TicketSmarter WAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Seattle U's Cameron Tyson has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and the Redhawks' Vas Pandža has been named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for January 17 through January 23.
Tyson, a sophomore guard from Bothell, Wash., averaged 19.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game to lead Seattle U to a trio of road wins. On Monday at California Baptist, the three-point specialist finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc, to help the Redhawks earn an overtime win in Riverside. He followed that up with 20 points on Thursday at Abilene Christian, making 6-of-13 shots, including a trio of three-pointers, and shooting 5-for-6 on free throws. His offensive prowess extended into the weekend, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-6 behind the three-point line, and 4-of-6 on free throws for 21 points in a win at Tarleton.
Pandža, a guard from Leeds, England, played a big role in the Redhawks' overtime win at California Baptist on Monday. In 33 minutes of play, he finished with eight points, seven rebounds, four steals and an assist. Following limited minutes at Abilene Christian, he scored four points with three rebounds and a block in Seattle U's 76-68 win at Tarleton on Saturday.
Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Airion Simmons returned to the lineup this week and was crucial in the Wildcats' win over California Baptist, finishing with 18 points and three steals in the 77-68 victory … Dixie State's Hunter Schofield averaged 22.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as the Trailblazers picked up home wins over Lamar and UT Rio Grande Valley … Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. became the Lopes' DI steals leader over the weekend in losses at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston … NM State's Teddy Allen put up 26 poing with seven rebounds, a pair of steals and a block as the Aggies got back on track with a 14-point win at Stephen F. Austin … Sam Houston's Savion Flagg averaged 17.5 points per game as the Bearkats earned home wins over NM State and Grand Canyon … UT Rio Grande Valley's Xavier Johnson posted a pair of 20-point scoring nights, averaging 21.5 points per game in road losses at Utah Valley and Dixie State … Utah Valley's Fardaws Aimaq once again recorded a pair of double doubles, averaging 14.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per game in home wins over UTRGV and Lamar.
Other freshman nominees included: Grand Canyon's Jalen Blackmon brought down a pair of rebounds and scored three points for the Lopes in a road loss at Stephen F. Austin on Thursday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Rayquan Taylor helped control the paint on Saturday at Dixie State, finishing with six rebounds and five blocks in a road loss.