Montana men’s basketball player Jamar Akoh has been named the Big Sky Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week. It is the first weekly honor for the junior forward, and the first for a Griz player this season.
In victories over North Dakota and Northern Colorado, Akoh averaged 28.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Against the Fighting Hawks, he had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds – both team highs – in addition to three assists and a steal. Two nights later, he scored 34 points, the most by a Grizzly in eight seasons.
The highlight of Akoh’s double-double vs. North Dakota came in the second half when he scored four points in a four-second span. He took advantage of a Griz steal for a breakaway dunk, before stealing the in-bounds pass and laying it in. Montana scored 109 points vs. North Dakota, its highest total against a Division-I opponent since 1992.
The Grizzlies trailed for just 1:52 vs. Northern Colorado, in large part due to Akoh’s strong start. He scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes, scoring 10 of the team’s first 18 points.
Akoh’s performance was impressive, but it’s been a consistent pattern over the last month. He’s scored in double figures in nine consecutive contests, averaging 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during that span. The Grizzlies have now won six of their last seven contests, including all four to begin Big Sky play. They’re also a perfect 7-0 at Dahlberg Arena.
Other Nominees: Jared Stutzman, Idaho State; Justin Strings, Sacramento State; Jerrick Harding, Weber State; Dwayne Morgan, Southern Utah; Victor Sanders, Idaho; Jonah Radebaugh, Northern Colorado; Deontae North, Portland State; Bogdan Bliznyuk, Eastern Washington; Tyler Hall, Montana State
2017-18 Big Sky Conference Players of the Week
Nov. 14 – Geno Crandall, North Dakota
Nov. 21 – Bryce Canda, Portland State
Nov. 28 – Deontae North, Portland State
Dec. 5 – Tyler Hall, Montana State
Dec. 12 – Holland Woods, Portland State
Dec. 19 – Bogdan Bliznyuk, Eastern Washington
Dec. 26 – Andre Spight, Northern Colorado
Jan. 2 – Justin Strings, Sacramento State
Jan. 8 – Jamar Akoh, Montana
