STEPHENVILLE — Devon Barnes earned his first weekly award from the conference after being named the WAC Newcomer of the Week for the past week, the league announced on Monday.
Barnes becomes the fourth Texan this season to earn a WAC weekly honor, joining Jakorie Smith, KiAndre Gaddy and Lue Williams, who all won WAC Player of the Week. Tarleton is the only program to have four different players win a weekly award at least once this year.
This week Barnes had one of the best pair of games in the country averaging 27.5 points per game and making 19 free throws, both highs in the conference. His 27.5 average ranked in the top 20 of all players in the nation last week and was the third most by a sophomore or freshman. His 2.5 steals per game was the third most in the league in the past two games. In total, the sophomore transfer scored 55 points, was 19-for-23 from the free throw line and shot 16-for-31 from the floor.
On Thursday in the Texans upset win over WAC-best GCU, the guard scored 22 points while sinking 12 of his 13 free throw attempts. Both marks were the highest in a single WAC game this week. With less than two minutes to go, Barnes broke a 69-69 tie with a mid-range jumper propelling the Texans to the 77-74 victory.
Barnes closed the weekend with one of the best performances all season in a 82-65 defeat of California Baptist. The Hinesville, Georgia, native, torched the nets for 33 points, setting his new career-high and a new Texan WAC record for points in a single game. He scored 24 of his 33 in the second half and in total shot 11-for-18 from the floor. He also shot four-for-seven from deep. Additionally, Barnes drew 10 of the Lancers 15 fouls showing his tenacity of going towards the basket. His point total, shots made, and shots attempted were all the most by any player in the conference this week. He also added three steals, tying for the second most single game performance in the league in the past two games.
Tarleton enjoyed a pair of revenge wins this week, avenging a pair of early-season losses to GCU and CBU in the squad’s fifth 2-0 week this season. With a of GCU losses, the Texans are now tied for the fewest losses in the WAC with the Lopes. The pair of wins were the 19th and 20th this season, marking the first 20-win season for the Texans in its D1 era and the 20th in program history. Tarleton is the second Texas program this season to reach the 20-win mark. The Purple and White extended their win streak to eight games, tying for the fifth active longest in the nation. Finally, the Texans sit 13-3 in the WAC, tied for the second most wins by the Texans in any conference they have participated in in program history.
Next week, the Texans hit the road for the last time in the regular season against a pair of Utah schools. Tarleton will seek its fifth season series sweep of the year next Thursday at Utah Tech, before heading to Southern Utah to avenge a loss earlier this season.
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