SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas and North Dakota State’s Akealy Moton captured February Summit League Athlete of the Month honors, league officials announced Wednesday. Abmas earned his second-straight monthly nod by outscoring everyone in Division I basketball, while Moton collected the female honor after setting the Summit League record in the indoor shot put.

Abmas backed up his January month honors with a seven-game stretch where he averaged 31.3 ppg and took over the national scoring lead from Iowa’s Luka Garza. The sophomore will enter The Summit League Men’s Basketball Championship averaging 24.7 ppg.

The Rockwall, Texas, native is the only Division I player with a pair of 40-plus point scoring games as both of those came in February. His first was a 42-point outing in a win over South Dakota State where he went 14-for-20 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3-point range. He also added 41 points in a home win over Western Illinois when he went 6-for-12 from 3-point range.

For the month, Abmas went 36-for-70 from beyond the arc and ranks in the top five nationally in 3-pointers made with 87. He also went 45-for-48 from the charity stripe in February.

Moton’s impressive monthly credentials included her record-breaking toss of 59-03″ to win the shot put title at the Iowa State Classic. She capped the month with a Summit League Championship record toss of 56-11.25″.

The West Fargo, North Dakota, native’s efforts in February qualified her for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the shot put and ranks third nationally in the event.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
So. | G | Rockwall, Texas

• Took over the national scoring lead (24.7 ppg) after averaging 31.3 ppg in seven February contests
• Only DI player to score 40-plus points in a game twice this season with both coming in February
• Shot 52 percent from the field, 51 percent from 3-point range and 93 percent from the foul line
• This is the second monthly honor of Abmas’ career (January; 2021).

Also nominated: Ethan Bray, South Dakota; Will Carius, Western Illinois; Trent Francom, South Dakota State; Brandon McKissic, Kansas City; Bentiu Panoam, North Dakota; Alex Talley, North Dakota State.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Akealy Moton, North Dakota State
Jr. | F | West Fargo, N.D.

• Established a new Summit League ITF Championship record in the shot put with a mark of 56-11.25″
• Broke the all-time Summit League mark in the shot put with a throw of 59-03″ at the Iowa State Classic
• Qualified for the NCAA ITF Championships and ranks third nationally in the shot put
• This is the second monthly honor of Moton’s career (May/June; 2019).

Also nominated: Natalie Beckman, Denver; Grace Gilmore, Western Illinois; Destinee Rose-Haas; Alli Schomers, Kansas City; Myah Selland, South Dakota State; Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota; Sasha Wells, Oral Roberts.

2020-21 Summit League Athletes of the Month
December
Male: Stanley Umude/South Dakota/Men’s Basketball
Female: Myah Selland/South Dakota State/Women’s Basketball

January
Male: Max Abmas/Oral Roberts/Men’s Basketball
Female: Myah Selland/South Dakota State/Women’s Basketball

February
Male:Max Abmas/Oral Roberts/Men’s Basketball
Female: Akeally Moton/North Dakota State/Women’s Track and Field

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COURTESY THE SUMMIT LEAGUE & ORU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS