BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the second time this season, SIUE senior Ring Malith has been named the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball Player of the Week. Malith led the Cougars to their first OVC win of the year last Monday at Western Illinois.

Malith scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half Monday (17 of those coming in the final 8 minutes), helping SIUE erase a 14-point deficit and score a 66-61 win.

It was Malith's second straight 20-point game, and the fifth of the season. He was 5-10 from the field in the second half and 7-7 from the free throw line. He also added six rebounds-all coming after halftime.

SIUE returns to First Community Arena for the OVC home opener Thursday against Southern Indiana.The men and women will play a doubleheader with the men's tipoff set for approximately 3:30 p.m.