Junior guard averaged 21.0 points, 8.5 rebounds

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech junior guard Jud Dillard was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week on Monday for his team-leading performances in victories over Coastal Carolina and Eastern Kentucky.

The honor was the first of the season for Dillard. He joins senior guard Kevin Murphy as Golden Eagles to have been recognized by the league. Murphy was named Player of the Week on Feb. 6 and Dec. 19.

Dillard led the Golden Eagles in scoring in a 74-67 win over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday as well as in Saturday’s 77-71 come-from-behind victory at Coastal Carolina in the Sears BracketBusters.

The Riverdale, Ga., native collected his eighth double-double of the season against EKU, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The OVC’s leading rebounder and third-leading scorer recorded five consecutive points to help Tech regain a double-digit advantage with 6:32 left to play against the Colonels.

Against Coastal Carolina, he came off the bench to score 22 points and lead the Golden Eagles back from a 15-point deficit. His two three-pointers were key to helping Tech establish a lead it wouldn’t lose early in the second half.

For the two games, Dillard averaged 21.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest and shot 58.3 percent from the field. He was 11-for-15 (73.3 percent) from the free-throw line and went 3-for-6 from three-point range while also contributing two assists and two steals.

Dillard is averaging 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season and has scored 20-plus points in 13 games.

Dillard was also named Player of the Week in the OVC by College Sports Madness.

The Golden Eagles return to action against No. 12 Murray State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Eblen Center. The Racers will be the highest-ranked team ever to play at the Hoop.