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After scoring a combined 31 points and pulling down a combined 30 rebounds in two games last week, UL center Shawn Long today was named the Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week.

Long, who leads all freshmen nationally in rebounding with an average of 9.8 per game, had 17 points and 16 boards to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns past Arkansas State 61-55 on Saturday night at the Cajundome.

 

He also had a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double along with five blocks in UL’s double-overtime home loss last Thursday to South Alabama.

 

The redshirt freshman from Morgan City has 10 double-doubles this season, which is tied for fourth nationally, one behind the leaders.

 

“Shawn has played such an important role in the development that this program has shown since the start of the season and I am happy to see that he is getting some recognition for the hard work that he has put in,” Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said of the Mississippi State transfer.

 

“Playing short-handed on Saturday without one of our best scorers (injured Bryant Mbamalu), Shawn really stepped up his play at both ends of the court,” Marlin added in a statement. “He played some solid defense inside and was continually the person to bring down the important rebounds.”

 

Along with his team-high 9.8 rebounds per game, Long is averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game for the 7-12 Cajuns.

 

UL returns to action with a Sun Belt Conference game Thursday night at Western Kentucky.