Lee earns third Valley Player of the Week honor

Posted on February 13, 2017

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – For the third time this season, senior guard Paris Lee is the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Lee led Illinois State offensively last week in wins over Drake (Feb. 7) and Bradley (Feb. 11).

Lee – who previously won the honor Dec. 5 and Dec. 19 – has earned MVC Player of the Week recognition more than any other player in the league this season. Lee’s three MVC Player of the Week honors also mark the most bestowed upon an Illinois State player in one season since Jackie Carmichael was named MVC Player of the Week three times during the 2012-13 campaign.

Lee averaged a team-best 20.0 points per game in ISU’s two victories last week to help the Redbirds remain tied for first place in the league standings. Lee shot 15-for-28 (53.6 percent) from the field, 6-for-13 (46.2 percent) from beyond the arc and 4-for-5 (80.0 percent) at the free throw line. The Maywood, Illinois, native also averaged 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 rebounds in 30.0 minutes per contest.

Lee scored a career-high 26 points on a career-best 11 field goals in ISU’s win at Drake (Feb. 7). His 11 field goals came on 17 attempts (64.7 percent), and Lee shot 4-for-8 (50.0 percent) from three-point range while collecting two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 28 minutes.

In Illinois State’s I-74 Rivalry Series victory over Bradley (Feb. 11), Lee again led the Redbirds offensively by scoring 14 points. He went 4-for-5 at the free throw line and was credited with three assists, two steals and one rebound in 32 minutes of ISU’s winning effort versus the Braves. Lee is now averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season.

With four regular-season games remaining, Lee and the Redbirds next visit Missouri State Wednesday at 8 p.m., live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FOX Sports Midwest and WJBC 1230-AM. ISU’s next home game is Sunday, Feb. 19 versus Loyola Chicago.

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