Stewart wins season's first GCAC player award
For immediate release . . . December 5, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — Mark Stewart of Xavier University of Louisiana is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball for Nov. 26-Dec. 2. He is the league's first winner of the 2007-08 season.

Stewart, a 6-foot-1 senior guard from Destrehan, La., scored 37 points in 48 minutes in two victories in the adidas Hardwood Classic at The Barn. He scored 20 points, including six 3-pointers, in 19 minutes in a 77-44 Friday victory against Spalding, then had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, in 29 minutes Saturday in a 69-62 victory against Savannah Art and Design.

This is the first time Stewart has won the GCAC award. Kelechi Okoroha won it twice for the Gold Rush as a freshnan this past season.

Stewart is averaging 13.3 points in 10 games and is ninth in NAIA Division I in free-throw percentage (.893) and 13th in 3-point field goals made per game (3.2).

Xavier (9-1) will play next on Dec. 29 against Texas A&M International in the Texas A&M-Kingsville Holiday Tournament at Kingsville, Texas. Xavier's next home game will be Jan. 10 against SUNO.