December 22, 2008

MBB: EKPERIGIN AND JOHNSON RECEIVE NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS

South Easton, Mass. -Le Moyne College junior forward Laurence Ekperigin (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) and freshman guard Chris Johnson (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) have earned Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball weekly honors, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Dec. 22.

Ekperigin, named the conference's player of the week for the second consecutive week and for the third time in four weeks, averaged 20 points, while shooting at a 75.0-percent clip, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in a pair of non-conference victories. Ekperigin, who has registered four consecutive double-doubles and seven total on the season, scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots in a 71-66 home victory over Caldwell on Tuesday. On Sunday, Ekperigin tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 72-56 win at Goldey-Beacom. With his back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound performances, Ekperigin has pushed his career totals to 972 points and 589 rebounds in 68 games.

Johnson, recognized as the conference's freshman of the week for the first time this season, averaged 17.5 points and one rebound per contest in the 2-0 week. Johnson recorded 17 points and pulled down one rebound, while hitting four three-pointers, in the victory over Caldwell. He followed that performance up by scoring 18 points and grabbing an offensive rebound, while connecting on 4-of-8 three-pointers, to help the Dolphins top Goldey-Beacom for their first road victory of the season. Johnson, a six-foot guard, ranks 17th in the conference in scoring at 13.4 points per contest and is second on the league charts with 34 three-pointers made, one behind the league-leader.

Le Moyne (5-5), which has won three consecutive games, returns to action on Monday, Dec. 29 at Felician at 2:00 p.m.