ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference announced today that Missouri State guard Adam Leonard (6-1, 195, Jr., Lee's Summit, Mo.) has been named MVC Men's Basketball Newcomer of the Week.  

The announcement marks the second time Leonard has received the award this season. He was also honored on Nov. 30.

Leonard, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky University, posted a career-high 29 points and matched a career best with seven three-pointers in MSU's narrow 63-57 loss at Southern Illinois last Wednesday (Feb. 3). He shared team-high honors with three assists, and his three-point output was just one shy of tying the Missouri State single-game record (8). In addition, his 29 points were the fourth-best point output in the nation that day. Two of his threes against the Salukis tied the game, one put MSU ahead, and three more brought the Bears back within a basket of the lead.

He followed the performance at SIU with another double-figure output on Saturday (Feb. 6) to give the Bears a 70-52 win over Creighton, their first win over the Bluejays since 2006. He collected 11 points, another pair of three-pointers and shared game-high assist distinction with three.

For the week, he averaged 20.0 points per game with 9 total three-pointers, 6 assists, and 60 minutes played.

Missouri State has received the MVC Newcomer of the Week Award three times this season, including two by Leonard and one by Jermaine Mallett on Jan. 4.  Prior to the 2009-10 campaign, Missouri State had received the Newcomer of the Week honor just four times since the MVC began presenting the weekly award in 2003-04.

The Bears (16-8, 6-7 MVC) host Southern Illinois this Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at JQH Arena.