 24 of his 42 field goal attempts, averaged 2.0 steals per contest (tied for third), and ranked fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.3).

He also connected on 8 of 10 free throw attempts (80%) to tie for eighth in the PacWest and ranked 11th in three-point shooting (41.2%) after making 7 of 17 attempts.

PacWest Men's Basketball Weekly Report

PacWest Men's Basketball Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll

Austin Bryan - Dominican (CA) (Fr., 6-4, 190, G, Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee)...led the PacWest in scoring for the week with a 27.0 per game average...ranked ninth for the week in field goal shooting (49.1% - 26 for 53)...tied for 10th in assists per game (2.0) and tied for third in steals per game (2.0)...ranked second for the week in foul shooting after making 20 of 22 (90.9%)...averaged 3.00 treys per game, tying for the league lead...totaled nine three-pointers in three games...ranked seventh in three-point shooting (47.4%).

T.J. Benson - Grand Canyon (Sr., 6-0, 170, G, Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol)...averaged 10.0 points per game over six contests...averaged 3.2 assists per game to rank sixth in the conference during the first week of the season...ranked sixth in assist/turnover ratio (0.9)...tied for sixth in the PacWest in three-pointers made per game (2.0)...ranked 10th in three-point shooting for the week (41.4%) after making 12 of 29.

Mike Helton - Hawai‘i Pacific (Sr., 6-6, 187, G/F, El Paso, TX/Montwood)...named the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic (hosted by Sonoma State)...also selected to the All-Tournament Team...averaged 19.3 points per game in HPU's first three contests...ranked third in the PacWest in scoring for the week...averaged 4.3 rebounds...converted 90.9% (15 for 17) of his free throw attempts...shot 41.3% from the floor (19 for 46)...drained five three-pointers.

Bryan Ngo (left) - Hawai‘i Hilo (Sr., 5-10, 175, G, San Jose, CA/Santa Clara)...averaged 10.5 points per game to tie for 13th in the league during the week...hit 5 of 9 three-point attempts (55.6%) to rank second in shooting average from beyond the arc...tied for third in three-pointers made per game during the week (2.50)...also tied for third in steals per contest (2.0).

Phillip Samuel - Academy of Art (Jr., 6-3, 185, G, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces)...averaged 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest last week...tied for sixth in the league in scoring average during the stretch...ranked eighth in the league in three-point shooting for the week (45.5%) after drilling 5 of 11...tied for third in three-pointers made per game (2.5).

Lavell Shipman - Hawai‘i Hilo (Jr., 6-3, 170, G, Wilson, NC/Hunt)...ranked ninth in the PacWest in scoring for the week after averaging 11.5 points per game...tied for fifth in rebounding average (6.5)...made 11 of 14 free throw attempts (78.6%), good enough for 10th in the league.

Chris Silzer - Notre Dame de Namur (Sr., 6-2, 175, G, Templeton, CA/Templeton)...tied for 10th in the league during the week in scoring average (11.3 ppg.)...tied for seventh in field goal shooting (50.0%)...made 13 of 26 attempts from the floor...ranked seventh in assists per game (2.7)...drained four three-pointers.

Justin Smith - Hawai‘i Hilo (Sr., 6-6, 205, F, Los Angeles, CA/Reseda)...averaged 17.5 points per game over two contests for the Vulcans...ranked fourth in the league in scoring average for the week...connected on 65.2% (15 for 23) of his shots from the field...also led the PacWest in rebounding average (7.5)...converted 71.4% (5 for 7) of his foul shots.

Norman Wells - Hawai‘i Pacific (Jr., 6-8, 250, F, Madison, IN/Madison Consolidated)...tied for 10th in the league last week in scoring average...posted 11.3 points per game...totaled five three-pointers during the week.

Tom Whitehead - Dixie State (Jr., 6-6, 185, F, St. George, UT/Dixie)...scored 17 points in Red Storm's lone game of the week - a 69-49 thumping of Cal St. Dominguez Hills on Nov. 21...shot 54.5% from the floor (6 for 11)...hit trio of three-pointers...tied for third in the PacWest in three-point shooting (50% - 3 for 6)...2 for 2 from the line...had two assists.