Mizzou standout Tamar Bates named SEC Player of the Week

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Monday, the Southeastern Conference announced that Mizzou standout Tamar Bates is the SEC Player of the Week, after the Tigers a 2-0 week where MU captured the program's fifth-ever win over the nation's No. 1 team.

In victories over Cal in the ACC/SEC Challenge and Kansas in the Border War, Bates averaged about 22 points and four steals per game, shooting about 59 percent from the field.

After a 15-point outing against the Golden Bears, the Kansas City native kicked it up a notch in rivalry action against KU. Bates put up his best game of the season, going off for 29 points and matching his career best with five steals. He is snow just the third player in the last 50 seasons to have 25 points and five steals in a win versus a No. 1 team.

The guard was truly the difference maker in Mizzou's first win over a No. 1 team since 1997. But it's really no surprise, as he's led this Tiger team for much of this young season. He averages the team-best 14 points per game, which compliments about two rebounds and two steals per outing. He is shooting 54 percent from the field and about 34 percent from 3-point range. Bates is also nearly perfect from the charity stripe, hitting about 95 percent of his free throws.

It is the first time that Bates has earned an SEC weekly honor in his career. In addition to that conference nod, he was also named the March Madness Player of the Week and was named to Dickie V's Weekly Stars, thanks to his outings versus Cal and KU.

Up next - Bates and Mizzou will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. versus Long Island University.