POPLARVILLE – For the second time this season, Pearl River Community College freshman Eric Thornton Jr. has been named as MACJC Men's Basketball Player of the Week.

Thornton, who played prep ball at Jackson Murrah, was honored after leading the Wildcats to the 2018 Men's MACJC State Basketball Tournament championship last week at Senatobia.

The 6-foot-3 guard had 14 points and 7 rebounds in PRCC's 80-63 opening round win against East Mississippi, had a team-high 21 points and 9 rebounds in the 69-67 overtime victory over Holmes in the semifinals, and finished the week with 15 points and 3 rebounds in the 83-77 triumph over host Northwest in the championship game.

For the week, Thornton had 10 assists, a blocked shot and three steals, one in each of the Wildcats' three games.

Thornton will lead Pearl River into the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament Tuesday night at Clinton. PRCC (21-4) battles archrival Mississippi Gulf Coast in a regional quarterfinal.