Malaki Branham earned some recognition from the Big Ten conference for his breakout performance Sunday.
After putting up 35 points in an 87-79 overtime win over the Huskers, the first-year Buckeye guard was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his efforts on Monday.
@MalakiBranham has been named @BigTen Freshman of the Week after scoring a career high 35 points on 68.4% shooting to go along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists in a win over Nebraska.#Team123 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/OX4TpcQLUo
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 3, 2022
Branham carried the Buckeye offense in the team's return from a 22-day COVID-19 pause, shooting 13-for-19 and scoring 19 more points than the next best Ohio State player on Sunday. Branham shot 7-for-9 from 2-point range, and hit six of his 10 3-point attempts as well.
Before Sunday's game, Branham had only scored as many as 11 points in a game for Ohio State, but his outburst gave him the most points of any Buckeye in a Big Ten game since Feb. 4, 2018, when eventual Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop dropped 35 against Illinois.
