ISU’s Brackins, Gilstrap sweep Big 12 awards

IRVING (ISU) – For the first time in Big 12 history, Iowa State men’s basketball players swept the weekly Big 12 awards handed out by the conference office.

Junior Craig Brackins was named Big 12 Player of the Week, his fourth of his career, and senior Marquis Gilstrap earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors for Nov. 16-22.

Brackins, a preseason Wooden and Naismith Award nominee, posted outstanding numbers in a pair of Cyclone wins during the week, averaging 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds.

A native of Palmdale, Calif., Brackins scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a win at Drake.

He followed that performance with a 28-point, 12-rebound effort in a victory over Mississippi Valley State, going 11-of-17 from the field.

Brackins, who made 63.7 percent of his shots from the field (21-of-33 FG), has 16 20-point/10-rebound games and 20 double-doubles in his career.

Brackins also moves to No. 22 on ISU’s career scoring list with 1,085 points. He is averaging 18.5 points and 8.3 boards through four games this season.

Gilstrap averaged 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds to help ISU to two wins during the week. Gilstrap poured in a career-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor in a 96-55 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Gilstrap made 4-of-5 shots from 3-point range during the week. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game.