Jan. 30, 2008

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SPENCER, EADDY EARN INDEPENDENT REGION WEEKLY HONORS
Mountain State University senior guard James Spencer and Morris College freshman forward Tyneshia Eaddy are the NAIA Division I Independent Region men's and women's basketball Players of the Week.

For Spencer, it marks his second-straight weekly crown, while Eaddy is the first Morris player this season to earn the honor on the women's side.

Spencer, a 6-foot-4 senior, currently leads the nation in scoring and helped his average last week, earning MVP honors at the Coal Classic for his 27 points per game and six rebounds per game in a pair of MSU wins.

He helped the Cougars to a win over Southern Virginia with 33 points and had 21 against Southern Wesleyan.

On the week, Spencer was 22-of-32 from the floor and 7-of-15 from outside the 3-point arc. He also totaled five steals.

Eaddy, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Marion, S.C., helped Morris to its first 3-0 week of the season, averaging 20.7 points per game.

She was the hero of the week's final game, knocking down a three with 1.8 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to beat NCAA Division II Chowan.

Eaddy finished with 27 in the win. She finished the week 9-of-17 from the 3-point line and 13-of-16 at the foul stripe.

MOUNTAIN STATE REMAINS MEN'S NO. 1; BRESCIA, PARK EARN POINTS
Mountain State University became the first unanimous No. 1 of the 2007-08 season with this week's NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Top 25 poll, earning all 11 first-place votes to remain atop the poll for the sixth-straight week.

MSU has been No. 1 in all six regular-season polls, dethroning Oklahoma City after the preseason ranking. Park University checked in at No. 35 after earning seven points, 10 spots outside the Top 25.

Brescia earned one point in the women's poll, marking the only Independent Region squad represented in the voting.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS HIGHLIGHT INDEPENDENT REGION
Two tournaments over the next month will highlight the NAIA's Independent Region, beginning Feb. 8-9 in Owensboro, Ky., with the NAIA Independent Classic at Brescia University.

The tournament will feature hosting Brescia, Park University, Allen University and Voorhees College. Mountain State University and Morris College will not participate in the February classic.

The NAIA Independent Region Tournament is also scheduled for March 7-9 in Orangeburg, S.C., with the tournament winners advancing to NAIA National Tournament competition in Kansas City, Mo. (Men's) and Jackson, Tenn. (Women's).

The tournament will be played on the campus of Claflin University, an NCAA Division II institution in Orangeburg. CU will host the tournament in the 2,000-seat Tullis Arena in Orangeburg.

Last season, Brescia won the women's title to advance to Jackson, while Park topped Mountain State in the men's championship game to move on to Kansas City.