BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the third straight week, the fourth time in five announcements, and the fifth time this season, Union University men’s basketball forward Judson Bjornstad has been named the GSC Freshman of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
In Union’s pair of wins last week, Bjornstad averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals. After Lee University contained him to five points and four rebounds on Thursday, he recorded perhaps the best game of his young collegiate career in Union’s riveting comeback win over Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday–14 points on 7-14 shooting, nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. His 23 combined points and rebounds Saturday set Bjornstad’s season-high.
Bjornstad’s fifth award, which is presented by Truist, adds to Union’s disproportionate collection of recent Freshman of the Week honors. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the Bulldogs have claimed 14 of 25 such designations in a now-12-team league. Apart from Bjornstad, the accolades have been divided between Jordan Pyke (six), Devaki Garr (two), and Parker Applegate (one).
Bjornstad, who has started and scored in every Union game this season, averages 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game–fifth and third on the team, respectively. He is second on the team in blocks (14) and third in assists (27) and shoots .821 (32-29) from the line.
On the GSC leaderboards, Bjornstad is T-12th in total blocks, T-17th in offensive rebounds per game (1.6), T-21st in rebounds per game, and 27th in minutes per game (29.2)
Through 17 contests, the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native has scored five points on 14 occasions and reached double-figure scoring six times. His season-high of 17 came against Auburn-Montgomery on December 19; he has also posted two 14-point games, one of 12 points, and two more with 11. Bjornstad has grabbed five-plus rebounds 11 times and eight or more boards in three outings.
Bjornstad and the rest of the Bulldogs (10-7), who lie in the GSC’s fifth position with a 6-5 conference record, will travel to the Magnolia State this week for games at Mississippi College (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Delta State (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.).
