DALLAS – It was yet another award-winning week for WKU junior center Charles Bassey. Now a five-time Conference USA Player of the Week this season, Bassey averaged double figures in WKU's sweep of rival Marshall and now leads the country in rebounds, blocks and dunks. C-USA Freshman of the Week was given to Southern Miss' Jaron Pierre, Jr. for the third time this season. The newcomer anchored the Golden Eagle offense en route to a series sweep of Middle Tennessee in Hattiesburg. Awards are voted on by the league's men's basketball communications directors. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Surf & Turf Golf.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CHARLES BASSEY, WKU
JUNIOR, C, 6-11, 235, LAGOS, NIGERIA
Bassey led the charge in WKU's (11-4, 4-2 C-USA East) sweep of rival Marshall (7-4, 1-3 C-USA East). The big man averaged 22.5 points, 14 rebounds and 3.5 blocks, while shooting 50 percent (17-34) from the floor and 37.5 percent (3-8) from long range. He grabbed his ninth double-double on 21 points and a career-best 19 rebounds in Saturday's 81-73 win in Bowling Green. On the road at Marshall on Sunday, the Nigeria product erupted for 24 points and fell a board short of another double-double. Bassey also muscled seven blocks on the weekend and now ranks first in the nation with 46 on the year. He also leads all NCAA Division I players in rebounds and dunks, while his double-doubles are tied for second.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JARON PIERRE, JR., SOUTHERN MISS
FRESHMAN, G, 6-5, 185, NEW ORLEANS, LA
Pierre, Jr. became an offensive weapon for Southern Miss (7-6, 3-3 C-USA West) in its sweep of Middle Tennessee (3-7, 1-3 C-USA East) on the weekend. The three-time C-USA Freshman of the Week paced the Golden Eagles in every offensive category, as well as rebounding. He averaged 9.5 rebounds and 16 points on 11-of-19 field goal makes, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range, and added three assists and three steals in the series. He also hit 4-of-4 attempts from the free throw line that all came in the final 29 seconds of Saturday's 64-59 decision. Pierre, Jr. produced his second double-double on Friday with a game-high 24 points and 10 boards. His scoring effort lifted Southern Miss to its highest point total against a C-USA competitor in two years.

C-USA Players of the Week
N30        Charles Bassey, WKU
D7           Taevion Kinsey, Marshall
D14        Charles Bassey, WKU
D21        Jahmir Young, Charlotte | Charles Bassey, WKU
D28        Luke Frampton, WKU
J4            Jahmir Young, Charlotte | Travis Evee, Rice
J11          Charles Bassey, WKU
J18          Charles Bassey, WKU
 
C-USA Freshmen of the Week
N30        Dayvion McKnight, WKU
D7           Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech
D14        Jaron Pierre, Jr., Southern Miss
D21        Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech
D28        Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech
J4            Jaron Pierre, Jr., Southern Miss
J11          Rubin Jones, North Texas
J18          Jaron Pierre, Jr., Southern Miss