LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Slippery Rock University men's basketball standout Dame Givner was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
 
Givner earned the honor, the first such of his young career, after leading The Rock to a 2-1 record last week with wins over Shepherd (70-61) and Shippensburg (76-70) as well as a close overtime loss at Lock Haven (100-93).
 
In three games Givner averaged 21.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the field overall, 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range and a near automatic 94.4 percent (17-of-18) from the foul line.
 
The highlight of the week for Givner came against Lock Haven when the freshman guard produced one of the top offensive performances by a PSAC athlete in recent memory. Givner scored 39 points against the Bald Eagles to go with five steals defensively.
 
Not only was Givner's 39-point outburst the most by a PSAC athlete this season, it is also tied for the second highest single-game total inside the PSAC over the last four years in addition to being the most points scored for The Rock since Frankie Hughes' 44-point performance against Pitt-Johnstown (1/5/22).
 
Arguably the top all-around freshman performer in the PSAC this season, Givner has had a great start to his collegiate career. In 12 games, all of which have been starts, Givner has produced per game averages of 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
 
Among qualified athletes, Givner ranks fourth in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.855), 11th in scoring, 19th in assists, 20th in steals, 23rd in field goal percentage (.435) and 23rd in assist-turnover ratio (1.0).
 
Slippery Rock, which was receiving votes in last week's National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll, has gone 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC to start the season.
 
SRU returns to competition when it hosts Bloomsburg 5 p.m. Jan. 2 at Morrow Field House.





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