Laurence Bowers, a 6-foot-8, 227-pound senior forward from Memphis, Tenn., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in wins over South Carolina State and 10th-ranked Illinois last week. Bowers had 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one block to lead No. 12 Missouri over No. 10 Illinois 82-73 in the annual Braggin' Rights game on Saturday. Bowers has reached double figures in 10-of-11 games this season and has now topped 20 points four times this year. Bowers, who recorded his fourth double-double of the year, scored 15 points in the first half - the most by a Tiger in the first half of a game this year.

Mississippi State’s Gavin Ware, a 6-foot-9, 270-pound freshman forward from Starkville, Miss., was named SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring 22 points and gathering 13 rebounds against Central Arkansas last week. Against Central Arkansas in a 79-72 victory, Ware posted his first double-double with career highs in points (22) on 8-9 shooting and rebounds (13). Both his points and rebounds were season highs for any MSU player this year. Ware has started the last five games for the Bulldogs. On the year, he is shooting 53.5 percent from the floor.