After yet another stellar performance in his team's games, we have no choice but to bestow another player of the week honor to St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson for the third consecutive week ...
Player of the Week
Andrew Nicholson - Senior, St. Bonaventure
Andrew Nicholson had been on a tear for the third straight week helping his team to two much needed wins as the conference season winds down. In those games, he averaged 27.5 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 blocks in 33.5 minutes. He also shot 21-of-31 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from the three, and a near perfect 10-of-12 from the free throw stripe. His efforts have the Atlantic-10 Conference honoring him as player of the week for the third consecutive time and we will do the same.
In St. Bonaventure's 89-63 win over Fordham last Wednesday that included a 45 minutes game delay due to damaged basketball rim, Nicholson was incredible. He went for 30 points, 9 rebounds, an assist and a block in 31 minutes. He shot 10-of-14 from the field, hit two of his three trey balls and missed one of his nine foul shots helping lead his team to victory.
In the Bonnies next game three days later against Charlotte, Nicholson was equally impressive going for his sixth double-double of the season scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the 72-56 win. He also managed 3 assists and 2 blocks in 36 minutes of action while shooting 11-of-17 from the field, 1-of-2 from behind the arc and making 2 of his three free throws.
For the season, Nicholson is averaging 17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and an assist in 29.2 minutes. He's also shooting .582 from the floor, .344 from the three line and .770 from the stripe. He's the Bonnies leader in scoring, rebounding and blocks as well as field goal percentage. His averages also place Nicholson in the top ten in the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring (tied for 2nd), rebounding (4th), field goal percentage (4th), blocked shots (5th) and defensive rebounds (2nd with 5.6).
Honorable Mention: Harouna Mutombo, Western Carolina - 17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 11-of-27 FGs, 2-of-5 3PT FGs, 11-of-21 FTs vs. Samford and Appalachian State.
Rookie of the Week
Daniel Mullings - Freshman, New Mexico State
Daniel Mullings had a very, very good week for the Aggies. In New Mexico State's two wins over Hawaii and San Jose State at home, he averaged 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 3.5 steals in 33 minutes of action. He shot 14-of-20 from the floor and 10-of-15 from the line on his way to earning the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors making him our NC-Double-Eh Rookie of the Week.
In New Mexico State's 115-73 blowout home win against Hawaii on Thursday, Mullings had his first triple-double, and the first one the program has seen in about 20 years, going for a career high 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes. He also threw in 5 steals, an assists and a block for good measure while shooting 11-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the line.
In the Aggies next game against San Jose State two days later, Mullings went for 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 29 minutes in the 79-68 victory. He shot 3-of-5 from the field and 4-of-6 from the stripe.
For the season, Mullings is averaging 9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 26.8 minutes. He's shooting .505 from the floor and .629 from the line. He's currently tied for the team lead in assists and is currently ranked in the top ten in the Western Athletic Conference in steals (tied for 1st with teammate and Montreal native Hernst Laroche) and field goal percentage (10th).
Honorable Mention: Dylan Ennis, Rice - 16.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 13-of-20 FGs, 7-of-11 3PT FGs vs. Central Florida and Southern Mississippi.