FRISCO, Texas - Ryan Bright of Sam Houston State, a 6-6 senior forward from Deer Park, has been named as Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, his first "Player of the Week" honor for the season and the fifth in his Bearkat career.

Bright was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bearkats in both their victories last week as Sam Houston defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee on the road 81-77 and Hardin-Simmons at home 79-41. He scored 14 points and pulled down a career high 15 rebounds in the Milwaukee win and collected 15 points and 12 rebounds in only 17 minutes of action in the victory over Hardin-Simmons.

The two victories lifted Sam Houston to 6-0 for the year, the first time since 1980 the Bearkats have started the season with six consecutive victories.

On the season, Bright is averaging 12.3 points per game and leads the SLC in rebounds at 12.2. He also ranks fifth in the league in assists (4.0) and 18th in scoring (12.2).

For his career, Bright now stands fifth in all-time rebounds at Sam Houston (703) and 15th in all-time scoring (1,139 points). Bright earned Southland Conference men's basketball "Student-Athlete of the Year" honors for the 2006-07 season with his 3.59 overall grade point average majoring in Kinesiology.

Sam Houston State will play host to Texas Lutheran Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum then head on the road to meet the Saint Louis Bilikens Saturday evening.