Oakland’s Benson named Summit Athlete of the Month
ELMHURST, Ill. – Oakland University’s Keith Benson was named The Summit League Athlete of the Month for December, the league office announced on Friday. The senior center from Farmington Hills, Mich. averaged 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game during the month of December to lead Oakland, which defeated then-No. 7 Tennessee.
In a nationally televised game, Benson scored 26 points, pulled in 10 rebounds and had a pair of blocks to help Oakland defeat the 7th-ranked Volunteers 89-82 in Knoxville, Tenn. for the team’s first win over a top-10 opponent in school history. Benson also added 17 points, 12 boards and four blocks in a high-profile game against then-No. 7 Michigan State at the Palace of Auburn Hills, in a tough 1-point loss to the Spartans, 77-76.
In four Summit League games during the month of December Benson averaged 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and five blocks per game. Helping Oakland go 4-0 to start league play for just the second time in school history, Benson shot 59.6 percent from the floor in league games.
Benson shot 54 percent (63-for-116) from the field in December and tallied 11 assists, 10 steals and 55 made free throws. The preseason Summit League Player of the Year also recorded six double-doubles, the most of any player in the league during that time.
During the month of December, Benson continued his assault on The Summit League record book, moving into second place in career blocks with 303, just 14 shy of becoming the league’s all-time record holder. He also claimed second spot in The Summit League in career rebounds with 926. He became just the second player in the history of The Summit League to get over 1,500 points and 900 rebounds in a career.
Oakland and Benson continue league play on Saturday with a game against Western Illinois at the Athletics Center O’rena with tip slated for 6 p.m.
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Category: Oakland University
