Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Related News

Smith Earns National, Sun Belt & LSWA Player of the Week Honors

Smith Earns National, Sun Belt & LSWA Player of the Week Honors

Men's Basketball Jan 07
MONROE, La. – ULM senior guard Daishon Smith, who averaged 33.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game while leading the Warhawks to a home sweep over Little Rock (97-84) and Arkansas State (85-75) to open Sun Belt Conference play, has been named National Mid-Major Player of the Week by the Lou Henson Award and College Sports Madness.
 
In addition, Smith was selected Player of the Week by the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association for his performances against Little Rock and A-State.
 
The 6-foot-1 transfer from Wichita State shot 66 percent (21-of-32) from the field, including 70 percent (14-of-20) from 3-point range, and 91 percent (10-of-11) from the free-throw line.
 
Smith scored a career-high 42 points in ULM's 97-84 victory over Little Rock Thursday in the Sun Belt opener for both teams. His 42 points are tied for the 11th-highest single-game total in NCAA Division I this season and tied for the eighth-highest single-game total in ULM history.
 
Smith hit 14-of-19 field-goal attempts against the Trojans, including 10-of-12 3-pointers. His 10 3-pointers set the school single-game record (previous: 9 by Larry Carr vs. UT Arlington, 1994) and fell just one shy of the Sun Belt record for a league game (Lamar's Keith Veney: 11 made vs. Little Rock, Feb. 11, 1993). In addition, Smith's 10 3s are tied for the fourth-best single-game total in NCAA Division I this season.
 
He scored 30 second-half points against Little Rock, hitting 10-of-11 shots from the floor including 8-of-9 from 3-point range.
 
Smith netted a game-high 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc, in ULM's 85-75 win over Arkansas State Saturday. He went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and recorded three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
"Daishon Smith is a very good offensive player, who's capable of scoring points in bunches," ULM head coach Keith Richard said. "Daishon can score in a variety of ways: shooting the 3, hitting the mid-range jumper off the dribble, driving the ball and finishing at the rim or drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line. He also scores off his defensive effort, turning steals into layups. Daishon is an unselfish player, who does a nice job of sharing the basketball and getting his teammates involved."
 
The Jacksonville, Florida, native also was chosen Sun Belt Player of the Week after averaging 26.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game while leading ULM to a 4-1 record in games played since Dec. 18. Smith hit 42-of-67 field-goal attempts (63 percent), including 20-of-35 3-pointers (57 percent), and 26-of-30 free-throw attempts (87 percent). He led the Warhawks in scoring in four of those five games, including four 20-point efforts.
 
Smith finished with a game-high 22 points at LSU, hitting 7-of-12 field-goal attempts including 2-of-5 3s, and matched his season-high with three steals. He turned in a solid all-around performance against Coppin State with 19 points, a career-high six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Smith connected on 8-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 3-pointers, en route to a game-high 23 points against Nicholls State.
 
Smith currently leads the Sun Belt in 3-point field goals made (3.73 per game) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.519). He also ranks among the league leaders in scoring (second at 21.1 ppg.), free-throw percentage (second at .855), steals (fourth at 1.9 pg.), field-goal percentage (fifth at .523), assist-to-turnover ratio (seventh at 1.5) and assists (tied for 11th at 3.0 pg.). Smith also ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders in 3-point field-goal percentage (second), 3-pointers made (10th) and scoring (26th).  
 
ULM has compiled a 9-2 record with Smith in the starting lineup (sidelined for three games with a hamstring injury earlier this season).
 
This week, the Warhawks (9-5 overall) resume Sun Belt action with road games at Georgia Southern (Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ET) and Georgia State (Saturday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. ET).
 
 
Print Friendly Version