Jo Valrie named NAIA Hoops Report National Player of the Week

PITTSBURGH -- With his big performances in a couple of divisional wins, Jo Valrie was named the NAIA Hoops Report National Player of the Week on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The junior forward for the Pioneers from Houston, Texas, powered Point Park to River States Conference victories over (RV) Rio Grande (Ohio) and Shawnee State (Ohio) last week. 

In a 65-62 victory at Rio Grande, the Pioneers took down the RSC preseason favorites with Valrie putting up 21 points and 16 rebounds. Valrie played all 40 minutes and scored eight points in the final three and a half minutes to help the Pioneers pull out the big road win. His 3-pointer with under 2:00 to go started a 10-4 run to end the game. He also grabbed an offensive rebound on the next possession and made a pair of free throws to put the Pioneers up for good. Valrie was 10 for 12 from the foul line on the night. 

Then later in the week, Point Park defeated the 2020-21 NAIA National Champion Bears by a score of 83-80. The Pioneers got out to a 53-33 lead at half with Valrie already at 22 points on 9 for 10 from the field. That included 5 for 5 from 3-point range and a slew of drives to the basket. Point Park held on for the win with Valrie finishing with 32 points -- one off his career high -- and some big baskets late in the game. Valrie was 13 for 17 from the field. 

For the week, Valrie averaged 26.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor and 6 for 10 from the 3-point arc. Point Park is off to a 9-0 record with the next game Saturday, Dec. 9 at home versus Alice Lloyd (Ky.). Tipoff is 3:00 p.m. at CCAC-Allegheny for another RSC East Division matchup.

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