Back-To-Back Player of the Week Winners at Rainy River

The MCAC holds a weekly award recognizing one player from the North and South Division of the Conference, and Minnesota North College – Rainy River would have a player selected in back-to-back weeks in Men’s Basketball.

For the week of November 18-24, forward Rodney Mozard earned the MCAC North Division Men’s Basketball Athlete-of-the-Week award. In one game that week, Mozard scored 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, had two steals and four blocks, and assisted on four baskets. He made five of seven shots in the team’s win over Red Lake Nation College, shooting 71.4% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line.

I had the opportunity to speak with Rodney on the Coach’s Corner show this past Saturday and ask him how he heard.

Which led to me asking Coach Collins the same.

Rodney seemed a little surprised himself by his stat line that won him the award.

He was then asked about the transition from High School and College Basketball, and what was the biggest change.

Rodney also previously played for a Division 3 and a NAIA program before coming to Rainy River.

Then, for the week of November 25-December 1 Rainy River point guard Austin Howe earned the MCAC North Division Men’s Basketball Athlete-of-the-Week award. Howe scored 33 points in 36 minutes on the court, going 14 for 23 (60.8%) from the field and 5 for 12 from the three-point arc. He grabbed ten rebounds and had seven assists and nine steals in the Voyageurs’ 138-62 rematch win over Red Lake Nation College.

Austin was another player who I spoke with on Coach’s Corner, who says that 33 points in a game is nothing new.

In fact, during the Red Lake Nation game Austin was aware of his dominant performance.

So Austin was asked who was a professional player that inspires his play the most.

Now, what is the mentality that he’s hoping to keep for the upcoming conference games?

Coach Collins would expand on that.

The Voyageurs play again at home versus Ridgewater on Friday, with a tip-off at 7pm.