TicketSmarter WAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Abilene Christian's Airion Simmons has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and UT Rio Grande Valley's RayQuan Taylor have been named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for January 31 through February 6.
Simmons, a junior forward from Little Rock, Ark., helped the Wildcats to a 2-0 week with wins over Chicago State and UT Rio Grande Valley. Against the Cougars, he was 4-for-6 for 10 points, adding three assists, three steals and a block. His breakout game was on Saturday, going off for 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting and adding 14 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks in the 83-66 win over UTRGV.
Taylor, a forward from Montgomery, Ala., averaged 7.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as the Vaqueros earned a home win against Lamar before falling on the road at Abilene Christian. Despite the loss at ACU, Taylor had a career game, finishing with 12 points, 15 rebounds, an assist and a pair of blocks.
Other nominees included: California Baptist's Daniel Akin earned a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in Thursday's 68-57 loss at NM State … Chicago State's Brandon Betson averaged 19.0 points per game as the Cougars lost a pair of nail-biters on the road at Abilene Christian and Tarleton … Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. scored a career-high 26 points in Thursday's 78-66 win over Seattle U … Lamar's C.J. Roberts scored 26 points with four assists and four steals in the Cardinals' 93-79 loss at UTRGV … NM State's Teddy Allen averaged 27.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as the Aggies moved to the top of the WAC standings with wins over California Baptist and Seattle U … Stephen F. Austin's Gavin Kensmil put up 13.5 points per game to help the 'Jacks pick up wins over Utah Valley and Dixie State … UT Rio Grande Valley's Marek Nelson posted his first-career double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 93-79 win over Lamar … Utah Valley's Fardaws Aimaq recorded a pair of double-doubles in a road split at SFA and Sam Houston, averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Taran Armstrong averaged 7.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game as the Lancers dropped a pair of road games at NM State and Grand Canyon … Chicago State's Bryce Johnson scored 16 points in the Cougars' 77-73 loss at Abilene Christian on Wednesday.