DENVER – (Feb. 5) Junior center Aaron Menzies has been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4. This is his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Manchester, England, native posted his fourth consecutive double-double, and his 10th of the season, finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds, a career-high six blocks and three assists to lead Seattle U to a huge 55-54 win over Utah Valley in its only game last week. The 7-3 center shot 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line to lead the Redhawks in scoring and rebounding for the third straight game.
Menzies did most of his damage in the first half, going 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe for 14 points. He also swatted away four shots and pulled down six boards, four on the offensive end, as the Redhawks led by as many as 15 before taking a 36-24 lead into the break. His defensive presence in the second half continued to be key, including blocking his sixth shot just inside three minutes to play that would lead to a Morgan Means bucket. He added two huge defensive boards late as Seattle U clinched its 16th win of the season.
Other nominees included: Jarkel Joiner of CSU Bakersfield averaged 17.5 points on 61.9 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals ... Grand Canyon’s Keonta Vernon averaged 14.0 points on 73.3 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds as the Lopes went 2-0 on the week ... Broderick Robinson of Kansas City averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals on the week ... NM State’s Jemerrio Jones averaged 12.0 points, 18.0 rebounds 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in a pair of wins ... Nick Dixon of UT Rio Grande Valley averaged 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals as the Vaqueros went 1-1 on the week ... Utah Valley’s Brandon Randolph finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists in the loss to Seattle U.