LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's Dedan Thomas Jr. was named the Mountain West Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday.
Thomas Jr., who was named the league's Preseason Freshman of the Year in October, led the Runnin' Rebels this past week against two tough opponents. UNLV was victorious over No. 8 Creighton (79-64) at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson on Wednesday and lost in double overtime on a buzzer beater to Saint Mary's (69-67) in Phoenix on Saturday.
Thomas Jr. averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 42% from the field and 67% on 3-pointers. He also made 12 of 16 free throws, turned the ball over just three times and recorded two steals.
In UNLV's first win over a top-10 team in almost four years and first in non-conference play in nine years, he scored 16 points with nine assists and didn't commit a turnover in almost 37 minutes of action. He was 7 of 15 from the field, including 2 of 3 on 3-pointers. He also added six rebounds and a steal in that contest, while turning in the second-best plus/minus on the team for the game at plus-14.
In UNLV's heartbreaking loss vs. Saint Mary's, he scored a career- and game-high 24 points. He was 6 of 16 from the field, 12 of 16 on free throws, and had two assists and a steal in a game-high 45 minutes of action. He made a driving layup with 10 seconds remaining to force overtime and then scored seven of UNLV's nine points in the first extra period.
This was the Runnin' Rebels' first Mountain West weekly accolade of the season.
NEXT FOR THE RUNNIN' REBELS: UNLV will be back at the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in a 23-day span to host Hofstra on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. UNLV's last game at home was vs. Akron on Nov. 28, before the venue hosted the National Finals Rodeo.
TICKETS: UNLV men's basketball tickets may be purchased online at
UNLVtickets.com, on the phone by calling 702-739-3267 or in person at the TMC Box Office.
