Monday, January 14, 2013

Valparaiso senior forward Ryan Broekhoff (Frankston, Victoria, Australia/Australian Institute of Sport) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading Valpo to a pair of road victories last week, tallying double-doubles in both contests.

Broekhoff started out the week with a 21-point, 10-rebound effort in the Crusaders' win at UIC on Wednesday night. 13 of those points and six of those rebounds came in the second half for the senior, helping Valpo overcome a nine-point second-half deficit. Broekhoff would give the Crusaders the lead for good with a jumper from the top of the key with just over two minutes to play against the Flames.

Broekhoff followed with a 26-point, 10-rebound performance as the Crusaders rolled over Milwaukee on Saturday. The senior hit a career-high seven 3-pointers, going 7-of-9 from behind the arc, including a triple right off the opening tip which came just four seconds into the game, giving Valpo a lead it would never relinquish. Broekhoff also matched season highs with four assists and three blocked shots against the Panthers.

Broekhoff averaged 23.5 points and 10 rebounds per game over the two road wins, shooting 61.5% (16-of-26) from the field and 66.7% (10-of-15) from behind the 3-pointer line. The senior now owns three straight double-doubles, the first time a Crusader has posted three in a row since Urule Igbavboa did it to close the 2006-2007 campaign. Broekhoff now ranks among the top-three players in the league in six different statistical categories, leading the way in rebounding and 3-pointers/game.