CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – For the second time this season, Eureka College junior center Mark Lessen (Delavan, Ill./Delavan H.S.) has been selected as the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week, according to an announcement from the league office Monday night.  Lessen averaged 24.0 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 86 percent from the field in two EC victories last week.

Lessen, who previously earned SLIAC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 23, kicked off the week with a 33-point, 15-rebound effort in Eureka's 99-70 non-conference rout of Lincoln Christian last Wednesday at the Reagan Center.  Lessen went 12-for-13 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free throw line against the Red Lions.  When Eureka resumed conference action last Saturday, Lessen compiled 15 points, six rebounds and matched a career-high with five blocked shots in the Red Devils' 86-71 victory over Fontbonne.  He finished the week 18-for-21 from the field.

Lessen has produced his best collegiate season to date, starting each of Eureka's 22 contests with averages of 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game.  His .625 field goal percentage (145-for-232) leads the SLIAC and ranks seventh in NCAA Division III, while his blocked shot average is first among league players and 19th nationally.

Owning sole possession of first place in the SLIAC standings as of Tuesday morning, Eureka (15-8, 11-3 SLIAC) will hit the road Saturday for a 7 p.m. SLIAC tip-off at Westminster in Fulton, Mo.