INDIANAPOLIS – Findlay senior forward Taren Sullivan (Lima, OH/Bath HS) was selected as the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the 2017-18 season Monday.
 
Sullivan and the nationally-ranked Oilers made about as much noise as possible to tip off the season on a neutral floor at the Hall of Fame Classic in Evansville, Ind., at the Ford Center.
 
Findlay, ranked 20th to start the season in the NABC preseason poll, defeated No. 6 Indiana (PA) and No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas for two statement showings to follow up the program’s NCAA Sweet 16 run a year ago.
 
Sullivan averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field in both victories.
 
Sullivan’s season debut produced 20 points, six assists and four rebounds, as Findlay routed an IUP program that was 28-4 last season and advanced in the NCAA Atlantic Region semifinals.
 
Suillvan made a pair of free throws to give the Oilers an 18-point lead against the Crimson Hawks right before halftime. Findlay led by as many as 24 in the second half as it finished off an 80-61 win.
 
Members of the East Coast Conference, St. Thomas Aquinas was 28-6 after reaching the Elite Eight and only falling to eventual national champ Northwest Missouri State in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
Findlay passed another test with flying colors as the Oilers enjoyed a lead that swelled up to 21 points with 11:34 left in the second half. Sullivan poured in 16 points and pulled down seven boards while making seven free throws.
 
Sullivan averaged 18.1 ppg and 7.7 rpg as a junior for the Oilers, collecting second-team all-region honors and First Team All-GLIAC recognition.