Dec. 9, 2002

Columbia, Mo.-University of Missouri junior center Arthur Johnson was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 7, as announced Monday by the Big 12 Conference Office.

The Detroit, Mich., center scored 24 points in both of the Tigers' two wins last week against Sacramento State - 98-60 - and in the 78-72 win against Southern California in the John R. Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif. He also posted two double-doubles with 11 rebounds against Sacramento State and 12 versus USC. Johnson has three double-doubles in four MU games this season and he leads the Tigers in points (18.8), rebounds (8.8), and field goal percentage (.574). The Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week is voted on by a media panel.

Johnson and the 11th-ranked Tigers take on the Phoenix of Wisconsin Green Bay tonight at the Hearnes Center with opening tip set for 7 p.m., before welcoming Memphis to Columbia on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and may be purchased via the World Wide Web at www.mutigers.com or can be ordered by phone at 1-800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia