University of Southern Indiana junior forward Orlando Rutledge has been named as the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, following an abbreviated week of action after the holiday break.  In the Screaming Eagles’ lone game of the week, Rutledge tied a season high with 27 points in a 72-61 win over Cedarville on Saturday.

The Louisville, Ky., native was 9-of-16 (.563) from the field, including 6-of-10 (.600) from beyond the arc, while dropping in all three attempts from the charity stripe. He also grabbed three rebounds, made two steals, and dished out an assist in the in-region victory.

For the season, Rutledge is averaging 17.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. He also is shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the line. 

Rutledge’s honor is the first of his career and marks the first GLVC Player of the Week award for USI since Mohamed Ntumba was recognized on Jan. 31, 2011.

Southern Indiana (7-1) is set to open conference play on Thursday, Jan. 3, hosting Missouri-St. Louis (7-2), which was picked by the league coaches to win the GLVC West Division.