Diamond Stone Named B1G Player, Freshman of the Week
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Freshman center Diamond Stone has been named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Stone has been a force in the paint, averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in a pair of wins against Penn State and at Northwestern. In addition, Stone connected on 14-of-19 field goal attempts (74 percent) and 21-of-27 free throw attempts (78 percent).
Stone had 39 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in his Big Ten debut - a 70-64 win over Penn State. Stone's 39 points marked the most points by a freshman in a single game in school history. The previous mark was established by Joe Smith (33 points vs. Rider in 11/20/93). He became only the fourth player in the Big Ten to score 35 or more points and snag 10 or more rebounds since 2000.
The Milwaukee, Wisc., native also established a school record in free throws made (19) and attempted (25) in a single game. Tom McMillen connected on 17 free throws made against Canisius (12/17/71) and Keith Booth attempted 24 free throws vs. George Washington (12/9/96).
Stone's 39 points against Penn State marked the most points in a single game of any Big Ten player this season and was the most in a single game in XFINITY Center history.
Stone followed with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks in a 72-59 win at Northwestern. Prior to their game against the Terps, the Wildcats entered the game off to their best start in school history at 13-1.
It is the first career weekly award for Stone and the second for a Terrapin this season (Melo Trimble, Co-Player of the Week on 12/14).
Maryland welcomes Rutgers for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday at XFINITY Center.
