EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for his efforts the Screaming Eagles games versus Southeast Missouri State University and Eastern Illinois University. The OVC honor is the first for Polakovich and the third this season for the Eagles.
The weekly honor is the second of Polakovich’s career after earning a GLVC Player of the Week honor last season with the Eagles.
Polakovich started the week by overpowering Southeast Missouri State University in the lane, posting 27 points and grabbing 26 rebounds in the 86-81 victory. The senior, who also had a career-high five assists, was 11-of-18 from the field and five-of-nine from the stripe, while swiping 11 offensive and 15 defensive rebounds off the glass.
The 26 rebounds were one short of the USI single-game record (27 by Aaron Nelson versus Kentucky State University December 7, 2013) and is the first 20-20 game by an Eagle since Emmanuel Little had 29 points, 21 rebounds versus Missouri University of Science & Technology January 18, 2018.
The 20-20 outing also is the first in the OVC since Austin Peay State University’s Terry Taylor (26 points and 23 rebounds versus Belmont University) and the University of Tennessee-Martin’s Quintin Dove (26 points and 20 rebounds versus Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) posted those numbers in the 2019-20 season. Polakovich’s 26 rebounds also is the most in an OVC contest since before the 2002-03 campaign.
Polakovich finished the week with a nine-points, 10-rebounds performance in the loss at EIU. He reached double-digits on the glass for the third time in four games with six offensive and four defensive boards.
For the week, Polakovich averaged 18.0 points and 18.0 rebounds per game. He shot 53.6 percent from the field (15-28) and averaged 3.5 assists per game.
Polakovich and the Eagles resume OVC action Thursday when they visit Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. The game is slated for a 6 p.m. (CST) tip, streaming on ESPN+ and airing on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.
