NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the third time this season, Carson-Newman junior forward John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) has been named the Tennessee Sportswriters' Association State Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon. 

Zhao helped the Eagles to a 2-0 week and back-to-back double-digit wins over Mars Hill on the road 99-72 and 91-73 over Lenoir-Rhyne in Holt Fieldhouse.  He adds the honor to his previous TSWA weekly accolades on Dec. 18 and Jan. 29. 

This brings Carson-Newman's total of TSWA player of the week awards to six. Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) has two awards, and Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) one. 

Zhao averaged 28 points and nine rebounds per game for the week. 

He started it with his first-career double-double, with a 23-point, 10-rebound night in the win at Mars Hill.  He concluded it with his fourth-career 30-point night against Lenoir-Rhyne.  He went for 33 points and eight boards against the Bears. 

All the while, Zhao was his normally stupid efficient self.  Zhao made 19-of-27 shots for the week (70-4 percent) and 11-of-16 threes (68.8 percent). Zhao was 7-of-10 from deep against L-R. 

Since being held to eight against Wingate on Jan. 20, Zhao is averaging 27.33 points per game over his last six. That comes with some stupefying efficiency.  He has a 67.9/61.3/84.4 slash line.  He is 27-of-44 from deep in that stretch, an average of 4.5 threes per game.

Zhao and the rest of the Eagles will be on display Wednesday night inside Holt Fieldhouse against Tusculum. Tipoff with the Pioneers is set for 7:30 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.  A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMBB.