UC Riverside's Kyle Austin (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena HS) earned Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week accolades after posting back-to-back double-doubles, which included a pair of 20-point scoring efforts in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders.
   
Austin, a 6-7 forward, averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the week.  He led the Highlanders to a 63-60 victory against Cal State Fullerton with 21 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 7 of 9 at the charity stripe.  He also hit two three-point baskets in 36 minutes as the Highlanders claimed their 16th win of the season and guaranteed the team a winning record for the first time in their Division I history.  
   
In a 78-72 overtime loss at UC Irvine, Austin tied his career high with 24 points and grabbed 10 boards for his third double-double of the season.  He dished out four assists and drained 10 of 13 from the foul line.  Austin also sank two more three-pointers as he shot 4 of 8 from long distance in the two games.
   
Austin's 17.2 points per game scoring average would rank as the second-highest in the Big West, but he is one game short of qualifying for the conference's minimum games played standard.  He will qualify with his next game played.

Others nominated: Rodrigue Mels (Cal State Northridge); Eric Wise (UC Irvine); Chad Troyer (Pacific)