Sanders Named B1G Freshman of the Week
Feb 08 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers point guard Corey Sanders averaged 33.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.5 steals to earn Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week honors.
Versus Illinois on Wednesday, Sanders set a school freshman record with 39 points in a 110-101 triple overtime loss at the RAC. The previous record was 35 by Quincy Douby on March 30, 2004 against Iowa State in the semifinals of the NIT. He also established a career-high with 12 assists, the second helpers most by a freshman in the NCAA this season and the most for RU player since Marquis Webb had 11 on Jan. 24, 2005 versus Syracuse. Sanders set career-bests in rebounds (eight) and minutes played (51), while posting his first career-double-double.
He became the first player to have at least 39 points and 12 assists in a game since Ohio's D.J. Cooper in 2010. Sanders' three-pointer to send the game into double overtime was selected the No. 1 play on ESPN SportCenter's Top 10.
Sanders followed the performance by shooting 12-of-20, while adding five assists, to score a game-high 28 points at Nebraska on Saturday. It marked the second most points ever scored by a Husker opponent at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Among freshmen, Sanders is 1st in B1G/16th NCAA in scoring (15.9), 1st in B1G/12th in NCAA in steals (1.65) and 2nd in B1G/t-7th in NCAA in assists (4.2).
It marks the second Big Ten Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week honor for Sanders this season. He was also honored on Dec. 28 after scoring 21 points and grabbing five rebounds to help the Scarlet Knights to a 72-64 win over Fairleigh Dickinson.
