[Men's Basketball] Murdock Named NAIA DII Men's Basketball Player of the Week
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After taking home four KCAC Player of the Week awards, Friends University senior Jordan Murdock has now garnered national recognition, being selected as the NAIA DII Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the national office announced today (Jan. 15).
"It's great that Jordan is getting the national recognition that he is definitely deserving of," Friends head coach Dale Faber said.
"We shouldn't get lost on just the weekly award, as I truly believe he is one of top players in the nation. He works at the game daily and it shows every game. ...it is an individual honor but it is great that he is aware and is willing to express that he can't get anything done without his teammates. We are also glad he has offered to buy us all dinner."
Murdock averaged 31.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg and four assists per game in fueling the No. 24-ranked Falcons to three victories this past week to extend their winning streak to 11 games, their longest such streak since the 2013-14 season.
The Wichita native started the week with an impressive double-double of 37 points, 16 rebounds along with seven assists to lead the Falcons to an 83-64 victory over Avila University last Monday night (Jan. 7).
Murdock then dropped 27 points and seven boards as the Falcons routed Sterling College 107-73 on the road, the biggest margin of victory for Friends since the 2014-15 campaign.
He then capped the week with a 30 point and eight rebound performance in the Falcons' 84-69 win over Saint Mary Saturday night (Jan. 12). Murdock also shot a solid 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field in the three wins.
Last season's KCAC Player of the Year and first-team NAIA All-American, Murdock has been a model of consistency since arriving at Friends. He's scored in double-figures in all but one of his 80 career games and recently crossed the 2,000 point plateau after reaching 1,000 career points in just 41 games.
Murdock is currently second in the KCAC and third in the NAIA in points per game (29.4 ppg) while ranking second in the league in assists per game (4.8 apg) and fifth in rebounds (9.3 rpg).
The Falcons will next tangle with Ottawa University at home tomorrow night (Jan. 16) at 8 pm inside the Garvey Center.