Michael Lofton Named MASCAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – For the seconf time this season, Bridgewater State University junior forward Michael Lofton has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Lofton averaged 10.5 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots while shooting 68% (17-25) from the floor over four games as the Bears competed at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas as well as the Hampton Inn/West Springfield Naismith Classic at Springfield College over the holidays.

At the D3hoops.com Classic, Lofton posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds to go along with a block and a pair of steals in a 77-72 win over Ramapo College.  The Mansfield, Massachusetts native also added five, points, six boards and two blocks in a 66-65 victory over Linfield College.

Lofton was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Hampton Inn/West Springfield Naismith Classic as he notched 14 points, five rebounds, a block and two steals in a 75-65 semifinal win over Wesleyan University, and ten points, four boards and four blocks in an 80-66 championship game setback to host Springfield.

Through 11 games this season, Lofton is averaging 14.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 70.5% (67-95) from the floor.  He leads the MASCAC in field goal percentage and ranks third in blocks, fifth in rebounding and sixth in both scoring and steals.  Lofton is also ranked in the top ten nationally (Division III) in field goal percentage.

In 64 games over his first three seasons at Bridgewater State, Lofton has amassed 722 points, 485 rebounds, 117 steals, 94 blocks and 84 assists as well as a career shooting mark of 64.1% (287-448).  He is presently ahead of former Bear Derek Thompson’s (2003-07) all-time team field goal percentage mark of 58.8% (318-541).

The BSU men’s basketball team is currently 5-6 on the season.  The Bears travel to non-conference foe Bowdoin College on Tuesday evening (5:30) before opening MASCAC play at home against MCLA on Thursday night (7:30).