Every week The Catch and Shoot will name a Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week, Team of the Week and Game of the Week from the five Division I schools in the Chicago area.
Here are the winners for the 11th week of the season (Jan. 25-Jan. 31):
Player of the Week
Montel James, Loyola
James averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games last week. The 6-foot-7 senior led the Ramblers with career-highs of 28 points and 14 rebounds in a victory against Indiana State.
While the entire team struggled earlier in the week in a loss to Wichita State, James once again paced Loyola with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
Honorable mentions: Najeal Young, UIC; Fred Sims Jr., Chicago State; Dikembe Dixson, UIC
Freshman of the Week
Fred Sims, Chicago State
After not playing Jan. 23 against Utah Valley, guard Fred Sims Jr. returned for Chicago State and exploded for 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
Sims is now averaging 11.1 points this season, and this was his third game with more than 20 points.
Honorable mention: Dikembe Dixson, UIC
Team of the Week
UIC
The Flames had been the final team in Division I without a win against another Division I team, but that ended Saturday with an overtime win against Cleveland State.
Game of the Week
Loyola 104, Indiana State 96 (2OT)
The Ramblers lost control of an 11-point lead in regulation and trailed in overtime. Senior guard Earl Peterson banked in a jumper to force a second overtime, and then Loyola ran away for the eight-point victory.
Past awards:
