Canadian Jamal Murray picks up second SEC player of week award

Jamal-Murray;-Kentucky

Jamal Murray set the tone for the blowout with 20 points in the first half. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Canada’s Jamal Murray has earned his second Southeastern Conference basketball freshman of the week award.

The 18-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds in the Kentucky Wildcats’ victories over Arkansas and Vanderbilt. He also averaged 1.5 assists, two steals, and a block.

Murray and LSU forward Ben Simmons are the only two freshmen in the league to have won the award more than once this season.

Murray scored 19 points and grabbed seven boards at Arkansas. Two days later, he had 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals against Vanderbilt. His 7-of-13 shooting from the floor versus Vanderbilt was his best since Jan. 9, and his 3-of-6 from three-point range was his highest since Dec. 19.

Murray leads Kentucky in scoring with 17.8 points a game, the highest scoring average ever for a Wildcats player under head coach John Calipari.

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