Dempsey named USBWA National Player of the Week

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Marcus Dempsey of Muskingum University was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Men's Player of the Week for the week ending January 28.

Dempsey, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Zanesville, Ohio, earns the honor for the second time this season. He averaged 37.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steal while playing every minute of the Fighting Muskies' (8-11, 6-6) two Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) games last week. On Wednesday, in an 86-78 loss to Capital, Dempsey scored 36 points (11-of-18 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 6-of-9 3FG) and added seven rebounds and an assist. Then in a 112-103 win vs. then-No. 23 (D3hoops.com) John Carroll on Saturday, he went over the 1,000-point career scoring mark with a 39-point (11-of-19 FG, 13-of-14 FT, 4-of-8 3FG), 12-rebound, four-assist, two-steal performance. The third-leading scorer in NCAA Division III this season (30.0 ppg), Dempsey shot 59.5 percent (22-of-38) from the field, 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the foul line and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from three-point range last week. He now has posted a one-season school record of 570 points and has accumulated 1,012 for his career in just 46 games. For his efforts, Dempsey was also named the OAC Player of the Week.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the fourth season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.