Tougaloo’s Patterson, Stillman’s Finch, Oakwood Duo win HBCUAC Weekly Awards

NEW ORLEANS - November 25, 2024 - Antonio Patterson of Tougaloo College claims Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Stillman College's Calvin Finch Jr. garners Defensive Player of the Week. Oakwood University's Chase Jackson earns Freshman of the Week and Jordan Bell takes home Newcomer of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performances between November 18-24, the conference announced on Monday.

Patterson earns his first honor of the season. He continued to be the driving force in the Bulldogs' offense - as he led the Bulldogs in scoring, Patterson averaged 16 points and three offensive rebounds per game to guide the Bulldogs to three tough victories. In the Bulldogs' victory over the reigning conference tournament champion Philander Smith University, Patterson had a season-best 22 points.

Finch takes home his first weekly award of the 2024-25 season. He grabbed 16 rebounds with 12 on the defensive end, recorded two steals and four blocks to lead the Tigers to a 59-55 victory over Oakwood on Thursday. The win keeps the Tigers on top of the HBCUAC standings with a 3-0 record.

Jackson, who won his first honor, tallied a double-digit scoring performance against Faulkner University on Saturday with 12 points. He also contributed five assists and four rebounds. In Thursday's game against Stillman, he tallied four points, three steals and two blocks.

Bell receives his first honor of the 2024-25 season. He averaged 21.5 points and seven rebounds per game in two contests. He also contributed seven blocks, four assists and two steals.

Additional men's basketball weekly nominees: Michael Ashley (Fisk), Jalen Bates (Wiley), Doyel Cockrill III (Fisk), Cali Davis (Wilberforce),Jordan Ealey (Tougaloo), Shamir Mosley (Wiley), Joshua Price (Stillman), Lamont Sams (Talladega), Rodney Sawyer (Wilberforce),Shaun Walker (Talladega), Arthur Williams (Talladega)

2024-25 Men's Basketball Players of the Week

-HBCUAC-

About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.