With each block, Randal Falker is working his way up the SIU record books, and Monday the junior forward received a new honor.

Falker was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Week for the first time in his career while battling an elbow injury against Indiana State and illness at Wichita State.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 16 points per game and 11 rebounds per game last week against the Sycamores and the Shockers, both wins.

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“I’m happy that we got two wins, mostly,” Falker said. “You could definitely lose some games and be player of the week.”

In the Salukis’ 68-41 win against Indiana State, Falker recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. He scored 13 of his points in the second half as well as eight rebounds.

When Wichita State hosted SIU, Falker scored 13 points and added eight rebounds and two blocks. He shot 4-of-6 from the field and 5-for-6 on his free throws, well above his 55.1 free throw percentage this season.

SIU coach Chris Lowery said Falker performing well when he wasn’t at 100 percent speaks to his character.

“He’s tough and he knows what we expect of him,” Lowery said. “He was sick but not to the point of a death bed and his elbow was sore but not to the point where he can’t play. He’s going to play when there’s an opportunity to win a conference championship, and that’s what type of character all the kids have.”

Falker is the second Saluki to be named MVC Player-of-the-Week this season.

Matt Shaw was given the honor Nov. 27. In the prior week, he averaged 16.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., where he shot 60 percent.

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MVC Newcomer

Creighton freshman guard Isaac Miles was named MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week Monday.

Miles averaged nine points per game while shooting 60 percent from the field last week.

He also scored 11 points in the first 11 minutes when the Bluejays visited Bradley Jan. 31 and won, 82-71.

Miles is the first player on Creighton to be named MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week this season. Illinois State has had five newcomers given the weekly honor this season, including Boo Richardson, twice.

Wichita State guard recovering

Late in the Feb. 3 game between SIU and Wichita State, Shockers guard Matt Brauer drove to the lane but had his layup blocked by the Salukis’ Falker. The two collided, and Brauer hit his head on the floor when he landed.

The team ran a CT scan Sunday but it came back negative, and Brauer missed the Shockers’ first practice back in Wichita, Kan.