Cardenas recognized as NSAA Player of the Week

MADISON, S.D. -- After leading the No. 24 Bellevue University men's basketball team to a pair of victories last week, senior guard Mike Cardenas (Los Angeles, Calif.) has been named the North Star Athletic Association's Player of the Week, it was announced by the conference.

Cardenas had a terrific week, leading the Bruins to a pair of wins over Division II Chadron State College and on the road at College of the Ozarks. A first team all-conference selection in 2015-16, this award is the first weekly NSAA honor of Cardenas' BU career.

Cardenas averaged 21.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last week. He shot an efficient 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the field, including hitting on a scorching 60.0 percent (9-of-15) of his three-point field goal attempts.

At the free throw line Cardenas hit on 90.9 percent of his attempts to help the Bruins win a pair of games decided in the final moments. In the win over Ozarks, he scored a career-high 28 points and matched a career-best with seven made three-pointers.

Cardenas becomes the second Bruin to win the honor in as many weeks, with BJ Shelton earning distinction from the North Star last week.

The Bruins currently sit at 5-4 overall – with wins in four of their last five games – and return home on Saturday, Nov. 26 when they host No. 17 York College at 5 p.m.