SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- For an unprecedented fifth time this season, Samford's Christen Cunningham was named the CRONS Southern Conference Freshman of the Week. His most recent honor was earned for all games played Feb. 24-28, the league office announced Monday. 
 
Cunningham averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game last week in tough road tests at UNCG and VMI. Additionally, the Bulldogs' true freshman point guard turned in a brilliant 64-percent shooting mark from the floor and finished 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
 
On Saturday, Cunningham captained Samford to its historical 80-69 victory at VMI by scoring a career-high 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. The Bulldogs' dynamic native of Georgetown, Kentucky, also added five rebounds, four assists and a steal against the Keydets.
 
Samford opened the week's two-game road swing at UNCG on Thursday and Cunningham led the Bulldogs in scoring with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed five rebounds, handed out four assists and drained seven free throws.
 
Already this season, Cunningham has set Samford's freshman record with 125 assists and is averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 assists per game.
 
Monday's honor marked Cunningham's league-best fifth SoCon Freshman of the Week accolade this season. He also garnered the award on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Jan. 27 and Feb. 10.
 
Other top freshmen in the conference last week were Jake Wright (The Citadel), Devin Sibley (Furman), Stephon Jelks (Mercer) and Devin Peterson (Western Carolina).
 
UNCG's R.J. White was named the SoCon Player of the Week on Monday after he averaged a double-double last week as the Spartans went 1-1 with an 81-67 win over Samford before falling to Chattanooga at the buzzer, 61-58. 
 
White averaged 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds and added five blocked shots and shot 75 percent from the field. The sophomore came off the bench in both games and averaged just 24.5 minutes per contest. He tallied a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds against Samford before recording 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and four blocked shots against the Mocs.
 
Other top players in the conference last week were Ashton Moore (The Citadel), Jalen Riley (ETSU), Darious Moten (Mercer), Cunningham (Samford), Ronrico White (Chattanooga), Mike Brown (Western Carolina) and Lee Skinner (Wofford).
 
Cunningham and the Samford University basketball team will next be in action Friday at 5 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs begin play in the 10-team, four-day SoCon Tournament against the UNCG Spartans in a highly-anticipated showdown to be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
 
SoCon Basketball CRONS Freshman of the Week
 
Nov. 18 – Christen Cunningham, Samford
Nov. 25 – Daniel Fowler, Furman
Dec. 2 – Christen Cunningham, Samford
Dec. 9 – Geoff Beans, Furman
Dec. 16 – Jake Wright, The Citadel
Dec. 23 – Geoff Beans, Furman
Jan. 6 – Jordan Strawberry, Mercer
Jan. 13 – Devin Sibley, Furman
Jan. 20 – Devin Sibley, Furman
Jan. 27 – Christen Cunningham, Samford
Feb. 3 – Tucker Thompson, Western Carolina
Feb. 10 – Christen Cunningham, Samford
Feb. 17 – Devin Sibley, Furman
Feb. 24 – Daniel Fowler, Furman
March 2 – Christen Cunningham, Samford
 
SoCon Basketball Player of the Week
 
Nov. 18 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina
Nov. 25 – Karl Cochran, Wofford
Dec. 2 – Casey Jones, Chattanooga
Dec. 9 – QJ Peterson, VMI
Dec. 16 – Tevon Saddler, UNCG
Dec. 23 – Tyler Hood, Samford
Jan. 6 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina
Jan. 13 – Mike Brown, Western Carolina
Jan. 20 – Devin Sibley, Furman
Jan. 27 – Karl Cochran, Wofford
Feb. 3 – Lee Skinner, Wofford
Feb. 10 – James Sinclair, Western Carolina
Feb. 17 – Casey Jones, Chattanooga
Feb. 24 – Julian Eleby, VMI
March 2 – R.J. White, UNCG