BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama State’s Brandon Battle its SWAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week and Texas Southern’s Karl Nicholas its SWAC Men’s Basketball Impact Player of the Week for their outstanding performances during games played Feb. 13-15.

Battle (Warren, Ohio) led Alabama State with a career-high 23 points in a win over Alabama A&M, including 11 in the second half to help ASU take the lead and pull away. He finished the night shooting 57.1 (8-for-14) percent from the floor and connected on 87.5 (7-for-8) percent of his free throws in the win. He added four rebounds, and is now averaging 12.0 points and 7.6 rebounds on the season.
 
Nicholas (Pearland, Texas) finished with a double-double of 13 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks while hitting a key basket in the final minute to put TSU in position to take a lead late at GSU. Texas Southern would subsequently go on to defeat Grambling State by a final score of 75-73.
 
Other Notable Performances: 

• Alabama State’s D.J. Heath scored 17 points against Alabama A&M, including the three-pointer that sealed the game late in the second half. He finished the night shooting 50.0 (7-for-14) percent from the floor, and 75.0 (3-for-4) percent from beyond the arc.
• Texas Southern’s Jordan Gilliam led TSU with 18 points and nine assists along with three blocks and two steals while hitting the game-winner against Grambling State.

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams. 
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis. 
 
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball. 
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.