Banks collects Player of the Week honors

(1/13/03)

Coming off a career-high 35 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, UIC swingman Cedrick Banks was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday.

Banks (pictured) became the second consecutive Flame to earn the honor and third different UIC player to get it this season. Armond Williams won the award last week and Martell Bailey took it home on Dec. 2.

Banks shot 12-of-22 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line and grabbed seven rebounds in last Thursday’s 102-92 victory over Milwaukee at the Pavilion. Coming into the game, Banks was in a terrible 8-of-38 shooting slump, but quickly erased those memories in a critical UIC victory.

He is averaging a team-best 17.6 points per contest, while playing in eight games. The Flames (8-4, 2-1 in the Horizon) are 6-2 in games where Banks plays. Banks is also averaging 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season.

UP NEXT: The Flames return to action Thursday when they host Cleveland State at the Pavilion. The Vikings come in at 7-9, 2-2 and have beaten Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wright State in league play, while losing to Youngstown State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and ESPN Radio 1000 will broadcast the game.

After CSU, the Flames have quick turnaround to play at Detroit Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.

RPI RANKINGS: According to CBS SportsLine, the Flames are rated No. 83 in their latest Ratings Percentage Index Report, behind only Butler as far as Horizon League teams go. The Bulldogs (13-1, 3-0) are rated No. 58, while UIC’s next foe, Cleveland State, is rated No. 213.