BRENTWOOD, Tenn—After helping the Colonels to two wins over Ohio Valley Conference foes last week junior Jalen O'Bannon was named OVC Newcomer of the Week, the league announced today.
 
This week's selection marks the fifth time this season O'Bannon has earned the honor. Eastern's Crystal Jones collected seven selections during the 2006-07 season, marking the most ever for a Colonel.

The award was first issued during the 1985-86 season. Tatiano Concercao (Southeast Missouri State) holds the record with nine Newcomer of the Week awards, which came in the 2004-05 season.
 
O'Bannon has an OVC best seven double-doubles on the season, while logging double-doubles in each of the first three OVC games this season.
 
The Memphis, Tennessee native averaged 12.5 points-per-game, 12.0 rebounds-per-game and 2.0 blocks-per-game in Eastern's wins over UT Martin and Southeast Missouri State last week.
 
O'Bannon leads the OVC in rebounds (139) and rebounds-per-game (9.8) and ranks eighth in scoring (15.0 points-per-game).
 
The Colonels (8-6, 2-1 OVC) travel to Eastern Illinois University on Thursday, before taking on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday.