Lamar Wilkerson earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Monday, according to the conference’s release, after Indiana men’s basketball split its two games last week.
The fifth-year senior guard led the Hoosiers in scoring in both games, averaging 29 points and adding four rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Indiana followed its loss at USC on Tuesday with an overtime victory at home over Wisconsin on Saturday.
Wilkerson shared the honor with Iowa senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who scored 29 points per game over the Hawkeyes’ pair of wins last week over Washington and Northwestern.
Wilkerson began the week with a 33-point performance against the Trojans — his third game with at least 30 points this season. However, he said postgame his showing “doesn’t really matter” since the Hoosiers lost.
When Indiana returned home on Saturday to face Wisconsin, Wilkerson’s play helped the Cream and Crimson earn their 16th victory of the season. The Ashdown, Arkansas, native notched 25 points, four rebounds and four assists in the one-point win.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Wilkerson drained two free throws with 16 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. He scored all six of Indiana’s points in overtime, including the game-winning free throws.
Wilkerson is averaging 23.2 points per game through Indiana’s 13 Big Ten contests thus far. His 38% mark from 3-point range is tied for eighth-best in the conference and second on the team, trailing junior guard Nick Dorn.
Wilkerson’s distinction Monday is his second of the season and Indiana’s third, as redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries earned the honor Nov. 10.
The Hoosiers (16-8, 7-6 Big Ten) return to action at 8:30 p.m. Monday against Oregon inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall ahead of consecutive road games against No. 5 Illinois on Feb. 15 and No. 13 Purdue on Feb. 20.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
