IRVINE, Calif. – Dominican University of California senior guard Dominique Taplin is this week's PacWest Men's Basketball Player of the Week are . The award is based on games played Jan. 19-25.
 
Taplin averaged 24.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the Penguins. He shot 60.7 percent from the field (17-28) and 84.6 percent from the free throw line (11-13). He scored a season-best 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting against No. 24 BYU-Hawaii. He then nearly filed a triple-double with 20 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in a win over Chaminade. His 18 rebounds set a program record in the Division II era. His assist to Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten in the final minute helped the Penguins to that big win over the Silverswords. Taplin ranks fifth in the PacWest in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and eighth in scoring (15.9 ppg).
 
The Penguins host Dixie State on Thrusday, Jan. 29 and Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 31 in a pair of important PacWest contests as Dominican looks to return to the PacWest Championships for a third straight year since the tournamen'ts inception. Tipoff for both games is slated for 7:30 p.m.