UC Riverside senior Phil Martin captured his second straight Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week award after leading his team to a home sweep of conference contenders UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.

Martin was the centerpiece of a successful week that saw the Highlanders move to 4-1 in Big West play for the first time in school history.  UCR also extended its winning streak to four straight games for just the third time in its Division I history.

The 6-4 guard averaged 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 44.2% (15 of 34) from the field and 92.9% (13 of 14) at the free throw line for the week.

In the 79-70 overtime victory against the Gauchos, Martin registered a career-high 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.  He poured in 21 of his 33 points in the first half, and scored six of the team’s 16 points in the overtime period to seal the victory.

Martin tied for game-high scoring honors with 13 points in the 60-53 triumph over the Mustangs.  He made four straight free throws down the stretch to help UCR withstand a late Cal Poly rally.

Martin has led the Highlanders in scoring in 13 of 18 games this season and has eight games of 20 points or more.
 
Others nominated:  Vinnie McGhee (Cal State Northridge); Eugene Phelps (Long Beach State); Travis Fulton (Pacific)