UNIVERSITY CENTER, MICH. – Saginaw Valley State University redshirt sophomore Triston Nichols was named GLIAC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week when the league office announced award winners on Monday afternoon.

Triston Nichols anchored the Saginaw Valley State defense with 18 rebounds, six steals, and four blocks through two games. He began the week with a team-best 12 rebounds and four blocks, while adding two steals to his totals in the Cardinals' 65-62 win over Wayne State on Friday. The rebound total against WSU was a career high and the first double-digit total for the redshirt sophomore's career. Nichols followed that performance up with a team-high six rebounds and four steals in the game against Purdue Northwest on Sunday to finish the week averaging 9.0 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks for the week.

This is the first GLIAC player of the week award for Nichols in his career, and the second for the Cardinal men's basketball team this season.

Nichols will lead SVSU this week in two conference road games beginning this Thursday at Roosevelt. Tip-off against the Lakers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET).