FERRIS STATE'S CARLTON EPPS CLAIMS GLIAC AWARD HONOR
Senior Guard Recognized As League's North Division Player Of The Week
 | Senior guard Carlton Epps has been named this week's GLIAC North Division Player of the Week |
Ferris State University senior guard Carlton Epps (Benton Harbor) has been selected this week's (Jan. 3) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Men's Basketball Player of the Week for his performance in leading the Bulldogs to four non-league victories over the holiday break.
The 6-2 Epps averaged 22.8 points per game and shot 60.0% (30-50) from the floor in the four-game stretch. Epps, who also sank 18-of-32 (56.3%) three-point attempts in the four outings, added 17 steals, 11 rebounds and nine assists while converting 13-of-14 (.929) free throw opportunities.
A 2003-04 All-GLIAC North Division First Team honoree, Epps scored 27 points in Ferris' 110-104 overtime triumph over Indianapolis (Dec. 21) after totaling 24 points and seven rebounds in the Bulldogs' 93-82 victory over nationally-ranked Southern Indiana (Dec. 20) in the first-ever Lions Club Holiday Classic at FSU's Jim Wink Arena. He then compiled 22 points in FSU's 88-59 win over Lewis (Dec. 30) and had 18 points in the Bulldogs' 84-56 win at Alma (Dec. 28). Epps also notched his 1,200th career point versus Lewis and surpassed Aaron Nauta's (1996-00) school record mark of 166 career three-pointers against USI.
A three-time FSU Defensive Most Valuable Player Award winner, Epps became the 23rd player in school history to register 1,000 career points earlier this campaign. His selection this week represents the second time he has attained league award accolades this season following his previous selection on Nov. 29. He also earned the honor once last season (Jan. 12) besides being named to the 2003-04 GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team.
Epps, who presently ranks as FSU's leading scorer (21.5 ppg) this campaign, has compiled a team leading 39 steals and is shooting 46.4% (45-97) from three-point range to date. He currently leads the GLIAC in scoring (21.5 ppg), steals (3.25 spg) and made three-point field goals (3.75 pg) this season. In addition, he has presently tallied seven 20-plus point performances this campaign.
Epps tallied personal career-highs in points (413), steals (66) and three-pointers (72) last season. He placed fourth nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.503) and 23rd in steals (2.4 spg) while posting both the school's second-best single season three-point field goal percentage and made three-point marks along with the third-highest steals total last campaign. Epps presently ranks second in career steals and is 13 away from matching Ty Miller's (1990-94) record total of 227 thefts at FSU. He recorded 18 double-digit scoring performances and nine 20-plus point contests during the 2003-04 campaign.
Ferris State, which is presently 10-2 overall this campaign, resumes conference action Saturday, Jan. 8, at archrival Grand Valley State. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (EST) inside the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Mich. The 2004-05 campaign marks only the fifth time in the program's 77-year history and the first since 1987-88 in which Ferris has won 10 of its initial 12 games of a season.
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