Nov. 27, 2000

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior center Kaspars Kambala has been selected as the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Runnin' Rebels to a 2-2 record this past week.

The Riga, Latvia (Homestead HS) product scored 90 points (22.5 ppg), pulled down 37 rebounds (9.2 rpg), had four blocks and three steals in four games last week. Kambala also shot an amazing 92 percent from the free throw line, hitting 34-of-37 attempts.

Kambala scored 80 total points at the Maui Invitational to lead all scorers and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. He also shattered the Maui record for most free throws made in a game after connecting on 21-of-22 vs. Louisville. The previous record was 14 held by Todd Lichti of Stanford in 1987.

Kambala opened the week with 14 points and five rebounds in the first round Maui Invitational loss to 8th-ranked Illinois, 74-69. UNLV dropped its second game of the tournament to Louisville, 86-85 in overtime, but Kambala scored a career high 37 points and set a new UNLV record for most consecutive free throws made after hitting his first 18 attempts. His 21 free throws made and 22 attempts vs. the Cardinals are also new MWC records. Kambala concluded the Maui Invitational with a double-double (29 points and 15 rebounds) in the 90-78 win over Chaminade.

UNLV ended the week with a 70-69 victory over Cal State Northridge. Kambala notched his third double-double of the year and 31st of his career with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

This is Kambala's fifth player of the week honor of his career.