Dec. 19, 2011

ST. LOUIS -- After setting the JQH Arena assists record against Kennesaw State on Dec. 17, Michael Bizoukas (Sr., G, Munster, Ind.) was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Monday (Dec. 19).

This is Bizoukas' second MVC Newcomer of the Week honor this season. He is the fourth MSU player to be honored as the league's top newcomer in 2011-12.

His 11 assists against KSU on Saturday was a career-high for Bizoukas, a transfer from DePaul University who is averaging 8.7 assists with just three turnovers in the last three contests. He also has 14 rebounds in that span. In the Bears' only game last week, a 78-55 win over KSU in the opening round of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, Bizoukas also knocked down a pair of three-pointers and blocked two shots.

Missouri State has landed four MVC Newcomer of the Week honors in six weeks. In addition to this week's award, Bizoukas also claimed the honor on Nov. 21. Anthony Downing (Jr., G, Atchison, Kan., Independence [Kan.] CC) earned the award on Nov. 14, while Jarmar Gulley (Jr., G/F, Beaumont, Texas, Highland [Kan.] CC) was presented the laurels on Dec. 12.

Since the inception of the league award in 2003-04, three or more players from the same school have won the honor in the same season just three times previously -- 5 by Creighton in 2007-08, 4 by Illinois State in 2006-07, and 4 by Bradley in 2004-05). The MVC record for most Newcomers of the Week in a single season by one school is 10 by Creighton in 2007-08.

The Bears (6-3) continue the Las Vegas Classic at JQH Arena tonight when they battle Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (417) 836-7678, visiting www.MissouriStateTix.com or stopping by the Chevy Pickup Window at JQH Arena today prior to tipoff.