Modica Named SEC Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Jonathon Modicas career-high scoring effort against South Carolina on Saturday earned the Smackover, Ark., native Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday, the league announced. Modica scored 37 points in Arkansas 73-59 victory over South Carolina. He was 11-of-17 from the field, including six-of-nine on three-pointers, and nine-of-10 at the free throw line. The six three-pointers are a career high and the nine free throws match his previous best. Modica also had three rebounds, two assists and three steals with no turnovers. He scored 20 points in the first half on six-of-nine shooting, including four-of-five on threes, and was four-of-four at the line. His 20 points almost matched USCs team total as the Hogs jumped out to a 39-21 advantage at the half. The point total is the most in the SEC this season and is the most for a Razorback since Al Dillard scored 39 against Delaware State on Dec. 11, 1993. It also ties for the 14th-best individual scoring effort in school history. His output also moved him from 16th to No. 15 on UAs all-time scoring list with 1,392 points. The senior is averaging 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 49.4 percent from the field. He ranks eighth in the SEC in scoring and fifth in shooting percentage. Over the last four games, he is averaging 21.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor (30-57), 52.4 percent on threes (11-21) and 84.2 percent at the line (16-19). This is the second SEC player of the week award for Modica. He was also recognized last season on Feb. 14 after averaging 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over LSU and Georgia, and in the process scoring the 1,000th point of his career.