27 Nov 2024 Cato, Taylor earn ASUN weekly honors

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Bears swept the weekly Atlantic Sun men’s basketball awards on Monday, with senior Elias Cato being named the ASUN Player of the Week and freshman Layne Taylor earning the ASUN Newcomer of the Week award.

Cato, a 6-foot-9 guard/forward from Queensland, Australia, averaged 21.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the Bears’ two games against Southeast Missouri and UNC Asheville. Cato had 20 points and seven rebounds in UCA’s overtime loss to SEMO on Thursday. He came back with a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds, hitting three three-pointers, in the Bears’ double-overtime win over the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Taylor, a 5-11 guard from Farmington, Ark., was equally as impressive, averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Against SEMO, he had 17 points and nine rebounds, and added 19 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals in 46 minutes of action vs. UNCA.

For the season, Taylor is averaging 15.8 points, followed by Cato at 15.0. Taylor also has a team-best 17 three-pointers. Cato is UCA’s second-leading rebounder at 5.2 per game and is shooting 54.8 percent from the field.

UCA travels to Atlanta, Ga., to take on Georgia Tech at noon (CST) Saturday from McCamish Pavilion.