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 For the third time this season, Kevin Martin has been named Southern Conference Player of the Week. |
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Jan. 20, 2004
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior guard Kevin Martin, who leads the nation in scoring (27.7 avg.), has been named Southern Conference Player of the Week, the league announced today. This marks the third time this season the All-America candidate has earned the honor and fourth time by a Catamount, joining last week's honoree David Berghoefer.
Martin, who broke a 51-year old school record by making 21 free throws in the East Tennessee State game, averaged 31.7 points, five rebounds and two steals as WCU went 1-2 on the week. Part of Martin's scoring success can be attributed to his success at the free throw line as he went 37-of-41 (90.2 percent) from the charity stripe in three games this past week. The 37 free throws and 41 attempts this past week for Martin is more than current SoCon free throw percentage leader Terry Williams (Georgia Southern) has for the season (36-of-39) and more than three others have made among the SoCon's top six in free throw percentage.
First, the Zanesville, Ohio, native scored 36 points in a loss at Davidson, adding seven rebounds and three steals. Martin scored 21 points in the final 12:14 as Western Carolina cut a 19-point Davidson lead to nine (54-45). The rest of the team only scored six points over that final 12:14 - four points from Jared Outing and two free throws by Kyle Greathouse. In the first half, Martin pushed WCU to an early 11-6 lead, scoring nine of the Cats' 11 points to start the game.
Second, he pumped in 37 points with five rebounds in a loss at SoCon North leader East Tennessee State. Not only did he break a 51-year old school record by making 21 free throws, but, in the process, trimmed a 29-point second-half deficit to 13 with just over two minutes to go. During the stretch, he scored 21 of WCU's 29 points. (The previous mark was 20 made free throws by Ronald Rogers in January of 1953 versus Appalachian State.) The 21 free throws made is additionally the sixth-best single-game total ever by a SoCon player and the most since The Citadel's Regan Truesdale made 22 against Marshall in 1983-84. The 23 attempts was the 11th-most ever in SoCon history.
Lastly, he scored 22 points with two steals in a win over UNC Greensboro. After WCU broke a 66-66 tie with 2:52 left in the game, Martin came up with a steal and a dunk, giving WCU a four-point lead and WCU would never look back in the win. Overall, with WCU down four (66-62) and 4:45 left, Martin scored eight of WCU's 12 points in going from four down to six up with 1:14 left.
Martin has now scored 1,580 career points to move to ninth on the WCU career list, needing only needs 20 points to pass Gene McConnell (1967-70) for eighth. At his current pace, Martin would finish the regular season with approximately 1,885, which would be fourth on the WCU career list. Martin is also now fourth on the WCU career list for 3-pointers made (157), fourth in 3-pointers attempted (441) and fourth in free throws made (475).
Western Carolina will return to action Saturday (Jan. 24) at Chattanooga. Tip-off at McKenzie Arena is set for 7 pm. After the game at Chattanooga, Western will enjoy a four-game home stand with games on Jan. 26 (The Citadel), Jan. 31 (East Tennessee State), Feb. 2 (Piedmont) and Feb. 7 (Chattanooga).
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