November 24, 2009

Beitzel earns share of Big Sky Player of the Week honor

RELATED CLICKS:
 Devon Beitzel's bio | Devon Beitzel's season stats

OGDEN, Utah -- The Big Sky Conference has selected Northern Colorado guard Devon Beitzel and Sacramento State guard Sultan Toles-Bey as the Co-Big Sky Conference men's basketball Players of the Week.

Beitzel, a 6-foot-1, junior guard from Lafayette, Colo., was named the MVP of the Reggie Minton Air Force Classic last weekend after leading the undefeated Bears to wins over Texas Southern and Air Force. Beitzel averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds, three steals and 1.5 assists.

This is the first time Beitzel has earned the Big Sky Conference's weekly honor.

He scored 17 points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in Northern Colorado's 66-62 win over Texas Southern on Friday. On Saturday, he scored 26 points with four steals. Beitzel was 9-of-16 from the floor, and 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

Beitzel and the Bears are 5-0 for the first time since 1984. Northern Colorado had not beaten Air Force since 1957.

Toles-Bey, a 5-10 junior guard from Compton, Calif., helped Sacramento State sanp its 39-game road losing streak and beat a Pac-10 team for the first time since 1953. Toles-Bey scored 17 points with six rebounds, three assists and a steal in Saturday's 65-53 win over Oregon State.

With the Hornets trailing 50-58 with 2:41 to play, Toles-Bey responded with a driving layup to tie the game, and on the next possession, buried two free throws to put the Hornets on top for good. Toles-Bey was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the game.

Toles-Bey also scored 17 points in a 90-75 victory over Bethany.

OTHERS NOMINATED

  • Jeffrey Forbes, G, Eastern Washington: Averaged 17.5 points in two games.
  • Demetrius Monroe, G, Idaho State: Averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds in two games.
  • Brian Qvale, C, Montana: Averaged 13.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in two games.
  • Bobby Howard, F, Montana State: Averaged 17 points and 6.0 rebounds in two games.
  • Cameron Jones, G, Northern Arizona: Scored 23 points against Fresno State
  • Dominic Waters, G, Portland State: Scored 32 points in win over Cal Poly.