INDIANAPOLIS – UIC became the first program in Horizon League history to have four different players earn Freshman of the Week honors Monday when Tarkus Ferguson was named the conference's Co-Freshman of the Week for the final week of the regular season that ended on Feb. 26.
 
In a busy week that featured three games in six days, Ferguson averaged 12.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for the Flames. He also registered five steals and blocked four shots for UIC.
 
The week began with Ferguson narrowly missing a triple-double for the second time in his young career in the team's home finale against Green Bay on Feb. 21. He tallied 11 points, pulled down nine rebounds and handed out a game-high eight assists against the Phoenix. Ferguson also blocked a career-high three shots as UIC matched a season high with 12 as a team that night.
 
In another close contest at Northern Kentucky on Feb. 24, the newcomer was able to register his fifth double-double of the season behind 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ferguson shot above 64 percent from the field against the Norse with three 3-pointers. He handed out a game-high seven assists and was charged with just one turnover in 39 minutes. The Belleville, Ill., native remained active on defense, as well, accumulating a career-high four steals at NKU.
 
Though quiet on offense in UIC's regular season finale at Wright State on Feb. 26, Ferguson did crash the glass as he tied for the team lead with six rebounds against the Raiders.
 
Ferguson led UIC and ranked second among all Horizon League freshmen with 13.1 points per game in League play. He was the top rebounder among all first-year players with 5.9 rebounds per game, and he led all players, not just freshmen, with 5.4 assists per game. His five double-doubles, all of which came against Horizon League foes, were also the most among the first-year players. Ferguson was the top free throw shooter among freshmen, and 13^th overall, at 75.8 percent, and his assist/turnover ratio ranked second among freshmen and tied for fifth overall.
 
Ferguson joins Marcus Ottey (Nov. 21), Godwin Boahen (Dec. 26), and Dominique Matthews (Feb. 13) as UIC winners of the Horizon League Freshman of the Week Award this season. Junior Tai Odiase was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Dec. 26, as well. In addition to being the first time that four freshmen won the weekly award in conference history, it is the first time in Flames history that five different players have won a weekly award from the Horizon League in the same season.
 
UIC will begin the 2017 Little Caesars Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday, March 5 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Flames will play the third-seeded Green Bay Phoenix in the quarterfinal round at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT. For tickets and more information about travel to Detroit, please click here.