PRINCETON, W.Va. – The No. 3-ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team is cornering the market on the West Virginia Conference's Player of the Week Award as Coach Jim Crutchfield's Hilltoppers continue their quest for a third straight WVIAC title.

Alex Falk, the only returning starter for the two-time defending conference champs, picked up his third WVIAC Player of the Week Award on Monday after helping West Liberty extend its winning streak to 14 games with a pair of impressive wins.

It's the sixth time this season that a WLU standout has been honored as a WVIAC Player of the Week. Cedric Harris has collected two of the weekly awards while Tim Hausfeld has also been honored.

A 6-4 junior guard from Sandusky, Ohio, Falk got things rolling in a 106-76 romp past Seton Hill on Tuesday as he stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a typically well-rounded performance.

He saved the best for last, however, in leading the Hilltoppers to an 89-76 victory against an upset-minded West Virginia Wesleyan squad on Saturday. Not only did he pour in a career-high 32 points, he keyed West Liberty's harassing full-court defense with a career-high 7 steals. Falk was 10-of-14 from the floor and drained a career-high 10-of-11 charity tosses as the Hilltoppers won their 51st consecutive league game.

West Liberty hits the road Monday for a 7:30 p.m. game at Davis & Elkins.

2011-12 WVIAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:

1/23: ALEX FALK (WEST LIBERTY) 

1/16: CEDRIC HARRIS (WEST LIBERTY)/Kurklin Bohanon (Alderson-Broaddus)

1/9: ALEX FALK (WEST LIBERTY)/Isaac Thornton (Fairmont State)

1/2: Nate Barnes (Alderson-Broaddus)/Matt Miller (Seton Hill)

12/20: Kelsey Williams (WV Wesleyan)

12/12: ALEX FALK (WEST LIBERTY)/Steve Custis (Fairmont State)

12/05: TIM HAUSFELD (WEST LIBERTY)

11/28: CEDRIC HARRIS (WEST LIBERTY)/David Ford (W.Va. State) 

11/21: Chad Moore (Shepherd)

11/14: P.J. Reyes (Charleston)/Steve Catich (Wheeling Jesuit)