Rutgers Coburn is Big East Freshman of the Week

-Courtesy of Rutgers University

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (January 28, 2008) - Rutgers freshman guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) has been named the BIG EAST Conference Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week for his play in wins over No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh. Coburn averaged 20.0 points and 4.0 assists in the victories, as RU defeated ranked teams back-to-back for the second time in program history.

Coburn posted a career high 23 points to lead RU to an 80-68 defeat of the Wildcats before the home crowd Wednesday night. He was eight of 13 from the field and a perfect 2-2 from behind the arc, while grabbing four rebounds. It marked the first victory over a ranked opponent for RU since a 65-56 home defeat of No. 22 Louisville on Jan. 28, 2006.

At Pittsburgh Saturday evening, Coburn scored 17 points on five on nine shooting, including a perfect three of three from long range, to help lead Rutgers to a 77-64 win at the hostile Peterson Events Center. He also had five assists. The victory marked the highest ranked foe that RU has ever defeated on the road in program history and snapped UP’s 13-game home winning streak.

Coburn (6-0, 195) has played in all 21 games, making 11 starts this season. He is averaging 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.5 minutes, while leading the team with 49 assists. In the eight BIG EAST games, he is averaging 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 33.6 minutes, while shooting 52.9 percent (9-17) from three point range and 78.3 percent (18-23) from the free throw line.