ST. LOUIS – SIU freshman center
Kyler Filewich was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. He is SIU’s first freshman center to earn the honor since Gene Teague in 2010.
Filewich earned his first career start on Monday at Indiana State and responded with a career-high 12 points for the Salukis in a 69-66 loss. Filewich, a Winnipeg, Canada, native, went 6-for-7 from the field in 19 minutes and snagged four rebounds. Filewich is shooting 65% in MVC play this season.
Filewich is the second SIU player to earn MVC Newcomer of the Week honors this season, joining
University of Evansville sophomore Samari Curtis was recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week in an announcement by the league on Tuesday.
Curtis continued to grow in his role with the Purple Aces and it has culminated in a team-high 14.8 points per game through the opening four Valley contests. In 25.6 minutes per game, Curtis has shot 46.3% overall, 40.7% from 3-point range and 83.3% at the line. He added 3.8 rebounds along with four assists, three steals and two blocks.
Following a 7-point game in the MVC opener, Curtis erupted for a career-high 29 points in the finale at SIU as he led the Aces to an 84-72 win. The victory ended a 19-game conference losing streak. Curtis was 9-of-13 from the field, drained six out of eight from outside and was a perfect 5-5 at the line. Over his career mark of 30 minutes played, Curtis added four rebounds. With Evansville coming back home to face preseason league favorite UNI, Curtis continued his solid play,