Courtesy of WKU Athletics
DALLAS – Western Kentucky Basketball center Charles Bassey’s career performance
against Gardner-Webb, combined with a solid game against Rhode Island, earned him
his second Conference USA Player of the Week award, the league announced Monday.
Bassey scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed 14 boards, recording his fourth
double-double of the season on Thursday against Gardner-Webb. He shot 13 of 19 from
the field and had three blocks.
Against the Rhode Island Rams on Sunday, the junior was just shy of another
double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. The Nigeria native blocked five
shots, adding to his running season total of 28 blocks. It was his third game this
year with at least five blocks.
Between the two contests, Bassey averaged 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and four blocks
per game while shooting 58.6% from the floor and netting 8 of 11 free throws.
As of Monday morning, Bassey leads the nation in blocks per game (4.0), total blocks
(28), total rebounds (79) and total dunks (21). In Conference USA, he leads the
league in total rebounds, rebounds per game (11.3), total blocks, blocks per game
and defensive rebounds (58).
This is Bassey’s second Player of the Week award this season and third of his
career. In his freshman season, he won 10 of the 17 Freshman of the Week awards.
WKU’s next scheduled game is against Tennessee Tech at home in E.A. Diddle Arena on
Dec. 22.
