Zimmermann Claims Fourth MIAC Player of the Week Award

The MIAC Men's Basketball Athlete-of-the-Week award ended just as it began this season, with Bethel star Kyle Zimmermann (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) taking home the award. Over the final week of the regular season, the senior forward helped the team secure a home game in the first round of the MIAC Playoffs by leading the Royals to a 2-1 record, including an upset of No. 3-ranked St. Thomas, while averaging 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots per game and shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor (59.4). For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Zimmermann Monday with his fourth MIAC Men's Basketball Athlete-of-the-Week award this season. Bethel fell to Gustavus 77-67 Monday despite 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Zimmermann, but the team rallied to close out the regular season with wins in each of its last two games. Wednesday, Zimmermann had 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the 71-65 road upset of the MIAC champion Tommies, and he closed the regular season with a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double to go along with five blocked shots in a 64-60 victory over Carleton. The regular season finished with Zimmermann leading the MIAC in scoring (17.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.3 per game) and he ranks second in field goal percentage (60.1), blocked shots (51) and third in steals (41). Thanks to the 2-1 final week, Bethel completed the regular season with a 17-8 overall record and sole possession of fourth place in the MIAC with a 13-7 conference record. The Royals grabbed the No. 4 seed in the 2014-15 MIAC Men's Basketball Playoffs, and will open the postseason Wednesday when they host No. 5-seeded Concordia at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to Friday's semifinals and will either play at No. 1 St. Thomas or No. 2 St. Olaf at 7 p.m. The Playoffs conclude Sunday with the championship game at 3 p.m.