Teams: Men's Basketball: Press Releases

Monday, November 24, 2008

NESCAC SELECTS JON PIERCE AS ITS MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Pierce averaged 27.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last week

MEDFORD -- Junior forward Jon Pierce (Belmont, MA) of the Tufts University men's basketball team had an outstanding first week of the 2008-09 season and has been awarded the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week.

This marks the third time that Pierce has received the weekly conference award, including twice last season. He averaged 27.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in a 2-1 week for the Jumbos. He poured in a career-high 40 points in the season opener against Babson on November 18, tying for the eighth-most points ever scored by a Tufts player. It was the highest total since 1996. The 6'5", 240-pound co-captain hit the mark by scoring on 14 of 21 field goals, including 4 for 6 three-pointers, and was 8 for 12 from the free throw line. He also had five rebounds and three steals in the game, which Tufts lost 90-88 in overtime.

At the Roger Williams University/Courtyard by Marriott Tournament over the weekend (Nov. 21-22), Pierce was voted the Most Valuable Player after leading Tufts to the title. He had 21 points and 10 rebounds in an 82-76 first-round victory against the host Hawks. In the championship game against Western Connecticut, Pierce put up 22 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in an 89-74 victory.

For the week he was 28 for 48 from the field (58.3 percent) and 22 for 31 from the free throw line (71 percent).

The award is another in what is becoming a long list of accolades for Pierce. He was selected a D3Hoops.com Preseason Honorable Mention All-American this year. Last season, when he led the conference in scoring, Pierce earned All-NESCAC second team honors. In 2007 he was the conference's Rookie of the Year. Pierce currently has 996 points in three seasons at Tufts, making it a near certainty that he will surpass the 1,000 points career milestone in the team's next game at Brandeis on November 30.

#