VIDEO: Charles Clark Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second time this season, and the third time in his career, Carson-Newman men's basketball guard Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) has earned AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday morning.
The sophomore's latest plaudit comes following a week where he averaged 29 points and shot 60 percent from the field in helping C-N to a 104-88 win at Mars Hill and a 91-88 home win over Catawba.
"His performance this past week was exception, especially on the road at Mars Hill where he posted career numbers," head coach Chuck Benson said. "To have two player of the week honors in the last three weeks, speaks volumes of his consistency on the floor."
Clark started his week with a career night. He dropped 39 at Mars Hill. He connected on 14-of-20 shots (both those totals are also career highs) while draining all eight free throws he took. He also handed out five assists for a third time this season and swiped five steals for the second time in his career.
The Murfreesboro, Tenn.-native was especially clutch down the stretch. He had 20 points in the final 8:54 of the game and 10 points in the final five minutes.
That night capped off a four-game stretch unlike any other for any one individual Eagle since the turn of the century.
Clark cleared the 30-point threshold three times in four games and averaged 31.75 points per game over the stretch. His 127 points are the most for any men's basketball player since the year 2000. It is just the fourth stretch for an Eagle featuring more than 100 points cumulative over four games.
Ish Sanders had 114 combined against Mars Hill, Newberry, Lincoln Memorial and Anderson in his senior season and 113 his freshman year against Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill and Newberry. The latter stretch was aided by a school-record 51 points against the Lions.
Clark has the other four-game stretch over 100 points. He closed his freshman season with a combined 101 points against Montevallo, Lincoln Memorial, Newberry and Coker.
The sophomore saw his six-game streak of consecutive 20-point outings end Saturday against Catawba. He only had 19 that night, however, he continued a stretch of solid shooting at the free throw line, going 10-for-10. He also added in three steals.
Clark and the rest of the Eagles are back in action Wednesday against Anderson. Tipoff with the Trojans is set for 8 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
