Hazzard snags SBC POW honors
Published 11:16 pm Monday, February 2, 2009
NEW ORLEANS – After a superb week, including leading Troy to back-to-back victories and helping to extend its win-streak, guard Brandon Hazzard has been named the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Player of Week.
At North Texas on Thursday, Hazzard sank a pair of free throws late in regulation to ice Troy’s first-ever win at the Super Pit.
He then followed that performance by fueling a furious home comeback against Denver on Saturday – tying the game with just over a minute remaining, before temporarily putting the Trojans ahead with 15 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, Hazzard drained a three-pointer with 1:34 left, giving Troy the two-point advantage, then sealed the Trojans sixth-straight victory with two free throws at the :20 mark.
In the Trojans two contests last week, Hazzard averaged 25.5 points each time out, while shooting 50 percent (17-34) from the field and 46 percent (6-13) from beyond the arc, along with a near perfect showing at the line (11-13).
The Atlanta native also added three steals and as many assists.
Moreover, during Troy’s league-best active win streak, Hazzard is averaging 19.3 points per game. On the season, he is putting up 14.7 points and pulling down 2.4 boards per contest, shooting 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from long distance.
This is the first time this season that a Troy player has earned the honor and the first time in his career Hazzard has been the recipient.
Hazzard and the Trojans are in action next on Thursday when they host Arkansas State at 7 p.m. at Trojan Arena.