University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thomas Collects Fifth Big Sky Weekly Honor
1/23/2024 11:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Saint Thomas collected his fifth Big Sky Conference Player of the Week accolade of the 2023 campaign, league officials announced Tuesday.
His five weekly honors this season equals Dillon Jones of Weber State for the most by any player in the Big Sky Conference.
"Congratulations again to Saint on a well-deserved honor," head coach Steve Smiley said. "We are proud of how he is playing, and I do think this reflects our team winning, too. Saint is having an amazing individual season, but he's also impacting a winning team and his focus is always first and foremost on winning games."
The Omaha, Neb., native tallied 40 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and one block in the Bears' two wins last week.
He netted his eighth double-double in the Bears' 98-92 overtime victory at Montana (Jan. 11), with a career-high 37 points and 14 rebounds. He added four assists, three blocks and a steal.
Thomas finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a career-high four steals and a block in the 77-75 triumph over Sacramento State.
Against Portland State, he totaled 20 points, 13 boards, five assists and a steal in the 90-61 win. During the team's 28-0 run, Thomas scored 10 - all in the second half, when the rest of the team tallied 15 as the Bears opened the period with 25 straight points.
He averaged 45.2 percent (14-31) from the field, including 36.3 percent (4-11) from 3-point range. He connected on all eight free-throw attempts. His 20 points in each game are the ninth and 10th of the season with at least 20, including six straight.
UNC returns to action Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., when the Bears take on Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash., with first place at stake. The Eagles lead the Big Sky Conference at 5-0, while the Bears enter with a 4-1 record.
They return to the Bank of Colorado Arena Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m., when the Bears open a four-game homestand against Idaho State. Tickets for the contest are available at uncbears.com/tickets or The Bank of Colorado Ticket Office one hour before tip-off.
2023 Big Sky Conference Player of the Week Winners
Week One (Nov. 14) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Two (Nov. 21) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Three (Nov. 28) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Tyler Patterson (MSU)
Week Four (Dec. 5) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Money Williams (UM)
Week Five (Dec. 12) – Jake Kyman (EWU)
Week Six (Dec. 19) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Seven (Dec. 26) – Saint Thomas (UNC)
Week Eight (Jan. 2) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Nine (Jan. 9) – Dillion Jones (WSU)
Week 10 (Jan. 16) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Robert Ford III (MSU)
Week 11 (Jan. 23) – Saint Thomas (UNC)
His five weekly honors this season equals Dillon Jones of Weber State for the most by any player in the Big Sky Conference.
"Congratulations again to Saint on a well-deserved honor," head coach Steve Smiley said. "We are proud of how he is playing, and I do think this reflects our team winning, too. Saint is having an amazing individual season, but he's also impacting a winning team and his focus is always first and foremost on winning games."
The Omaha, Neb., native tallied 40 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and one block in the Bears' two wins last week.
He netted his eighth double-double in the Bears' 98-92 overtime victory at Montana (Jan. 11), with a career-high 37 points and 14 rebounds. He added four assists, three blocks and a steal.
Thomas finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a career-high four steals and a block in the 77-75 triumph over Sacramento State.
Against Portland State, he totaled 20 points, 13 boards, five assists and a steal in the 90-61 win. During the team's 28-0 run, Thomas scored 10 - all in the second half, when the rest of the team tallied 15 as the Bears opened the period with 25 straight points.
He averaged 45.2 percent (14-31) from the field, including 36.3 percent (4-11) from 3-point range. He connected on all eight free-throw attempts. His 20 points in each game are the ninth and 10th of the season with at least 20, including six straight.
UNC returns to action Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., when the Bears take on Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash., with first place at stake. The Eagles lead the Big Sky Conference at 5-0, while the Bears enter with a 4-1 record.
They return to the Bank of Colorado Arena Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m., when the Bears open a four-game homestand against Idaho State. Tickets for the contest are available at uncbears.com/tickets or The Bank of Colorado Ticket Office one hour before tip-off.
2023 Big Sky Conference Player of the Week Winners
Week One (Nov. 14) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Two (Nov. 21) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Three (Nov. 28) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Tyler Patterson (MSU)
Week Four (Dec. 5) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Money Williams (UM)
Week Five (Dec. 12) – Jake Kyman (EWU)
Week Six (Dec. 19) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Seven (Dec. 26) – Saint Thomas (UNC)
Week Eight (Jan. 2) – Dillon Jones (WSU)
Week Nine (Jan. 9) – Dillion Jones (WSU)
Week 10 (Jan. 16) – Saint Thomas (UNC) & Robert Ford III (MSU)
Week 11 (Jan. 23) – Saint Thomas (UNC)
Players Mentioned
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