Missouri State University forward Alize Johnson (Jr., Williamsport, Pa.) has been named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Monday.
It is the fifth time this season, the transfer from Frank Phillips (Texas) College has earned the award, tying teammate Dequon Miller for the most MVC Newcomer of the Week honors ever for a Bear. Since the weekly award began in 2003-04, only three league players — seven-time winner Doug McDermott (Creighton 2010-11), and six-time winners Cleanthony Early (Wichita State 2012-13) and Marcellus Sommerville (Bradley 2003-04) — have won rookie honor more times.
Johnson became just the second MVC player in the last 20 seasons to post 26 points and 20 rebounds in a game when he did so in the Bears’ road win at Indiana State on Jan. 18. His 20 rebounds also tied a Missouri State single-game standard during the school’s Division I era, becoming the first MSU player since 1990 to reach that milestone.
He followed that effort with his 12th double-double of the campaign — and third in a row — with 13 points and 13 rebounds in MSU’s home win over Bradley on Saturday. For the week the standout averaged 19.5 points and 18.0 rebounds per game to go with a .565 field goal percentage and 80 percent effort (8-of-10) at the foul line. He also contributed five 3-pointers — four in the ISU game — and five assists.
For the year, Johnson is averaging a team-best 14.2 points and league-best 10.7 rebounds per game with another league-best 12 double-doubles and a .528 field-goal percentage.
Johnson and the third-place Bears wrap a two-game MVC home stand on Tuesday night when they entertain Drake at 7 p.m. at JQH Arena. Tickets for the Drake game are on sale now at the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678 or by visiting MissouriStateBears.com.
