(Editor’s note: University of Providence athletics release)
WHITEFISH — University of Providence senior guard Jalen Shepard was named Frontier Conference men’s basketball player of the week following a week in which the Argos defeated the Embry-Riddle Eagles, but fell in a top-15 matchup with the No. 12 Arizona Christian Firestorm at the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The accolade marks the program’s first of the season and Shepard’s first as an Argo.
Against the No. 12 Firestorm, Shepard tied for a team-high with 22 points, while also tallying six rebounds, five assists and five steals. During the Argos dominant win over the Eagles, Shepard netted 20 points in addition to grabbing five steals, four assists and three boards in the 18-point victory. He averaged 21 points over the two contests in addition to five steals, 4.5 assists and 4.5 boards on the week. He shot 57 percent from the field, including going 2 of 6 from 3-point range, while netting 83 percent from the free throw line.
Shepard leads the Frontier in steals and steals per game, as he has 38 take-aways on the season and averages 2.92 per contest. He also currently sits second in the conference in total assists (62) and assists per game (4.77).
The Argos will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 29 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The team will open the 2019 slate of conference play at home against the Lewis-Clark State Warriors on Friday, Jan. 4 and Montana Western Bulldogs on Saturday, January 5.
