DALLAS – Following a productive Thanksgiving weekend, UTEP netted each C-USA men’s basketball weekly award, providing the first team sweep of the honors since Dec. 23, 2013 (Tulane). Earning C-USA Player of the Week honors was sophomore guard Evan Gilyard, while Freshman of the Week credits went to forward Efe Odigie. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World. Awards are chosen by a vote from a media panel representing the 14 member schools.
 
Player of the Week
Evan Gilyard, UTEP
Sophomore, 5-10, 155, G, Chicago
Gilyard averaged 25.5 points per contest and 7.0 rebounds per game in UTEP’s last two games. The Windy City product opened the week with a 29-point performance (matching his career high) during the Miners’ victory against Eastern New Mexico. The sophomore connected on a career-high 11 field goals from the field and pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. The sophomore followed his record-setting performance with his fourth 20-plus point effort (22 points) of the season in a hostile environment at New Mexico. Gilyard went 5-of-9 from downtown and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. It is the first C-USA weekly award in Gilyard’s budding career.

Freshman of the Week
Efe Odigie, UTEP
Freshman, 6-11, 245, F, Houston
Odigie, one of two players averaging a double-double (14.8 points, 10.2 rebounds) in C-USA, averaged 13.0 boards and 12.5 points during his last two games. Odigie ripped down a career-high 17 rebounds and scored 14 points against Eastern New Mexico to register his second-consecutive double-double. At New Mexico, Odigie came up a rebound short of his third-straight double-double. The big man played with urgency in the loud environment at The Pit, tallying a blocked shot, a steal and five offensive boards. It is the first C-USA weekly award in Odigie’s career.
 
C-USA Players of the Week
N12:      Jon Davis, Charlotte
N19:      Brian Beard, Jr., FIU
N26:     Evan Gilyard, UTEP
 
C-USA Freshmen of the Week
N12:      Charles Bassey, WKU
N19:      Charles Bassey, WKU
N26:     Efe Odigie, UTEP