NORFOLK, Va. (NSUSpartans.com) – After his first extensive action of the season, Norfolk State junior guard Jalen Hawkins was named the MEAC Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon when the conference office announced the weekly men’s basketball honors.
Hawkins led NSU to a 68-65 upset of George Mason on the road on Saturday at EagleBank Arena. He helped the Spartans improve to 4-3 on the year thanks to a 14-point effort off the bench. He shot 5-of-9 from the floor with three rebounds and a steal during the first ever meeting between the two schools.
He was competing in just his second game with the Spartans after the NCAA Division I Council announced on Dec. 16 it was granting a blanket waiver to all D-I transfers who met certain criteria. Hawkins scored 12 points in the second half against GMU as NSU erased a 14-point deficit. The Bronx, New York native hit a pair of 3-pointers during the comeback as well as the go-ahead layup with 28.1 seconds left.
He is the third Spartan to earn a weekly award this year following senior Devante Carter (Player of the Week) and senior J.J. Matthews (Defensive Player of the Week) during the first two weeks of the season.
Norfolk State will host Howard this Sunday and Monday to begin MEAC play.
