Photo by: Titouan Le Roux
Neftali Alvarez Named SoCon Player of the Week
12/1/2020 2:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Alvarez is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
SPARTABURG, S.C. – After leading Mercer to its best start since the 2015-16 campaign, Neftali Alvarez claimed the first Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week Award Presented by GEICO of the 2020-21 season.
Alvarez (Cantano, P.R. / Miami Christian / Fairfield) made his Mercer debut on Nov. 25 against North Georgia and was hot from the field, going 5-of-9 in the 79-48 season opening romp. He also dished out six assists in the win. Two days later, the redshirt sophomore helped the Bears defeat their first Power 5 opponent since December 2015 when Mercer marched into Georgia Tech and trailed for only 30 seconds en route to an 83-73 win.
Alvaez was instrumental in the victory, scoring 17 points in 36 minutes. He was nearly automatic at the charity stripe, going 10-for-11, but found other ways to make a difference as well. He pulled down eight rebounds and dished out a career-best nine assists while only turning the ball over on two occasions. He finished the game two rebounds and one assist shy of his first career triple-double.
With little time to rest, the crafty guard came ready to play against in-state rival Georgia State on Monday night. In 31 minutes, he contributed 16 points, reaching double figures for the third time in as many games and pulling down eight boards. He also handed out three assists while using his pesky defensive abilities to collect three steals.
Alvarez is currently leading the Southern Conference in assists per game (6.0), and his nine helpers in a single-game are the most among all SoCon players. Individually, he is 13th in the country with 18 assists and is the driving force behind a Mercer offensive that ranks seventh among all NCAA Division I programs with 60 assists. Alvarez is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Alvarez (Cantano, P.R. / Miami Christian / Fairfield) made his Mercer debut on Nov. 25 against North Georgia and was hot from the field, going 5-of-9 in the 79-48 season opening romp. He also dished out six assists in the win. Two days later, the redshirt sophomore helped the Bears defeat their first Power 5 opponent since December 2015 when Mercer marched into Georgia Tech and trailed for only 30 seconds en route to an 83-73 win.
Alvaez was instrumental in the victory, scoring 17 points in 36 minutes. He was nearly automatic at the charity stripe, going 10-for-11, but found other ways to make a difference as well. He pulled down eight rebounds and dished out a career-best nine assists while only turning the ball over on two occasions. He finished the game two rebounds and one assist shy of his first career triple-double.
With little time to rest, the crafty guard came ready to play against in-state rival Georgia State on Monday night. In 31 minutes, he contributed 16 points, reaching double figures for the third time in as many games and pulling down eight boards. He also handed out three assists while using his pesky defensive abilities to collect three steals.
Alvarez is currently leading the Southern Conference in assists per game (6.0), and his nine helpers in a single-game are the most among all SoCon players. Individually, he is 13th in the country with 18 assists and is the driving force behind a Mercer offensive that ranks seventh among all NCAA Division I programs with 60 assists. Alvarez is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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