PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley junior forward Lawrence Wright (Beale A.F.B., Calif./Wheatland H.S.) became the fourth Brave to win the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week Award this season, according to an announcement from the league office this morning.
A 6-foot-4 forward from Yuba (Calif.) College, Wright averaged 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds as the Braves (12-10, 5-9) split a pair of games last week. His award, though, was based primarily for his play in Saturday's 74-68 upset versus league-leading Wichita State in a game that was televised nationally as part of the league's weekly package on the Fox Sports Network.
Against the Shockers, Wright scored a season-high 26 points in 26 reserve minutes by shooting 8-for-12 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. He also added five rebounds, two blocked shots, two steals and an assist against the Shockers. In the game's final 2:51, Wright blocked a Jamar Howard layup attempt, drew a charge against Howard and came up with two steals. After all of his defensive work, Wright all but iced the game by providing a highlight reel dunk while being fouled and completed the 3-point play with 28.2 seconds remaining for a 73-68 lead. His dunk was featured on ESPN College GameNight's “Gym Gems” feature Saturday night.
Wright joins fellow first-year Braves Tony Bennett (Jan. 10), Patrick O'Bryant (Nov. 29) and Daniel Ruffin (Dec. 20) as winners of the MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week award this season. Drake (Chris Bryant and Aliou Keita) is the only other Valley team to produce multiple winners this season. Including six weekly awards by junior forward Marcellus Sommerville last season, Bradley players now claimed the Valley Newcomer-of-the-Week award in 10 of the 26 weeks since the honor was introduced.
One of the leading candidates for the MVC Sixth Man of the Year award, Wright is now averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, despite averaging only 16.8 minutes per game.
Wright and the Braves will be on the road for the next two games, beginning with a Wednesday visit to Evansville. Bradley also will visit Western Kentucky Saturday afternoon in the third annual ESPN Bracket Buster series before returning home to host rival Illinois State Feb. 23 at Carver Arena.
