Junior Dwayne Patterson of the men’s basketball team is the 18th Taco Bell Athlete of the Week for the 2012-13 academic year. He is earning the award for the second time of his career after helping the Tornados win both of their games at the Cru Holiday Classic by double-digit margins.
Patterson averaged 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in victories against Edgewood and Rust College. He began the week by recording 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a 78-66 victory over Edgewood. Patterson then contributed 13 points and six rebounds in a 121-98 rout of Rust College, which included shooting 4-for-6 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line.
A kinesiology major from Long Beach, Calif., Patterson is the son of Rhonda Lewis and Dwayne Patterson. He has three brothers, Devin, Chris and Brandon, and one sister, Ebony.