After a noteworthy opening week to his Valparaiso University men’s basketball career, Thomas Kithier (Macomb, Mich. / Clarkston [Michigan State]) was recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week on Monday.

Kithier posted a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting in Saturday’s game vs. UIC after opening his Valpo career with a 16-point effort on 8-of-11 shooting in Tuesday’s season opener vs. Toledo. Over two games during the week, Kithier averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting at a 70.4 percent clip.

Kithier established collegiate career highs in both points and rebounds during the game against UIC. His 28 points were the most scored by a Valpo player in a single game since Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 29 on March 7, 2020 vs. Missouri State. It was the highest single-game output by a Valpo individual other than Javon since Bakari Evelyn scored 30 on Nov. 25, 2017 vs. UNCW.

Kithier’s 28 points were the most scored by a Valpo player in a double-double since Freeman-Liberty had 30&13 on Nov. 12, 2019 at SIUE. He became the first Valpo player with a 25&10 game at the Athletics-Recreation Center since Alec Peters on Jan. 27, 2017 vs. Wright State. Kithier joined Peters, Freeman-Liberty and Ben Krikke on the short list of Valpo players with 25-point double-doubles during the Matt Lottich Era.

Valpo will visit Stanford on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised nationally on Pac-12 Network.