Date Posted: 1/29/2007

MACON, Ga. – Mercer guard James Florence and ETSU guard Courtney Pigram share Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week honors after each used dominating offensive performances to lead their teams to crucial league victories.

Florence led the Bears to their third straight win and fifth in last six contests with an amazing second half performance in the A-Sun/CSS Game of the Week. The freshman erupted for a career-high 36 points at Stetson, leading Mercer back from a 19-point deficit. The Marietta, Ga., native scored 18 of Mercer’s 22 points over a nine-minute span in the second half, bookmarked by a 3-pointer at the 12:35 mark and a trey with 3:38 remaining that propelled Mercer from a four-point deficit to a four-point lead. His two clutch free throws with just over six minutes remaining in the game tied the contest for the first time since the 17:01 mark of the first half, and his eighth 3-pointer of the night at the 5:40 mark snapped the 58-58 tie, giving Mercer a lead it would not relinquish. Earlier in the week against Savannah State, the A-Sun’s leading scorer provided a game-high 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out four assists, blocked three shots and recorded four steals. Florence majors in Business.

Pigram carried the Bucs through a sweep of ETSU's Nashville rivals this past week. He scored a career-high 34 points and tied the ETSU record for 3-pointers in a game with eight, lifting the Bucs past Lipscomb on Saturday. Along with his game high for scoring against the Bisons, Pigram posted a team-best 18 points in the overtime win at Belmont. With the two victories, ETSU grabbed a two-game lead in the standings with just seven games remaining on the schedule. Pigram majors in Sports Management.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2006-07 men’s basketball campaign.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
• Jonathan Rodriguez, Campbell
(Fr. – F – Miami, Fla. – Sports Management Major)
Posted back-to-back double-doubles to lift Campbell back to .500

• Golden Ingle, Kennesaw State
(Sr. – G – Orem, Utah – Management Major)
Hit 8-of-12 3FG’s in two game swing through Nashville

• Lehmon Colbert, Jacksonville
(Fr. – G – Roberta, Ga. – Undecided Major)
JU’s top scorer in both games, averaged 15.5 ppg

• Garfield Blair, Stetson
(So. – G – Orlando, Fla. – E-Business Technology Major)
Scored career-high 21 points in A-Sun/CSS Game of the Week

• Henry Harris, Belmont
(So. – G – Nashville, Tenn. – Exercise Science Major)
Poured in career-best 23 points in win over KSU

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Basketball