DENVER – New Mexico State senior center Tshilidzi Nephawe has been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 2-8. This is his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Johannesburg, South Africa, native averaged a double-double of 14.0 points and 11.5 rebounds to go along with 1.0 assist and 1.0 block per game last week as the Aggies went 2-0 on the week to take a two-game lead atop the WAC standings. He shot a blazing 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the field over the two games. Nephawe opened the week with eight points and 11 rebounds in a win at Chicago State. In a road win over second place Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, he posted season highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Jaylin Airington averaged 15.0 points on 60 percent shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists as the Roadrunners went 1-1 on the week ... Clarke Rosenberg of Chicago State averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Cougars went 1-1 on the week ... Grand Canyon’s Ryan Majerle averaged 17.5 points on 60 percent shooting and 3.5 rebounds as the Antelopes picked up a pair of WAC road wins ... Martez Harrison of Missouri-Kansas City averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals as the Kangaroos went 1-1 last week ... Seattle U’s Jarell Flora averaged 18.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as the Redhawks went 1-1 on the week ... Shaquille Hines of Texas-Pan American averaged 19.5 points on 68 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists on the week.