IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s basketball honors for the first week of the season.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Sasser, Jr., G, Houston
Sasser recorded back-to-back 25-plus point game to open the 2021-22 season in wins over Hofstra (25 points) and Rice (26). The junior guard also dished out 4.0 assists per game. Dating back to last season, Sasser has recorded four consecutive 20-plus point games.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Emoni Bates, F, Memphis
Bates led the Tigers to a pair of wins last week, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In his collegiate debut against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, Nov. 9, Bates recorded 17 points, including four 3-pointers, four rebounds and four assists, while against NC Central, he scored 15 points and grabbed another four rebounds. For the week, he shot 56.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.
 
HONOR ROLL
Tristen Newton, So., G, East Carolina
Newton helped lead the Pirates to a 3-0 week, averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 54.1 percent from the field. He had a career-high 30 points in a win against Western Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 14.
 
Darin Green, Jr., Jr., G, UCF
Green averaged 18.5 points and shot 53.8 percent from 3-point range in a pair of wins for the Knights. In a road win at Miami on Saturday, Nov. 13, the junior guard scored 23 points and made seven 3-pointers.
 
Khalif Battle, So., G, Temple
Battle scored 48 points over two games for the Owls while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. He dropped 22 in a win over UMES on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and followed that up with 26, including five 3-pointers, against USC on Saturday.
 
Jalen Cook, Fr., G, Tulane
Cook averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week for the Green Wave. The guard scored 28 in a season-opening win against Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Jeriah Horne, Gr., F, Tulsa
Horne averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in a 1-1 week for the Golden Hurricane. The forward scored a career-high 28 points against Northwestern State in his comeback game with Golden Hurricane after spending a season at Colorado upon graduation from Tulsa.