LMU’s Johnson, Newberry’s Davis Named Men’s Basketball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Lincoln Memorial University's Desmond Johnson and Newberry College's Tony Davis have been named the South Atlantic Conference men's basketball Players of the Week for the week ending January 9, 2011.

Johnson, a junior forward from Lynch, Kent. (Cumberland HS), led the Railsplitters to a perfect 3-0 mark, including road conference wins over Tusculum College (73-52) and Newberry College (99-86). Johnson was instrumental in all three wins, posting a pair of double-doubles to lead the No. 14 nationally ranked Railsplitters to their current 12-0 record and a 4-0 conference mark.

He opened the week with 22 points and 13 rebounds in a non-conference win over Lees-McRae. He had 14 points and seven rebounds in the win over Tusculum and capped off the week with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots against Newberry.

Desmond Johnson

Tony Davis

Davis, a senior forward Sarasota, Fla. (UCF / Riverview HS), averaged 24.0 points and 12.0 rebounds as the Wolves went 1-1.

In Wednesday's 104-100 overtime win over Mars Hill, Davis scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. He had 13 offensive rebounds in the game to break the previous SAC record of nine offensive rebounds, which had stood since 1994. He also blocked six shots and recorded three steals. In Saturday's loss to No. 14 Lincoln Memorial, he scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

For the season, Davis is averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, shooting .480 from the field.