Cain earns second NCC player of the week award this season

After averaging a double-double in a pair of wins this past weekend, The University of South Dakota's Tyler Cain has been named the North Central Conference Player of the Week. The announcement was made from the conference office in Sioux Falls.

The Coyotes, who improved to 10-0 on the season, have had a player win the award three of the five weeks this season. Mitch Begeman (Jr., Sioux Falls) picked up the award on Nov. 19 and Cain previously (So., Rochester, MN) earned the award on Nov. 26.

In USD's two wins at the Quincy Holiday Classic, Cain averaged 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game. He recorded his first and second double-double of the season. The sophomore forward started the weekend by scoring 15 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking six shots in the team's 86-72 win over Lincoln University (MO). Cain then capped off the weekend by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in a 88-55 win over Truman State University (MO). He shot 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the floor in two games.

For the season, Cain is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots per game. He has 52 blocks on the season, which is just 13 away from breaking the single season record that he set last season.

South Dakota will return home on Dec. 21 before taking a break for the holidays. The nation's third-ranked team will host Midland Lutheran College at 8 p.m.