FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

CCIW Press Release

Feb. 20, 2012 - North Central College's Aaron Tiknis earned his second straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Basketball Player of the Week Award on Monday, receiving the distinction as the conference's top performer for the week of Feb. 13-19.

Tiknis became one of three two-time Player of the Week selections in the CCIW this season after leading the Cardinals to a pair of dominant wins. North Central traveled to North Park University on Tuesday and defeated the Vikings, 75-49, before returning to Gregory Arena and dismantling Millikin University, 91-58, to clinch the program's first outright CCIW Championship since 1990.

Tiknis averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists for the Cardinals in the two contests. He turned in his fourth double-double of the season at North Park, recording 15 points and 10 rebounds, while also contributing three assists. He put up eight points, five rebounds five assists and two blocked shots in Saturday's victory over Millikin.

Tiknis averages 11.2 points per game this season while leading North Central in rebounds (7.0), assists (3.6) and blocks (1.3) per game. He leads the CCIW in three-point percentage (.541) and ranks second in the CCIW in field-goal percentage (.584).

The Cardinals claimed four CCIW Player of the Week Awards this season, matching Wheaton College for the most by any conference team. Landon Gamble also received the distinction on Jan. 30 and Derek Raridon was so honored on Jan. 9.

As the conference champion and No. 1 seed, North Central (18-7) will host this weekend's CCIW Tournament at Gregory Arena. The Cardinals will take the court for the semifinal game on Friday at 7 p.m. against an opponent still to be determined. The game will be televised live on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17 and nctv17.com.