SEMO's Denzel Mahoney named OVC Freshman of the Week

Southeast Missouri State's Denzel Mahoney drives against Tennessee Tech's Mason Ramsey during the second half Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2016 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball player Denzel Mahoney earned his first weekly award from the Ohio Valley Conference on Monday after being honored as the league's freshman of the week.

Mahoney averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two games last week for the Redhawks. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 50 percent (7 of 14) from the field, including 62.5 percent (5 of 8) from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.

Mahoney had 10 points in 22 minutes of action during SEMO's 83-78 win over visiting Tennessee Tech before notching a career-high 23 points in a 79-69 loss at UT Martin on Saturday. He was 12 of 12 from the charity stripe against the Skyhawks. Only 10 players in the nation have made more free throws without a miss in a game this season.

A native of Oviedo, Florida, Mahoney ranks seventh in the conference in free-throw percentage (81.3 percent). Over the last six games, he's averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.