OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 13, 2020) – Last season's Heartland Conference co-defensive player of the year is beginning to gain some notice in Oklahoma Christian's new conference.

Will Lienhard, the Eagles' 6-foot-8 senior center from Oklahoma City, was named Monday as the Lone Star Conference's men's basketball defensive player of the week, becoming the first OC player to win one of the LSC's two weekly awards this season.

Lienhard played a key role defensively Saturday as OC routed No. 13/10-ranked Dallas Baptist (Texas) 61-42, grabbing 14 rebounds (to help the Eagles post a huge 46-27 edge in that category) and blocking a shot. DBU's point total was the lowest in its program's history, the lowest by any Lone Star team this season and the lowest by an OC opponent since November 2006.

That came on the heels of Lienhard's 13-rebound, five-block effort on Thursday in a 63-59 loss to Tarleton State (Texas), during which he helped limit the Texans' leading scorer and rebounder, Josh Hawley, to four points and one rebound. OC outrebounded Tarleton State 38-22.

Lienhard leads the LSC and is sixth in NCAA Division II in blocked shots per game (2.8) and ranks 21st nationally in total blocks (28) despite having played in only 10 games so far this season due to injuries.

After leading Division II in rebounding last season at 12.7 per game, Lienhard is starting to round into form this season, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game. He's recorded 11 or more rebounds in each of OC's past three games.

With Lienhard anchoring the middle, OC ranks 10th in Division II In scoring defense at 64.8 points per game. OC has allowed its opponent 65 points or less eight times this season, including each of the past three games.

The Eagles will be on the road this week, visiting LSC divisional rivals Texas-Tyler on Thursday and Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday.