Dec. 31, 2007

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior Wink Adams was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Monday, marking his second career weekly honor and first of the season for a UNLV player. Adams shared this week's award with San Diego State freshman forward Billy White.

Adams, a 6-foot guard from Houston, Texas, led UNLV to a perfect 3-0 mark and its second-consecutive Duel in the Desert tournament title last week. He was named the tournament's most valuable player after leading the Runnin' Rebels in points per game (15.3), free-throw percentage (93.8, 15-for-16 overall), assists (14, 4.7 apg) and steals (seven, 2.3 spg).

Adams began the tournament with a 13-point, five-assist, five-steal performance in 21 minutes of action in a 78-55 win over Kennesaw State. He followed with another 13-point outing (team-high) vs. Nicholls State (W, 64-42), shooting 5-for-11 from the field and collecting five rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes of action.

Adams concluded the tourney scoring a game-high and season-best tying 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range against Minnesota (W, 81-64), which entered the game with a 10-1 mark on the season. He was 8-of-9 from the charity stripe and also had seven assists, five rebounds and no turnovers in 32 minutes of action as UNLV defeated the Gophers to win the tournament.

UNLV, which has won four games in a row and seven of its last eight, concluded its non-conference season with an 11-3 record on Sunday. The Runnin' Rebels will be back in action this Saturday, Jan. 5 as they open MWC play on the road at Colorado State. The game will be shown live on The Mtn., starting at 2 p.m. PST.