Wingate’s Justin Baker Named Men’s Basketball Player of the Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Wingate University's Justin Baker was named South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Player Of The Week, league officials announced today.

Baker, a senior guard from Lumberton, N.C., averaged 25.0 points, four rebounds and three assists in leading Wingate to home victories over SAC-foes Presbyterian (84-70) and Mars Hill (75-70) last Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.

Baker started the week with 20-point, five-rebound and five-assist performance in the victory over the Blue Hose before scoring a season-high 30 points in the Lion win.

The Lumberton High School graduate also hit his first eight shots against Mars Hill and scored the last six Wingate points of the contest to rally the Bulldogs to the victory.

Baker, who hit 50 percent (18-of-36) of his field goal attempts for the week as well, has led Wingate to five straight victories and a first-place tie with Lenoir-Rhyne atop the conference standings.

The SAC Men's Basketball Player Of The Week is voted on by the league's sports information directors.