KING NAMED LONE STAR CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RICHARDSON, Texas – A&M-Commerce senior forward Desmond King has been named the Lone Star Conference's Offensive Player of the Week, announced today by league officials. The weekly honor is the third of King's career and his first of the season, having picked up both an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honor in 2010-11.
King, the Preseason Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, helped lead the Lions to a perfect 3-0 mark this past week, averaging 21.7 points while shooting 72.7 percent from the floor in the three victories. King opened up the week with a 22-point, five-rebound performance in the Lions' 76-74 last-second victory over Southern Arkansas on December 13.
At the St. Edward's Classic in Austin, King had a pair of impressive games, en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Against Harding, he finished with 13 points and a career-best seven steals, helping A&M-Commerce to an 82-67 victory. But the senior saved his best for last, recording a career-high 30 points while tying his career-bests in rebounds (12) and blocks (two) as the Lions defeated Henderson State 85-81. King hit 12-of-13 shots from the floor against the Reddies, another career-best.
Through the first 11 games of the year, King leads the Lions in both points and rebounds, averaging 15.8 points and 6.2 boards per game. He ranks among the Lone Star Conference's leaders in a handful of categories, sitting sixth in points per game, 10th in rebounds per game, fifth in field goal percentage (57.9 percent), eighth in steals (1.5 per game) and second in offensive rebounds (3.1 per game).
King and the rest of the Lions have won three-straight games heading into the Christmas break and will have a two-week hiatus before returning to conference play at West Texas A&M on Wednesday, January 4. A&M-Commerce's next home game is Saturday, January 7 against Eastern New Mexico at the Field House.