STEPHENVILLE — For the second time in as many weeks, Tarleton State junior guard Dior Johnson was named both the WAC’s Player and Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
Johnson is the first Texan to win multiple WAC Weekly Awards in the same season. He is also the second player in the WAC to win back-to-back player and newcomer of the week awards since the league adopted newcomer of the week for the 2023-24 season. He joins Utah Valley’s Dominick Nelson as the only two to win two in a row. There as not been a player to win three consecutive of both player and newcomer of the week.
The junior is ranked fifth in the nation this past week, averaging 31.0 points per game in a 2-0 week for the Texans. The Kingston, NY, native was one of just three players in the country to score 29+ in two games this week, joining Kansas State’s PJ Haggerty and Penn’s Ethan Roberts. He is the only one with more than two 29+ performances total four already on the season in the first seven games. Johnson remains the only player in the nation with multiple 30+ efforts off the bench this season across the country.
He was the only player in the WAC this week to score at least 29 points in a game, reaching that mark twice. He led the conference in points per game by 13 with the second ranked player totaling 18.0 points per game this week. He also tied for the second most assists in a game this week (six). So far this season Johnson leads the WAC in total points (165), points per game (23.6), free throws made (54) and free throws attempted (63). He also leads the nation in free throws made, is third in total points and eighth in points per game.
He started his week off tying Tarleton State’s D1 era made free throw record converting on 18 of his 21 attempts. He is now tied with current Texan Freddy Hicks who each have made 18 free throws in a single game. The duo is tied for third in program history behind Brandon Burney who notched 19 in two separate games in 1999 and 2001. Johnson’s 18 free throws contributed to his third 30+ scoring performance on the season on Monday night against Angelo State. In total he recorded 33 points in the Texans 23-point win over the Rams.
On Thursday, the Texans knocked off AAC opponent, Rice by 16 points aided by Johnson’s 29-piece off the bench once again. Johnson registered his most balanced final line of the season leading the team with 29 points and six assists and also grabbing five rebounds. Johnson has scored in bunches notching at least eight-straight Texan points at some point in six of the Texans seven games. Against the Owls, Johnson notched 11-straight Texan points during the first half.
Tarleton State is back in action this week with just a single game. The Texans are set to host Midwestern State on Friday afternoon in another renewal of an esteemed rivalry. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. in the EECU Center and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Be the first to comment