Cory Higgins (Colorado) and Lucca Staiger (Iowa State) have been chosen the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week for Dec. 8 - 14 in voting by a panel of media covering the conference.  It is the first weekly honor for both players.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cory Higgins, Colorado, G, So., 6-5, 185, Danville, Calif./Monte Vista/The Pendleton School [Fla.]
Higgins led the Buffaloes in their lone game last week, a 75-56 victory over in-state rival Colorado State.  The sophomore guard finished with a game- and career-high 33 points, connecting on 11-of-16 (.688) from the field.  He had 28 points in the second half on 9-of-10 shooting, the third-best point total for a half in school history.  The 33 points overall were the most scored at the Coors Events Center since Michel Morandais netted 33 versus Missouri on Feb. 22, 2002.  Higgins also established career bests in field goals made (11), field goals attempted (16) and 3-pointers made (3).  He leads Colorado this season with 18.4 points per game.  

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Lucca Staiger, Iowa State, G, So., 6-5, 225, Blaustein, Germany/Urspring Academy/Decatur Christian [Ill.]
Staiger averaged 16.5 points in two games for the Cyclones versus in-state rivals Drake and Iowa.  The sophomore guard recorded a career-high 24 points against Drake, including a career-best eight 3-point field goals.  He connected on his first six shots from beyond the arc, tying a Big 12 and school record for consecutive 3-pointers made.   He then tallied nine points at Iowa behind a 3-for-5 effort from 3-point range.  Staiger has made 62.5 percent of his 3-pointers in the last three outings.  He is third in scoring for Iowa State with 8.0 points per contest and ranks seventh in the Big 12 with 2.4 made 3-point field goals per contest. 

2008-09 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards