Fresno State center Melvin Ely has been named the Western Athletic Conference mens basketball player of the week for Dec. 31-Jan. 6.
Ely, a senior from Harvey, Ill. (Thornton Township), set a career-high 31 points and posted eight rebounds in just 24 minutes as the Bulldogs defeated Rice, 87-61. He made eight of 12 field goal attempts, connected on all seven free throws and added four blocks, three steals and an assist. Then in Fresno States 86-85 win over Tulsa, Ely surpassed his previous career-high with 35 points. He added 16 rebounds for his sixth double-double this season, and also posted nine blocks, breaking his own school record.
The other nominations were senior guard Predrag Savovic, Hawaii; senior guard Gerrod Henderson, Louisiana Tech; freshman forward Kirk Snyder, Nevada; freshman forward Michael Harris, Rice; senior center Marion Thurmond, San Jose State; freshman forward Patrick Simpson, SMU; and senior guard Greg Harrington, Tulsa.