WACO, TX:  Ben Hunt of Texas Wesleyan University and Marlo Saunders of University of Texas of the Permian Basin were selected as Red River Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week for the opening week of the 2005-06 season, Oct. 31-Nov. 6.

Hunt, a senior guard from Bendigo, Australia, averaged 15.0 points per game as TWU won its first two contests. Hunt posted 13 points and two assists as the Rams opened with an 81-77 win over College of the Ozarks (Mo.). He followed that performance with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists to guide TWU to a 99-68 victory against Kansas Wesleyan University. Hunt made 10-of-23 shots from the field (43.0%) including 6-of-13 from behind the three-point arc. He had a streak of 22 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer broken on Tuesday against Oklahoma Christian; however, he has scored in double-digits in each of his last 31 games.

Saunders, a senior guard from Killeen, Texas, helped UTPB knock off Dallas Christian, 95-69, over Dallas Christian College for its first season-opening victory. He scored 21 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting. He also made 3-of-6 three-point shots while grabbing four rebounds. UTPB is 1-0 on the season.