Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Alex Austin and Sherman Blanford both from men's basketball have been named the EIU student-athletes of the week.

Austin was named the OVC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season following his games against Saint Louis and Drake. Austin scored 17 points at SLU hitting 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from 3-point range. He averaged 10.5 points for the week hitting 43 percent from 3-point range.

Blanford scored a career high 18 points at Drake on Saturday scoring 11 of EIU's first 14 points. He was 8-of-10 from the floor in that game with seven rebounds. For the week he averaged 12 points while shooting 58 percent from the floor.

EIU opens OVC play this Saturday at Tennessee State.