Thik Bol named MVC Newcomer of the Week

02/06/2017 | 3:33:00 | Men's Basketball

By: By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com

Southern Illinois center Thik Bol was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

A 6-foot-8, 200-pound junior, Bol averaged 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in wins over Bradley and at Loyola last week. He was 10-of-15 (.667) shooting from the field. Against Bradley, he made 7-of-10 shots and matched his conference high with 14 points. He had 11 points at Loyola, including a key dunk and blocked shot during the final two minutes of the game.

The Iowa Western Community College transfer is averaging 9.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this season. His 52 blocked shots ranks eighth in school history for a single season.

Bol is the first Saluki player to win a conference weekly honor this season. Last year, SIU won conference honors five times, as Anthony Beane took Player of the Week three times, while Mike Rodrigeuz and Leo Vincent each won the Newcomer of the Week award.