Jan. 29, 2007
LAS VEGAS - UNLV sophomore Wink Adams was named the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week, marking his first career weekly honor and the second for a UNLV player this year. BYU sophomore Trent Plaisted was the other player honored this week.
Adams, a 6-0 guard from Houston, Texas, led the Runnin' Rebels to home wins over San Diego State (68-61) and New Mexico (76-72 OT) last week.
Without seniors Kevin Kruger and Wendell White in the lineup, Adams scored a game-high tying 20 points vs. the Aztecs, while also collecting four rebounds and three assists. After being held scoreless in the first half, Adams led the Rebels to victory scoring all 20 of his points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-for-8 from 3-point range) in the second half.
Adams followed with a game-best and career-high tying 27 points against the Lobos. With 3.1 seconds left in overtime and the game tied at 72, Adams hit two free throws to put UNLV up two, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled. He hit two more free throws to bring home the win for the Runnin' Rebels. He made five 3-pointers in the game.
For the week, Adams averaged 23.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range (9-for-21) and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe (14-for-18).
The other UNLV player to win the MWC Player of the Week award this year is senior Wendell White, who was recognized on Dec. 11.
UNLV has cracked the top 25 for the first time since 1993 as the Runnin' Rebels are tied for 25th in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
The Runnin' Rebels next play at Colorado State on Tuesday. The game will be played at 7 p.m. MST/6 p.m. PST and will be televised live on the mtn. (Cox Digital 334 in Las Vegas).
