UC Irvine junior forward/center Kevin Bland (Tracy, Calif./Delta College/Merrill West HS) earned his first career Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week award after leading the Anteaters to a win over Utah State, the preseason pick to win the Western Athletic Conference.

Bland notched 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals in the 70-51 win over the Aggies, who the coaches tabbed as the WAC favorite.  Bland shot 5 of 6 from the field, making his only three-point attempt and hitting all four tries from the line.  He played 34 minutes against the former Big West foe, who had won five straight meetings against the Anteaters before Saturday's contest.
   
Bland also tallied 17 points, six rebounds and four steals on 7 of 14 shooting in UCI's 77-68 loss to another former Big West and current WAC member, Nevada.  He scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half.  Bland was a perfect 3 of 3 from the charity stripe.
   
For the week, Bland averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 steals while shooting 60.0% (12-of-20) from the field.  A transfer from San Joaquin Delta College, Bland received state JC co-MVP honors in 2005-06.

Others Nominated: Titus Shelton, Cal Poly; Deon Tresvant, Cal State Northridge; Donovan Morris, Long Beach State; Shane Hanson, UC Davis; James Powell, UC Santa Barbara; Steffan Johnson, Pacific