2008 Woodie Awards
Mbang is Mback
Evan Crawley
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Sports
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Heading into last Wednesday's game with Northeastern University Mbang had scored just 33 points in seven games, nearly four points less than his 8.4 points per game average last season.
During that span Mbang was averaging just 3.9 rebounds per game and shooting an abysmal 5.5 percent from 3-point range.
However, last week Mbang broke out of his slump in a big way by being named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week Sunday, sharing the honor with St. Bonaventure University's Michael Lee.
Last week Mbang averaged 19 points and six rebounds during the two-game span, and it is the first time in the program's history that a Ram player was given the honor three weeks in a row, (with senior Will Daniels wining the previous two).
Against Northeastern, Mbang connected on 7-of-10 from the floor for 16 points while pulling down nine rebound. Against New Hampshire he tied a career high with 22 points.
In the game against the Wildcats, Mbang also broke out of a season-long slump from behind the arc, much to the chagrin of New Hampshire head coach Bill Herrion.
"Low and behold this always happens," Herrion said. "Mbang's 1-for-18 from three heading into this game and he makes three threes."
More than knocking down 3-pointers, Mbang has got it done in recent games by banging inside and taking it to the basket.
"I know my teammates and my team needs me inside for my physical presence, but it felt good for me to get back on track and start shooting the ball like I usually do," Mbang said.
If there's one weakness this team has it's a lack of size, but Mbang, along with Daniels, juniors Jason Francis and Kahiem Seawright, and sophomore Lamonte Ulmer, have been able to compensate for that with toughness and athleticism in the front court.