Powell receives his fifth OVC honor this season

Southeast Missouri State junior forward Leon Powell has earned another Ohio Valley Conference newcomer of the week award.

Powell garnered his second consecutive such honor and fourth of the season on Monday. He also has been OVC player of the week one time.

Powell was recognized after averaging 14 points and nine rebounds in three road games last week as Southeast went 1-2. He added five assists, three blocks and two steals while shooting 64 percent from the field (16 of 25).

Powell, who missed all of last season with a knee injury after transferring from junior college, is the OVC's seventh-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder with averages of 14.5 points and 7.9 boards per contest.

In addition, Powell leads the nation in field-goal percentage at 63.8. He also is third in the OVC in blocks (1.5 per game).

"Leon is having a tremendous season," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said.

The Redhawks (7-19, 5-10) return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday with their final OVC home game against first-place Murray State (20-6, 12-3), the defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion.

Southeast is seventh in the 10-team OVC with three conference games left. The top eight finishers make the OVC tournament. The Redhawks have not qualified for the event since the 2006-07 season.