Hopkins Named Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player Of The Week

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Cardinal senior nabs second career honor from league office

Jan. 28, 2008

FRISCO, Texas - After leading Lamar to two wins last week, which netted the Cardinals an SLC best 4-1 start in league play, Darren Hopkins has been named the Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week. It is the second-career honor for Hopkins, as he first won the honor on Feb. 26, 2007. Hopkins is also the second Cardinal to win the honor this season, as Lamar Sanders was selected on Jan. 14.

Hopkins had his two highest-scoring games of the year over the weekend, as he averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting .619 (13-of-21) from the floor as Lamar swept road games at UCA and Northwestern State. The back-to-back road wins were the first by the Cardinals since the 2005-06 season.

In the team's overtime 89-86 win at Central Arkansas, he netted a team and season-high 20 points (on 7-of-11), which snapped the Cardinals' eight-game road losing streak. He was perfect in the second-half alone, scoring 10 points on 3-of-3, 2-of-2 from outside and 2-of-2 from the FT line; adding 4 points, 2 rebounds and an assist in overtime.

Hopkins came back two days later and finished with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting against Northwestern State, adding a team-best seven rebounds. He dished out three assists in each game, tying his season-best, while his three steals at Northwestern State were tied his career high.

On the season, Hopkins is averaging 9.4 points per game, but is averaging 13.2 points per game in conference games.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Bright, Sam Houston State, Nate Bowie, Central Arkansas, Anthony Vereen, UT Arlington, Warrell Span, Southeastern La., and John Pichon, McNeese State.