TicketSmarter WAC Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Stephen F. Austin's Gavin Kensmil has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and California Baptist's Taran Armstrong have been named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for February 28 through March 5.
Kensmil, a senior forward from Paramaribo, Suriname, put up two stellar performances to help the 'Jacks push their win streak to 10 games while clinching a share of the WAC regular season title. On Wednesday at NM State, he put up 15 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 73-71 win over the Aggies. On Saturday, he was 13-for-13 from the field and added seven free throws to go with nine rebounds in a 93-63 win at UT Rio Grande Valley.
Armstrong, a guard from Burnie, Tasmania, Australia, averaged 11.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in a home win over Chicago State and road game at Lamar. Against CSU, he put up 11 points with four rebounds while also dishing out eight assists in a 62-53 win. That was followed up by 11 points with five rebounds, seven assists and just one turnover in a 78-66 win at Lamar.
Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Mahki Morris put up back-to-back 18 points performances in home wins over Dixie State and Tarleton … California Baptist's Ty Rowell led the Lancers to a pair of wins, averaging 20.0 points in wins over Chicago State and Lamar … Chicago State's Brandon Betson scored an average of 27.5 points per game in the Cougars' west coast road trip, falling at both California Baptist and Seattle U … Grand Canyon's Holland Woods averaged 17.5 points per game as the Lopes earned home wins over Utah Valley and Dixie State … NM State's Johnny McCants helped the Aggies to their fourth regular season title in his time at NMSU, averaging 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in a home split against Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley … Sam Houston's Savion Flagg put up 18 points and brought down 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season in a 69-50 win over Tarleton … Seattle U's Riley Grigsby led Seattle U with 22 points, adding two rebounds, two steals and two blocks, in a WAC-clinching 74-66 win over Chicago State … UT Rio Grande Valley's Justin Johnson averaged 21.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as the Vaqueros clinched their tournament spot with a win at Lamar before falling at home to Stephen F. Austin.
Other freshman nominees included: Chicago State's Jahsean Corbett averaged 18.0 points per game on the road as the Cougars fought hard against California Baptist and Seattle U in the final two games of the regular season … Grand Canyon's Chance McMillian put up an averaged of 8.5 points per game as the Lopes earned wins over Utah Valley and Dixie State to clinch the fourth seed in the upcoming Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament.