Greg Smith is the WAC POW

Fresno State’s Greg Smith has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 31–Feb. 6. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Smith.

Smith, a sophomore center from Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS), led Fresno State to a home sweep over New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech last week. The wins snapped a six-game WAC losing streak for the Bulldogs.

Against New Mexico State, Smith didn’t miss a shot, making all seven field goal attempts and each of his free throws for 17 points. He also added seven rebounds in just 22 minutes of action as the Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 88-83 in overtime.

On Saturday, Smith led the Bulldogs from a 12-point halftime deficit against LA Tech in a 72-64 victory. He scored a team-high 18 points and had seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal in a career-high 37 minutes of action. Smith was 4-for-8 from the floor and 10-for-13 from the line. His 10 free throws also marked a career high.

On the week, Smith averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the field and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Boise State senior forward Daequon Montreal
* Hawai‘i sophomore center Vander Joaquim
* Idaho senior forward Brandon Wiley
* Nevada junior forward Dario Hunt
* New Mexico State junior forward Troy Gillenwater
* Utah State junior guard Brockeith Pane