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WSU's Mays again honored by HL

Junior guard averaging 21.5 points in last six games after injury.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 9:42 PM Monday, January 9, 2012

FAIRBORN — Nearly a month ago, ESPN2 viewers saw several consecutive replays of Wright State guard Julius Mays crashing to the Nutter Center floor, first on his back, then head, then elbow.

The Raiders were facing Cincinnati on Dec. 14, a game they would lose 78-58. With Mays out because of a concussion, they would lose the next game, 82-54 to Ohio.

Since, led by Mays, the Raiders have made a resurgence.

Continuing a torrid six-game stretch with 21 points in a WSU win against Valparaiso on Sunday, Mays was named the Horizon League men’s basketball co-player of the week on Monday. It was the second time in three weeks the junior and transfer from North Carolina State has earned the honor while leading the Raiders to a 5-1 record in their past six games with only a one-point loss to Butler.

In those six games, Mays has averaged 21.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists looking to some like one of the league’s top players.

Said Butler coach Brad Stevens: “Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year candidate, no question. There are a lot of good players, and I don’t have any doubt he’ll continue to do it through the season.”

Said Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew: “You can’t just guard him one way because he’s multidimensional with the ball.”

Mays, who averages 13.9 points and 3.3 rebounds for the season, is the first WSU player to earn multiple player of the week honors in the same season since DaShaun Wood was a three-time honoree in 2006-07. WSU coach Billy Donlon said Mays has a veteran’s feel for when to become more assertive in games, which he has done recently.

“A lot of times it’s about the Jimmys and the Joes, as they say,” Donlon said, “and Mays is a pretty good Jimmy or Joe.”

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