SPARTANBURG, S.C. –Bellarmine goalkeeper JC Higginbotham  and Jacksonville attackman Jacob Greiner and have been named the Southern Conference men's lacrosse defensive and offensive players of the week, respectively, for all games Feb. 11-17. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Higginbotham started both of Bellarmine's games on the week, picking up a pair of wins and posting a miniscule 2.38 goals-against average and an .812 save percentage in 75 minutes of action. The freshman from Plano, Texas, allowed one goal and made two saves in 22 minutes as the first of three keepers in a 21-5 win over Hampton on Feb. 11. Higginbotham followed that up by allowing two goals and notching 11 saves, the most of his four-game career to that point, in a 13-5 win over St. Bonaventure on Saturday.
 
Playing in just his second career game, Greiner scored seven points on five goals and two assists to lead Jacksonville past Marquette on Saturday, 11-9. The freshman from Exton, Pennsylvania, assisted on JU's first goal and notched a hat trick in the first quarter alone, scoring three straight goals to stake the Dolphins to a 4-1 lead. Greiner scored the first goal in the second period and assisted on a goal in the third quarter that put Jacksonville ahead for good, 8-7. In the fourth quarter, Greiner scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal, capping his seven-point day. His five goals are tied for second-most in a game in program history and his seven points are tied for third in a game in program history.

 Jacksonville (1-1) takes on Robert Morris at US Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, on Sunday at 12 p.m. Bellarmine (2-3), which dropped a 20-13 decision to Detroit Mercy in Pontiac, Michigan, on Tuesday, hosts Boston University on Saturday at noon.
 
Other offensive nominees: Quincy Peene (Air Force), Landon Trout (Bellarmine), Brett Tenaglia (Furman), Asher Nolting (High Point) and Ryan Lanchbury (Richmond).
 
Other defensive nominees: Braden Host (Air Force), Alec Van de Bovenkamp (Furman), Parker Green (High Point), Colin Hinton (Jacksonville) and Jack Rusbuldt (Richmond).
 
2020 Southern Conference Men's Lacrosse Players of the Week
Offense
Feb. 4      Brandon Dodd, Air Force
Feb. 11    Mitch Savoca, Richmond
Feb. 18    Jacob Greiner, Jacksonville
 
Defense
Feb. 4      Braden Host, Air Force
Feb. 11    Sean Menges, Richmond
Feb. 18    JC Higginbotham, Bellarmine