ST. LOUIS -- Bradley junior center David Collins (Toronto, Ontario/Emery Collegiate Institute), a transfer from Missouri State-West Plains, has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, according to an announcement from the league office this afternoon.

Collins helped the Braves (2-1) to a pair of home victories last week, a 65-56 triumph Wednesday against Iowa State and a 98-71 win Sunday against Maryland-Eastern Shore to open the South Padre Island Invitational.  In the two games, the 7-footer averaged 8.0 points and 7.5 rebounds.  He shot 71.4 percent (5-7) from the field and 85.7 percent (6-7) from the free throw line against the Cyclones and Hawks.  Collins was especially impressive against Maryland-Eastern Shore, recording his first career double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Three games into his Bradley career, Collins is Bradley's fourth-leading scorer at 7.3 points per game and leading rebounder at 6.3 boards per contest, despite averaging just 13.0 minutes per game in his reserve role.  He is shooting 66.7 percent (6-9) from the field and 90.9 percent (10-11) from the free throw line.

Collins and the Braves will return to action Tuesday night by hosting Florida Gulf Coast (1-2) in the second round of the South Padre Island Invitational at Carver Arena.  Following Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. contest against the Eagles, Bradley will head to South Padre Island, Texas, for games Friday against Iowa and Saturday versus either Utah State or Vanderbilt.

Friday's 6:30 p.m. game versus the Hawkeyes will be televised nationally on CSTV, which is available on channel 531 on Insight Communications digital cable service in Peoria, as well as channel 152 on the DISH Network America's Top 120 package and channel 610 on DIRECTV's Total Choice Premier package.  Saturday's tournament finale will not be televised, but a video stream from both days will be available for purchase at www.southpadreinvitationaltv.com.