OGDEN, Utah -- Northern Colorado's men's basketball team got its first win at Denver since 1989 last Wednesday and then knocked off Texas State at home in a run-and-gun shootout Saturday night.

Once the dust settled on the Bears' 2-0 run, senior Jabril Banks emerged as the Big Sky Conference's third player of the week for the 2008-09 season.

It's the first such honor for Banks, a forward out of Denver's George Washington High School, and just second honor for Northern Colorado in the last two seasons. Devon Beitzel was a co-honoree on Jan. 14, 2008.

Banks averaged 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Bears' two games last week and shot 83 percent from the field (15-18) and 79 percent from the free-throw stripe (11-14).

His 39 minutes played against Denver were a career high, and he raised his season scoring average from 10.5 to 20.5 in the two games.

He dropped 20 points in Northern Colorado's 71-66 overtime victory against the Pioneers, hitting eight of 10 shots from the floor and connecting on all four of his free-throw opportunities.

In Northern Colorado's 105-93 home victory against the Bobcats, Banks poured in 21 points on seven-of-eight shooting. He made seven of 10 free throws, pulled down four rebounds and had an assist in just the Bears' second 100-point performance under head coach Tad Boyle.

The Bears and Banks are next in action against San Diego State at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night, Dec. 3, at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.

OTHERS NOMINATED:

• Benny Valentine, G, Eastern Washington: Averaged 25 points per game as the Eagles went 1-1.
• Anthony Johnson, G, Montana: Averaged 20 points per game in two losses.
• Divaldo Mbunga, C, Montana State: Averaged 13.5 points and shot 80.0 percent from the floor in two wins.
• Phil Nelson, F, Portland State: Averaged 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as the Vikings went 1-1.
• Steve Panos, F, Weber State: Averaged 14.5 points and 8 rebounds per game as the Wildcats went 1-1.