ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State sophomore forward Kyle Weems (Topeka, Kan.) has been named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. After helping the Bears to a 73-62 win over Auburn in their season opener, Weems was named Most Valuable Player of the Hispanic College Fund Challenge, hosted by MSU over the weekend in which the Bears went 3-0.

In four games last week, Weems scored 60 points and helped the Bears start the season 4-0 for the first time since 2006-07.  He scored a career-high 23 points in MSU's 72-55 win over The Citadel on Saturday, including a 5-for-7 effort from three-point range. He also scored 13 points against Auburn on Monday, giving Missouri State the league's only win over a BCS conference opponent so far this season. 

In the first week of the season, he scored in double-figures all four games, was 22-for-41 (.537) from the field, 9-for-20 (.450) from three-point range, snagged 23 rebounds, and accounted for 8 assists, 3 blocks and 4 steals.

Weems was a 2008-09 MVC All-Freshman Team selection after averaging 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 31 games a year ago. He started 19 ball games for the Bears as a freshman and is one of three returning starters on this year's team.

The Bears conclude a five-game home stand this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against undefeated Tulsa at JQH Arena. Tickets are available by calling (417) 836-7678 or on-line at www.MissouriStateTix.com.