Dec. 6, 2004

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State basketball player Nate Harris has been named the Big West Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in the Aggies' victories against Brigham Young and Utah it was announced on Monday.

Harris, a 6-7, junior forward from Smithfield, Utah, averaged 23 points and 4.5 rebounds, while hitting 19 of 25 shots from the field for a 76.0 shooting percentage in USU's two games.

Against BYU on Wednesday, he was 10 of 13 for a career-high tying 26 points. He also had three rebounds, three steals and two blocks as the Aggies defeated the Cougars 71-57.

In the Aggies' 71-45 victory against Utah, Harris was nine of 12 shooting for 20 points, while adding six rebounds and one block.

The honor is the fourth of Harris' career as he earned three straight league player of the week accolades last season (Jan. 19, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2). His four player of the week awards tie Desmond Penigar (2002-03) and Kendall Youngblood (1991-92) for the second most honors by an Aggie behind Greg Grant, who won six weekly awards from 1983-86.

Harris leads the Big West Conference in field goal percentage at 64.6 percent, while also ranking ninth in scoring (14.0), 12th in rebounding (5.3), and fifth in free throw percentage (84.6 percent).

Utah State, which is 5-1, will continue its season with its first true road game of the season at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. mountain time. USU will return home to host Weber State on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.