ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State men's basketball standout Adam Leonard (Jr., G, Lee's Summit, Mo.) was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week this week, the league announced Monday afternoon. Leonard scored a career-high 24 points in the Bears' win over previously-unbeaten Tulsa on Saturday at JQH Arena.
In the Tulsa game, he connected on 3-of-5 from three-point range and made good on 9-of-10 free throws, including 7-of-8 in the final 1:44 to ice the win. He was 6-of-10 overall from the field and snagged 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the win.
His previous career high of 23 points came while he was at Eastern Kentucky in a game at UT Martin. His clutch play and sensational shooting have the Bears off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2006-07.
For the season, Leonard holds a 13.0 scoring average is second on the team, behind 15.2 points per game by super sophomore Kyle Weems.
Leonard is the fourth MSU player to receive league Newcomer of the Week honors and first since Spencer Laurie earned the distinction on Jan. 8, 2007. Other Bears to receive the award are Shane Laurie (Jan. 30, 2006), and Blake Ahearn (Dec. 23, 2003 and Jan. 12, 2004).
The Bears take a 5-0 record to Arkansas-Little Rock this Wednesday (7:35 p.m.) before returning home Saturday night to play Air Force in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge, beginning at 7:05 p.m.
