Staff Report

 

IRVING, Texas — Marshall senior forward James Kelly (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was named Conference USA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.

The honor is the second of Kelly’s season, and he is the first Herd player to earn the award more than once.

He last earned the accolade on Dec. 28, 2015. The award is the fourth C-USA weekly honor for Marshall this year, as redshirt freshman guard C.J. Burks (Martinsburg, W.Va.) was named Freshman of the Week twice (Nov. 30, Dec. 14).

“He’s been playing so well,” second-year coach Dan D’Antoni said. “He’s a force on the boards and down the lane. He’s getting better offensively and defensively. I’m happy for him.”

Kelly became Conference USA’s leader in double-doubles after posting back-to-back such performances against Florida Atlantic (Jan. 7) and FIU (Jan. 9). After pouring 33 points on the Panthers (Jan. 9), he is the first C-USA player to score 30 or more points in more than one game this season.

The 6-foot-8 forward also leads the league in rebounding and is the only player to average a double-double (18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds per game). He had a career-high 15 boards in each game last week. He shot 62.5 percent from the field (20-of-32) and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line while playing 28.5 minutes per contest.

Marshall is one of two teams unbeaten in C-USA play (with UAB), at 3-0 for the first time since 2011-12. Up next, the Herd will take its win streak on the road to face North Texas (Jan. 14) and Rice (Jan. 16).

For the latest information about Marshall men’s basketball, follow @HerdMBB on Twitter.