Valley Release
 
ST. LOUIS – Missouri State junior Gaige Prim (F, Aurora, Colo.) has been named Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Monday (Nov. 25).
 
Prim, a transfer from South Plains (Texas) College, averaged 19.3 points per game at the prestigious Charleston Classic last week. He converted 24-of-39 (.615) shots overall and 10-of-14 (.714) free throws, all off the bench. Prim led the Bears in scoring all three games in Charleston and also snagged 15 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, blocked 5 shots and snagged 5 steals, all in just 25.3 minutes per game.
 
In just his second game as a Bear, Prim poured in 18 points off the bench against Miami on Nov. 21, and followed that with 19 points and 5 rebounds in the Bears win over St. Joseph's on Nov. 22. Prim concluded the tournament against Buffalo with an impressive 21-pount outburst  on 10-of-14 shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
 
In just four games this season, Prim ranks second on the club with a 16.5 scoring average while converting 60 percent of his field goal attempts.
 
En route to All-MVC honors last year, both Keandre Cook and Tulio Da Silva each won the MVC Newcomer of the Week distinction twice during the 2018-19 campaign. Da Silva would parlay his laurels into MVC Newcomer of the Year accolades, becoming the third Bear in four seasons to reach that milestone, while Cook also earned a spot on the MVC All-Newcomer Team last year.
 
Northern Iowa guard Trae Berhow was named MVC Player of the Week this week.
 
Coach Dana Ford's Bears return to action Friday at LSU to end a five-game road swing. Missouri State returns to JQH Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 3 to host Murray State at 7 p.m.