Preston Medlin named WAC POW

Utah State’s Preston Medlin has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6.

Medlin, a junior guard from Carrollton, Texas (Hebron HS), led Utah State to a 3-0 record last week with wins over Texas State, Seattle U and Idaho. In Monday’s 81-57 win at Texas State, Medlin scored 21 points in netting a season-high five three-pointers on 5-of-10 shooting behind the arc as part of a 7-of-15 shooting effort, adding six rebounds. In Thursday’s 75-66 win over Seattle U, Medlin tallied 18 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including two threes and a 6-of-6 effort from the charity stripe. He also dished out five assists and recorded a season-high three steals against the Redhawks. In Saturday’s thrilling 82-75 overtime win against Idaho, Medlin drained a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to force the game into overtime, part of his game-high 22 points, including nine points in overtime. He ended the night against Idaho connecting on 5-of-14 shots from the field, including three makes from long range. He also hit 9-of-14 shots from the free throw line and collected seven rebounds, two steals and one assist. For Medlin, it marks the second time this year he has sent a contest into overtime as he hit the game-tying three at Santa Clara with 2.4 remaining. USU went on to win that game 80-78.

On the week, Medlin averaged 20.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 41.5 percent (17-of-41) from the field, 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from three-point range and 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Denver senior guard Chase Hallam averaged 10.0 points in three wins

* Idaho senior center Kyle Barone averaged 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds over two games

* Louisiana Tech freshman guard Alex Hamilton tallied a career-high 20 points in a win over New Mexico State

* New Mexico State senior forward Bandja Sy averaged 16.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in three games last week

* San Jose State senior guard James Kinney averaged 21.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in three games

* Seattle U freshman forward Deshaun Sunderhaus scored 23 points with 10 rebounds at Utah State.