MW Video Announcement | MW's All-Conference Awards Release
March 10, 2015
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV men's basketball guard Rashad Vaughn was selected as the Mountain West's Freshman of the Year as the league announced its all-conference awards on Tuesday.
In addition, Runnin' Rebel sophomore forward Christian Wood was named Second-Team All-MW, freshman forward Goodluck Okonoboh was named to the All-Defensive Team and Vaughn was Honorable Mention All-MW.
Vaughn is UNLV's sixth league Freshman of the Year and first since Anthony Bennett won the award in 2013. He started UNLV's first 11 MW contests before being sidelined for the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury. At the time of his injury, Vaughn was averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game, which led all MW freshmen. He also contributed 55 rebounds, 20 assists, 13 steals and four blocks in league play.
Vahghn scored in double figures in all 11 conference games in which he played, including four with 20 or more points and two 30-point outings. His season-high 31 points vs. Utah State on Jan. 24 matched the MW freshman class single-game record for most against a league opponent. Vaughn was averaging 33.4 minutes played per game before being injured.
Wood averaged 15.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg during league play, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and averaged 2.6 blocks per game. He was fifth in the league in scoring and second in rebounding and blocks.
Okonoboh set the MW's freshman blocked shots record for league play with 46, turning in an average of 2.7 bpg, which also led the league.
The league's 11 head coaches voted on the conference awards. UNLV has had at least three players honored by the league in each of the last six seasons.
The United States Basketball Writers Association also announced its all-district honors on Tuesday and Wood is on the 10-member squad from District VIII, which includes the states of Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Montana. The entire release may beviewed here.
The Runnin' Rebels are the No. 7 seed for this week's MW Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV will face No. 10 seed Nevada, Reno in the first round on Wednesday, March 11 at 2:30 p.m.
