Christian Mekowulu Earns OVC Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-OVC

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee --- Tennessee State men’s basketball forward Christian Mekowulu (Lagos, Nigeria) earned Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a place on the All-OVC Second Team, it was announced by the conference office today.

The redshirt junior ranks in the top 25 in the OVC in eight different statistical categories including 19th in scoring (12.6 ppg), sixth in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.6 bpg). This marks the third-consecutive season a TSU player has won OVC Defensive Player of the Year after Tahjere McCall took home the award each of the last two seasons.

Mekowulu has scored in double figures 18 times this season including a career-high 27 points in TSU’s 50-47 victory over Eastern Illinois on Jan. 27.

His six double-doubles this season, including two in OVC play, are the most on the team and are good for a tie for the sixth most in the conference.

Mekowulu’s 45 blocks are the most for a TSU player since the 2011-12 season when current Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington finished with 45 blocks for TSU. Mekowulu has 13 games with two or more blocks this year.

The 6’9 forward has been TSU’s most-consistent rebounder this season, leading the team on the glass in 22 games - posting seven games with double-figure rebounds.

Mekowulu is a key defensive mainstay for the Tigers, who force turnovers on 23.5 percent of their opponents’ possessions – the fourth-highest rate in the nation this season.

Throughout the season, Mekowulu earned adidas OVC Player of the Week on Dec. 4 and Jan. 29.

For Mekowulu, it is his first time making the All-OVC team and his first major award from the league office.

Mekowulu’s selection to the All-OVC team marks the 33rd all-conference selection for TSU since joining the OVC prior to the 1987-88 season.

Under fourth-year Head Coach Dana Ford, TSU has now had three First Team All-OVC selections and two Second Team All-OVC selections.

2017-18 ALL-OVC AWARDS
OVC Player of the Year: Jonathan Stark, Murray State
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Christian Mekowulu, Tennessee State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
OVC Coach of the Year: Matt Figger, Austin Peay

ALL-OVC FIRST TEAM
Jonathan Stark, Murray State G - Sr.
Dylan Windler, Belmont - G/F - Jr.
Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay – F - Sr.
Denzel Mahoney, Southeast Missouri - G - So.
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay - F - Fr.
Amanze Egekeze, Belmont - F - Sr.
Nick Mayo, Eastern Kentucky - F - Jr.
Terrell Miller, Murray State - F - Sr.
Austin Luke, Belmont - G - Sr.
Ja Morant, Murray State - G - Fr.

ALL-OVC SECOND TEAM
Christian Mekowulu, Tennessee State - F – R-Jr.
Curtis Phillips, Jr., Tennessee Tech - F - Sr.
Jalen Henry, SIUE - F - Sr.
Malcolm Drumwright, Jacksonville State - G - Sr.
Montell Goodwin, Eastern Illinois - G - Sr.

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay - F - Sr.
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay - F - Fr.
Ja Morant, Murray State - G - Fr.
Ledarrius Brewer, Southeast Missouri - G -Fr.
Jason Burnell, Jacksonville State - F - Jr.
Mack Smith, Eastern Illinois - G - Fr.

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