In three games over the past week, Ohio State guard Malaki Branham averaged 23.7 points per game while shooting 57.5% from the field, and in so doing he was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week.
This was the third time Branham has earned the award.
Branham’s week started with a 27-point outing in an overtime win against Indiana. Branham was 9-of-13 from the field and also added five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
He then went even further than that in an 86-83 win at No. 15 Illinois where he scored 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Branham was a focal point of the Ohio State offense and he succeeded without turning it over once against the Illini.
The busy seemed to catch up with Branham in Sunday’s loss at Maryland. Despite shooting just 4-of-13 from the field, his 13 points were still a team high.
For the week, he finished 22-of-23 from the free throw line.
Branham also earned this award on January 3 and January 10. He is the first OSU freshman to win the award three times since D’Angelo Russell in 2014-2015.
Over the Buckeyes’ last four games, Branham is scoring 26.3 points per game.
[Malaki Branham header photo courtesy of the Ohio State Dept. of Athletics.]
