OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior forward Ashton Howard (Cedar Hill, Texas) was named Sooner Athletic Conference Oklahoma Ford Dealers Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for his effort this past week by the conference office on Monday morning.
 
Howard was instrumental in UNT Dallas picking up a 71-64 road victory over Science & Arts. Down seven at halftime and as many as 15 in the second half, Howard led a defensive effort that stifled USAO and held them without a basket the final 2:45 minutes of the game and allowing a 14-point turnaround.
 
Howard posted three blocks to match a conference-high and had a steal to highlight his defensive numbers. The Cedar Hill, Texas, native also chipped in 15 points and five rebounds. He had a crucial basket to open a four-point lead down the stretch and seal the team's largest conference win of the campaign.
 
Howard on the season is averaging 12.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game to rank third on the team. He has appeared in six of the team's nine games and made five starts.
 
Howard claims his first UNT Dallas men's basketball player of the week award and first for the program this season. He is the second in the program to earn a conference weekly award, as Jules Moor was named on December 13, 2022.
 
Complete Sooner Athletic Conference Release