Jan. 4, 2010

CLEVELAND - After averaging 25 points, three rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals and one block per game in two non-conference home contests last week, Northern Illinois junior guard Xavier Silas captured his first-career Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honor, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Silas shot a combined 53.3 percent (16-30) from the field, 47.4 percent (9-19) from three-point range and 81.8 percent (9-11) from the free throw line versus No. 18/19 Temple, a hard-fought 70-60 loss, and in a 66-45 wire-to-wire win over North Dakota.

Against the Owls, who came into the contest winning nine-of their last 10 contests, Silas poured in a career-high 26 points (8-17), including a trio of three-point field goals, pulled down four rebounds, and had two steals with one block in 37 minutes.

In the 21-point win over North Dakota, Silas scored 24 points (8-13), converted a career-high six three-point field goals, and had four assists, two rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes.

Silas, a Colorado transfer, currently leads the Huskies 17.3 points per game, and has led the Huskies in scoring in five-of the six games he has played in.

The Huskies will travel to the Windy City to take on Chicago State Wednesday night (7 p.m.), before opening MAC play at Ball State Saturday (Jan. 9) beginning at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on mynetworkTV in Rockford (channel 16 on Comcast cable).