Adreian Payne Named Big Ten Player of the Week
11/18/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2013
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State senior forward Adreian Payne was named the Big Ten Player of the Week by the Big Ten Conference on Monday, Nov. 18. Payne averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals for the week in two Spartan victories.
Payne opened the week with a 15-point effort against No. 1 Kentucky. He was dominant in the first half, scoring 12 points, including 10 straight for the Spartans in one stretch, before foul trouble limited his production. He followed with a career-high 26 points against Columbia, adding 11 rebounds for his 12th-career double-double. He was especially dominant in the second half, scoring 17 points as the Spartans fought off an upset-minded Lions squad. Payne also added two steals and three blocks against Columbia, moving into a tie for second place on the MSU career blocks list with 117 rejections, matching Draymond Green.
For Payne, this is the first Big Ten Player of the Week honor of his career. Keith Appling was the last Spartan to receive the weekly honor (Feb. 4, 2013).
