Samarco named MSC player of the week

 
 
Samarco named MSC player of the week  
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November 18, 2008 Joshua Samarco

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — He had 13 points in a win at Shawnee State, 16 more in a loss to 12th-ranked Union (Tenn.) University. But it was on Saturday that Josh Samarco really turned some heads.

The 6-1 junior from Ypsilanti, Mich., hit 8-of-10 from the newly-extended three-point line en route to scoring 38 points to help the Bears improved to 4-1 on the season and knock off Indiana-South Bend in the McKendree College Classic in Lebanon, Ill.

For his efforts, Samarco was named Player of the Week in the Mid-South Conference.

Samarco, a transfer from the University of Detroit, averaged 22.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in Pikeville’s three games last week. In addition, he had six assists, three steals and a blocked shot. He sank 46.2 percent of his field goals and 50 percent (13-of-26) three-point shots, and was 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

Beginning this season, the three-point line in men’s college basketball is 20 feet, nine inches. From its inception in the 1986-87 season, it had been 19-9.

At this early stage in the season, Samarco is third in the Mid-South Conference with his 17.6 points per game. He has hit 16-of-34 from the arc, which is a second-best 47.1 percent. His average of 3.2 three-point shots made per game leads the league.

Samarco sparked the Bears to their win over Shawnee State in Portsmouth, Ohio, on Monday, hitting three second-half three-pointers and scoring 11 of his 13 of his points after intermission in a 65-60 win. On Friday night in the opener of the McKendree Classic, he had 16 points and five rebounds in Pikeville’s 85-79 loss to Union.

On Saturday, Samarco was 6-of-6 from the arc and 9-of-11 from the field to have 24 of his 38 by recess. He added three rebounds, two steals and an assist in the 84-71 win over IUSB.

Samarco is the first player to win the player of the week honor for the 2008-09 season. Players of the week are nominated and voted upon by the sports information directors in the Mid-South Conference. Beginning in January, the conference winner will be nominated for the national honor.