NEW YORK - Michael Ajayi from Butler and Acaden Lewis from Villanova were selected to receive BIG EAST Men's Basketball weekly honors.  Ajayi registered his eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 28 points and 15 rebounds in a double overtime win against Providence.  Lewis averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in two games for the Wildcats this past week.
 
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Michael Ajayi, Butler, F, Gr.
Ajayi logged his eighth double-double of the season in Butler's double overtime win over Providence.  The 6-7 forward poured in a game and season-high 28 points (8-18 FG; 11-16 FT) to go with a career-best 15 rebounds.  Six of his 15 boards came on the offensive glass.  The graduate student also added two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot in the win.  His eight double-doubles this season rank as third-most in the country.  This is Ajayi's second BIG EAST Player of the Week honor this season (Nov. 24).
 
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Acaden Lewis, Villanova, G, Fr.
Lewis averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in a 1-1 week for Villanova.  Last time out, the freshman from Washington, D.C. tallied 11 points, seven assists (one turnover), three rebounds, and two steals in a home win over Pittsburgh.  In the first game of the week at top-ranked Michigan, the 6-2 guard had 11 points, six boards, three assists and a steal.  This is Lewis' third weekly BIG EAST honor (Nov. 17, Dec. 1). His 5.6 assists per game ranks third among freshmen nationally.
 
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Alex Karaban, UConn, F, R-Sr.
Karaban shined in a 2-0 week for UConn, averaging 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, while shooting nearly 60% from the floor.  The 6-8 senior scored 13 points, connecting on 3-of-5 from the outside in the Huskies' win over Florida to start the week and added 18 points and four boards in a home win over Texas.
 
CJ Gunn, DePaul, G, Sr.
Gunn shined in a 2-0 week for the Blue Demons, averaging 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while connecting on nearly 53% from the floor.  Last time out, Gunn had a team-high 18 points to go with four boards and two assists in a win at Wichita State.
 
Oziyah Sellers, St. John's, G, Sr.
Sellers connected on four 3-pointers en route to scoring 19 points in the Red Storm's win over Iona.  The 6-5 guard made 7-of-13 shots from the floor while grabbing five rebounds in 30 minutes of play.  It was his third game with at least four made 3-pointers.
 
Budd Clark, Seton Hall, G, Jr.
Clark was named the Joe Calabrese MVP of the Garden State Hardwood Classic against Rutgers.  The junior point guard shined as Seton Hall moved to 10-1 on the season, finishing with 16 points, seven assists, and four steals.  Clark made 7-of-10 shots from the floor in the win.
 
Filip Borovicanin, Xavier, F, Sr.
Borovicanin narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a home win over Missouri State.  The 6-9 forward made 5-of-9 shots, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.  It was his third double-double of the season.