ST. LOUIS -- Bradley junior forward Zach Andrews (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova H.S.) today was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after leading the Braves (5-2) to home victories versus Western Kentucky (78-76) and Delaware State (68-46) last week.
Andrews, a 6-foot-8 junior college transfer from Yuba (Calif.) College, averaged 14.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocked shots and 1.5 steals in the two wins. In Wednesday's victory versus the Hilltoppers, Andrews recorded his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds. His 11 offensive boards tied the individual single-game school record and helped the team equal the team record of 32 offensive boards. He added 10 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's game versus Delaware State. Andrews also took over as the Valley leader in field goal percentage (.730) by making 14-of-19 (.737) field goal attempts in the two games.
A reserve in Bradley's first three games, Andrews has been the team's starting center in the last four outings, helping the Braves to a 3-1 record in those four games by averaging 13.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. For the season, he is the team's fourth-leading scorer at 9.6 points per game and he ranks second in the Valley by averaging 8.1 boards per game.
Andrews becomes the fifth Bradley player to win the MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week Award since it was instituted to start the 2003-04 season. Senior forward Marcellus Sommerville was a six-time winner during his sophomore season in 2003-04, while Tony Bennett, Patrick O'Bryant (twice), Daniel Ruffin and Lawrence Wright combined to win the award five times last season.
The Braves will try for their first 3-game winning streak of the season Wednesday night when they visit Southern Miss (3-6 entering tonight's game versus Tennessee State) in the final non-conference tune-up of the year. Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. contest will be televised in the Peoria area by local NBC affiliate WEEK-TV. Bradley will open its 18-game Missouri Valley Conference schedule Dec. 28 at Carver Arena against league preseason favorite Northern Iowa.
