MW Men
1. Mike Moser, F, So., UNLV - There was little Moser didn't do in the Rebels' 65-63 win over No. 13 San Diego State last Saturday, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four blocks. He then went for 22 points with eight rebounds in an overtime loss at TCU. He has posted a double-double in seven of his last 11 games.
2. Hank Thorns, G, Sr., TCU - Thorns, the Las Vegas native who on Saturday had 15 points and six assists in a 75-71 win over Colorado State, delivered the ultimate dagger on Tuesday, scoring a career-high 32 points in TCU's 102-97 overtime win over No. 11 UNLV. Thorns' 32 points matched the third-highest output by a MW player this season. His eight three-pointers equaled the second-highest single-game total by a TCU player, one shy of Michael Strickland's school record of nine set against Arkansas on Feb. 14, 1990.
3. Kendall Williams, G, So., New Mexico - As was the case a year ago, Williams seems to have saved his best for the stretch run. After finishing with a game-high 10 points and five assists in Saturday's grueling 48-38 win over Wyoming, Williams tied a career-high with 21 points on Wednesday as the visiting Lobos took sole possession of first place with 77-67 win over No. 13 San Diego State. Williams, who hit a career-high 5-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc against the Aztecs, is shooting 51.5 percent (17-of-33) from 3-point range in MW games.
4. Jamaal Franklin, G, So., San Diego State - Despite the Aztecs suffering consecutive losses for the first time in 80 games, Franklin recorded his eighth double-double of the season and ninth of his career with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's setback against New Mexico. Franklin, who finished in double-figure scoring for a career-high 13th straight time, has eight double-doubles in his last 12 games. Against the Lobos, he led the team in rebounding for the seventh straight game.
5. Wes Eikmeier, G, Jr., Colorado State - While the Rams can't seem to find their way home on the road, having lost eight straight away from Moby Arena, don't blame Eikmeier. After finishing with a game-high 26 points (5-of-6 from three-point range) in a loss at TCU on Saturday, Eikmeier posted a game-high 30 points in Wednesday's loss at Boise State. He is the league's leading scorer at 17.6 points per game.
6. Drew Gordon, F, Sr., New Mexico - While the Lobos were bombing away from three-point range with repeated success in Wednesday's win at No. 13 San Diego State, Gordon took care of things inside, finishing with 17 points and 17 rebounds, both season-highs against a MW opponent. It was Gordon's 12th double of the season and 25th of his career, 13 of which have come in MW play.
7. Craig Williams, F, Sr., TCU - Williams matched his entire season total for three-pointers by hitting 4-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc and finished with 20 points in Saturday's 75-71 win over Colorado State. In a game in which TCU matched its season high with 12 three-pointers, Williams went 7-of-11 from the field. He fouled out in Tuesday's overtime win against UNLV, but nonetheless contributed 10 points in 13 minutes.
8. Michael Lyons, G, Jr., Air Force - After going a combined 0-for-7 from beyond the arc in losses to New Mexico and Colorado State the previous week, Lyons regained his stroke against Boise State and Wyoming, connecting on 10-of-14 three-pointers. He shot 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the field overall in those two contests, finishing with 24 points each time. Lyons has topped the 20-point mark in three of his last five games.
9. Oscar Bellfield, G, Sr., UNLV - Bellfield, who finished with 15 points and six assists in Saturday's win over San Diego State, came back with 16 points and five assists in Tuesday's overtime loss at TCU. Ranked No. 2 all-time on the MW assist list, Bellfield needs 28 assists to pass career leader and former New Mexico standout Dairese Gary, who had 564 from 2007-11.
10. Dave Pilipovich, Interim Head Coach, Air Force - The Falcons have endured more than their share of struggles this season, and changing head coaches in mid-season only heightens the challenge. Nontheless, with Pilipovich directing just his second game, the Falcons overcame a 14-2 deficit at the outset to defeat host Wyoming 58-53 on Wednesday. The win was Air Force's first in Laramie since the 2007-08 season. The Cowboys had won 13 of 15 home games this season prior to the loss.
Honorary performer: Derrick Marks, G, Fr., Boise State - Marks only scored seven points in Wednesday's win over Colorado State, but any guy who goes coast-to-coast to hit a game-winning shot with .8 seconds left, particularly a freshman, should at least get a mention in the weekly top 10.
MW Women
1. Kim Mestdagh, G, Sr., Colorado State - Whatever struggles the MW Preseason Player of the Year may have endured in non-conference play, Mestdagh is playing her best basketball down the stretch. After finishing with 21 points, eight assists and two steals in the Rams' first victory over TCU in 13 years, Mestdagh had 18 points, five assists and four steals in a 67-58 win over Boise State, keeping CSU in contention for its first MW title since 2001-02.
2. Chelsea Hopkins, G, Jr., San Diego State - Hopkins kept the Aztecs atop the league standings, posting her third double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 assists and a team-high six rebounds in a 77-64 win over UNLV. Hopkins' 12 assists matched her career high and are three more than any other MW player in a league contest this season. She also had 12 points, contributed six of the team's nine assists and had two steals in a 57-44 win over New Mexico on Wednesday.
3. Kayla Woodward, F, Fr., Wyoming - Woodward continued to make a strong case for the MW's Freshman of the Year award, averaging 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in games against New Mexico and Air Force. Woodward had 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a three-point loss to New Mexico before posting a double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals in Wednesday's win over Air Force.
4. Lenita Sanford, F, Sr., UNLV - Slowed by a knee injury during a stretch in which the Lady Rebels endured a three-game losing streak, Sanford returned to form in Wednesday's 55-54 win over TCU. Finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two steals, she was instrumental in snapping the team's three-game skid, recording her sixth double-double and enabling the Lady Rebels to post their first season sweep of TCU.
5. Ashley Sickles, F, Jr., Wyoming - Sickles, who ranks among the top 10 players in the league in five statistical categories, posted her first career double-double in Wednesday's win over Air Force, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Sickles went 9-of-13 from the field, including a 6-of-6 performance from three-point range.
Mick McGrane has covered the Mountain West since the league's inception in 1999. He spent 12 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he served as the beat writer for San Diego State football and men's basketball. He currently represents the MW as a member of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McGrane serves as senior writer to the Mountain West, providing readers with exclusive, in-depth information about the Conference by highlighting its eight member institutions and contributing feature stories on student-athletes that participate in the league's 18 sponsored sports.
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