After missing six games with a hamstring injury, Eric Wise (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King HS) showed no signs of rust as he averaged a double-double in two UC Irvine victories, capturing Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week accolades.

Wise was a catalyst in his return to the court, averaging 24.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals as the Anteaters won a pair of double overtime games.

He scored 23 points and added 15 rebounds with three steals in a 96-87 victory against UC Davis.  He scored seven of those 23 points in the second overtime.

In a 97-86 triumph versus Pacific, Wise notched 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals.  The junior was huge again down the stretch, scoring seven points in the final 1:48 of the second overtime.  He hit 5 of 6 free throws in the last 53 seconds.

Wise corraled 12 of his 27 rebounds off the offensive glass and was entrenched at the foul line where he made 21 of 28 attempts for the week.

The two victories for UCI clinched a spot in next week's 2011 ampm Big West Tournament.

Others nominated:  David Hanson (Cal Poly); Lenny Daniel (Cal State Northridge); Long Beach State (Casper Ware); Eddie Miller (UC Davis); Terrell Smith (Pacific)