Lue Williams named WAC Player of the Week after pair of 25-point performances

STEPHENVILLE, Texas ­— After a week that saw Tarleton State complete a pair of season sweeps, their leading scorer and dominant force in both games, Lue Williams was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the League office announced on Monday.

Williams earns his first selection as WAC Player of the Week in his second season with the Texans. He joins teammates Jakorie Smith and KiAndre Gaddy as the third Texan to earn the honor this season. Tarleton becomes the first WAC team to have three different players earn Player of the Week this season.

Across the week in the pair of games, Williams averaged 26 points, five boards and three steals per game. The Atmore, Alabama, native, shot 11-for-13 from the charity stripe, 18-for-29 from the field and five-for-nine from deep.

In the Texans’ 76-73 win in overtime against Abilene Christian on Thursday, Williams posted 25 points. He also added six boards and a steal. Williams accounted for five points in the overtime sessions the Texans scored nine total points in. He also grabbed a critical offensive rebound with 8.1 seconds, drew a foul, and sunk a pair of free throws at the line to ice the game for the Texans. The guard was a perfect five-for-five from the line against the Wildcats in 43 minutes of action.

Tarleton completed its perfect 2-0 week with a 75-64 victory over Stephen F. Austin to close the week. Williams led the Texans in scoring once again posting 25 points. The senior turned it on in the second half pouring in 16 of his 25 in the final 20 minutes. He was a perfect four-for-four in the second half and made a career-high five total. He also led the Purple and White in steals tying his career high of five. He shot .667 from the floor including .833 from deep. Williams and teammate Devon Barnes became the second Texan duo this season to each score 20 in the same game.

After a 2-0 week, the Texans solidified sole possession of second place in the conference after six weeks of play. Tarleton is now 8-3 in conference play a game and a half ahead of California Baptist who sits at 6-4. The Purple and White also remain second in the WAC Resume Seeding after six weeks, meaning they would earn the second seed in the conference tournament if the season ended today.

Tarleton will hit the road for three consecutive games starting with a pair of games at Utah Valley and Seattle U. The western road trip will start in Orem, Utah as the Texans will take on the Wolverines of Utah Valley on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Texans will close the trip with the WAC’s northernmost member, Seattle U on Saturday at 5 p.m.