IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine junior point guard Derick Flowers (Los Angeles/Pacific Hills School) has been named the Big West Conference Player of the Week following his career-best performance in Thursday night's win over Cal State Northridge.

Flowers scored a career-high 21 points in leading the Anteaters over the Matadors, 71-62, in the Big West opener for both teams Thursday night in Northridge.

Flowers, whose previous career high was nine points, hit 4 of 5 threes in the win and was 6 of 12 overall from the field.  He added three assists and tied his career high with three rebounds. 

After Northridge had cut a 22-point UCI lead to 55-52 in the second half, Flowers hit a three in the midst of a 7-0 run by the Anteaters and he hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final 52 seconds to help seal the victory.

Flowers, who did not start a game in his first two seasons with the Anteaters, has started five this season, including the past four.  In those four games, he has 17 assists and has averaged 9.3 points.

UCI hosts Big West preseason favorite Long Beach State in a "Black & Blue" Rivalry game Monday night at 7:00 in the Bren Center.

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