Malik Dia Named MVC Newcomer of the Week

ST. LOUIS - - Belmont University men's basketball forward Malik Dia has been Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
 
Dia averaged 20.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game as Belmont defeated Murray State and Valparaiso this past week.
 
Dia had a game-high 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting at Valparaiso. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native had 15 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots vs. Murray State. Dia ranks among league leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goals and free throw rate.
 
Dia ranks fourth in the MVC in scoring, having come off the bench in nine of 15 games. He has 23 double figure scoring games, including 10 games of 20 or more points.

This marks the third MVC Newcomer of the Week award for Malik Dia.
 
Belmont (14-11, 7-7 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois.
 
Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 18 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence