Jan. 23, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After leading the UCF men's basketball team to victories over Memphis and UAB - two programs that the Knights had never defeated - junior forward Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) was selected as the Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday. Clanton averaged 16.5 points on 59.1 percent shooting in the wins.
In the Knights' 68-67 triumph over Memphis, he registered the game-winning 3-point play with four seconds remaining. He scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting against the Tigers and also added eight rebounds and two steals. The win over Memphis was the first in 11 meetings for UCF.
Clanton followed that performance with a team-high 10 points in a 48-41 win at UAB. The former Orlando Christian Prep star blocked three shots as the Knights held the Blazers to 28.6 percent shooting for the game. UCF entered the contest 0-7 all-time against UAB.
In the second half versus the Blazers, Clanton became UCF's all-time leader in blocks as he has 142 for his career. He has helped UCF post a 5-1 start in C-USA play, the best start for the program since joining the league in 2005. UCF is 15-4 overall and has won seven of its last eight games.
The C-USA Player of the Week honor is the second of the season for Clanton. He was also selected by media members who cover the league on Nov. 28 following UCF's second-place showing at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, which included a victory over defending national champion UConn.
Clanton and the Knights will return to action Wednesday at Tulsa at 8 p.m. Eastern.