Naba Echols earns GLIAC Player of the Week honors

BAY CITY – Senior Naba Echols (Memphis, Tenn.) was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week after helping the Northern Michigan University Men’s Basketball team pick up two conference victories this past week.

Echols led the Wildcats with 21 points per game. The senior guard scored 20 points, shooting 75% from the field, and dished out a career-high 10 assists as he helped guide the team to a 108-69 victory over Purdue University Northwest. The 108 points by NMU are the most points scored in a game for the Wildcats against a Division II foe since the 1993-94 season. It was also Echols’ first double-double since 2015.

On Saturday, Echols hit behind the arc on four straight possessions on his way to 22 points, including 8-8 from the free throw line. He also added four assists and five rebounds on the day to guide the team to a 77-67 victory over University of Wisonsin-Parkside.

On the season, Echols is averaging 19.3 points to put him second in the conference while his 4.6 assists places him fourth among the league. He also leads the GLIAC from the free throw line by shooting 92.5% while shooting the most free throws in the league.

This is the fourth time this season that the Wildcats have had someone earn GLIAC Player of the Week honors as senior Isaiah Johnson (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) has earned the honor three of the first four weeks. NMU is currently 8-1 on the season, their best start since starting the 1985-86 season 9-1. They are also 3-1 in the GLIAC to lead the North Division.

The men’s team returns to action Tuesday, December 18 at the Bellarmine University Tournament to take on University of Southern Indiana at 5 p.m. They then take on the hosts, who are ranked #1 in NCAA Division II at 3 p.m. Wednesday , December 19.