Monday, January 22, 2007

            JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 22, 2007) -ETSU senior forward Brad Nuckles (Council, Va.) continued his sparkling play last week, leading the Bucs to the top of the Atlantic Sun standings and earning A-Sun Player of the Week honors as announced by the league office Monday.

Nuckles posted back-to-back double-doubles as the Bucs held off challenges from both Jacksonville and Kennesaw State to grab a one-game lead in the standings at the season's mid-way point.  Against the Dolphins, the forward piled up 23 points and 11 rebounds to help stave off a second half JU rally while hitting all nine attempts from the foul line. In the A-Sun/CSS Game of the Week on Friday night, Nuckles put ETSU on his shoulders in overtime. He scored eight of his team-high 18 points in the extra session as the Bucs pulled away from the Owls to win their sixth straight game. 

For the week, Nuckles averaged 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while shooting .541 (13-of-24) from the floor and .882 (15-of-17) from the foul line.  He also logged an average of 37 minutes per game. The forward has now posted four consecutive double-doubles, all in A-Sun play.  Against conference competition, Nuckles leads the league in blocks (2.44) and rebounds (9.0) while ranking fifth in scoring (16.0). He is pursuing his graduate degree in Sports Management.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2006-07 men's basketball campaign.