Erves earns fifth career GCAC Player of the Week award

DENZELL ERVES

NEW ORLEANS — For the second time this season and the fifth time in his career, Xavier University of Louisiana's Denzell Erves has been chosen Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball.

Erves, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of Vicksburg High School, won the award for Dec. 31-Jan. 6 after averaging 19 points and 12.5 rebounds and shooting 59.1 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the line in two games, both XU road victories. He recorded double-doubles in both games, giving him three in a row, 10 this season and 17 in his career. Against Belhaven in a 73-63 victory on New Year's Eve, he became the first Gold Rush player of the past nine seasons to record 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in consecutive games. He tied his career high of 23 points, and his 15 rebounds were a career best. He then had 15 points and 10 rebounds Saturday in a 67-58 victory at Edward Waters.

Erves — who also won the GCAC award for Nov. 19-25 and three times in 2011-12 — tied for second in voting for Louisiana Player of the Week.

    

Teammate Wanto Joseph also has won two GCAC weekly awards this season.
    

Through 17 games, Erves is averaging 14 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots and is shooting 51.5 percent from the floor and 71.9 percent from the line. He ranks first in NAIA Division I with 155 rebounds, third in rebounds per game, 11th with 21 blocks, 15th with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, 16th with 5.8 defensive rebounds per game, 24th in blocks per game and 36th in field-goal percentage.

Xavier, 14-3 overall and tied for first in the GCAC at 2-0, will play its next four games at XU's new Convocation Center, including Tougaloo at 3 p.m. Saturday and city rival SUNO at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

 

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA