Leritz Recognized as USBWA National Division III Player of the Week

First Titan in program history to earn award, third in CCIW history

2/15/2022 1:00:00 PM

USBWA Release

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Senior Matthew Leritz (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University) garnered yet another award Tuesday, Feb. 15, after leading the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team to a 3-0 week, Feb. 7-12. Leritz was selected as the National Division III Player of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers of America, becoming the first player in program history to receive the honor.

Leritz is just the third student-athlete in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin history to garner the accolade, joining Wheaton's Aston Francis and Augustana's Alexis Jones.

The St. Louis, Mo. native averaged 23.7 points per game on a 59.6 field goal percentage, while shooting a whopping 54.5 percent from three-point range. He added seven rebounds, two blocks, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 assists per game over the three-game stretch.

Leritz came through in the clutch in IWU's win at Millikin, Feb. 9. With 11 seconds left in regulation, the senior captain blocked Millikin's game-winning shot attempt before beating the buzzer with the game-winning shot off the glass to lift IWU to a 51-49 win. He followed that up with a tremendous Senior Night performance in Illinois Wesleyan's 79-71 win over 13th-ranked Wheaton, Feb. 12. Leritz went for a career-high 31 points and eight rebounds, while also adding two assists, two steals, and a block in the win.

The Titans wrap up the home portion of the regular season slate Wednesday, Feb. 16, against North Central College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.

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