Feb. 20, 2012

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago junior Ben Averkamp (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) has been selected as the Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of February 13-19 it was announced today by the League office. Averkamp is the first Rambler since Justin Cerasoli on February 23, 2009, to be named Horizon League Player of the Week.

Last week, Averkamp helped the Ramblers split a pair of road games by averaging 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals, while also converting 50 percent (18 for 36) of his field goal attempts. The 6-foot-8 forward, who was a Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, opened up the week by posting 23 points, his most since January 5, along with six rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals in a 63-57 loss at Butler on February 14.

Averkamp then registered his third double-double of the season, and the fifth of his career, with 19 points and 10 rebounds to go with a career-high-tying five assists, in Loyola's 56-44 victory at Bradley on February 18.

The Germantown, Wis., native has scored in double digits in five straight games and in 16 of his last 20 appearances. One of only two players to rank among the top five in the Horizon League in both scoring and rebounding, Averkamp is seeking to become the first Rambler since Blake Schilb in 2004-05 to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding.

For the year, Averkamp is contributing 14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.0 bpg. He needs 94 points and 55 rebounds to become just the 19th player in Loyola history with both 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

Loyola plays its final regular-season road game tomorrow when it travels to Horizon League leader Valparaiso.