March 1, 2004

ALBUQUERQUE - UNLV men's basketball junior point guard Jerel Blassingame was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

Blassingame averaged 20.0 points and 9.5 assists per game, while shooting 48.4 percent (15-of-31) from the field and committing just four turnovers last week to earn the award.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native recorded his second double-double of the year with 12 points and a career-high 13 assists as the Runnin' Rebels defeated Wyoming, 95-80 last Monday. Blassingame only turned the ball over twice against the Cowboys.

In Saturday's two-point loss at Air Force (72-70), Blassingame scored a career-high 28 points on 10-of-18 field goals. He was 1-of-2 from three-point range and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. He also had a game-high six assists with only two turnovers.

This is UNLV's second player of the week award of the season and first of Blassingame's career.