By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Brandon Stroud became the first Kennesaw State Owl to be named ASUN Men's Basketball Player of the Week in five years as the league office announced this week's winners on Monday afternoon.
Stroud, a junior guard and native of Atlanta, came up with big play after big play in leading Kennesaw State to a 3-1 week. That included a 2-1 performance in the Appalachian State MTE this past weekend, which tied for the best mark of the four teams in the three-day event (along with Campbell). KSU's overall record of 4-2 is its best start ever in the school's Division I history.
In the opener against SE Louisiana on Nov. 18, Stroud posted his first double-double of the season with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, along with 10 rebounds and a career-high four steals. With KSU holding just a one-point lead in the final minute, Stroud leaped for an offensive board, his 10th rebound of the game, and drew a foul. He then sank both free throw attempts to seal the victory, a 72-68 KSU victory.
Against Appalachian State on Nov. 19, Stroud led the KSU game-winning rally. With the Owls down seven with three minutes to play, he started things off by drawing a foul and making 1-of-2 at the line, and then stole the ball on the next play and fed an Owl for a fast break dunk. He would add three more rebounds and two free throws over the next four possessions to help the Owls complete a 12-0-game-changing run. He finished the game with 12 pts and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double, was a perfect 5-of-5 at the line and added a steal and a block.
Stroud opened the week with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists while shooting 5-of-6 in the win over Brewton-Parker. For the week, he averaged 10.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, shot 55.2% from the floor, 50% from three-point range, and added six steals and one block. He currently ranks fourth in the ASUN in rebounding per game at 7.3 and is tied for 14
th in the nation with two double-doubles.
NEXT UP: The Owls will be on the road for a fourth straight game away from Kennesaw when it takes on the VCU Rams in Richmond, Va., on Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest.
