Hansen Named MWC Player of the Week
COLORADO SPRINGS -- BYU junior forward Travis Hansen has been named the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week after averaging a double-double last week in BYU's two games.
Hansen, from Orem, Utah (Utah Valley State College) averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds while BYU defeated San Francisco and lost in overtime at Pepperdine. The Cougar guard shot 48 percent from the field (13-of-27) and was perfect from the free throw line (14-of-14).
"Travis is very deserving," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said. "He had a special performance at Pepperdine. He just competed like a lion."
In the 84-70 win vs. San Francisco, Hansen scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds, had two assists, one block and one steal in 27 minutes. Against Pepperdine, he collected his team-leading third double-double of the year with 30 points and 17 rebounds in the 82-79 overtime loss. He went 10-of-19 from the floor and 10-of-10 from the line while adding two assists and one steal in 42 minutes. He set career highs during the game in points, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws made, free throw percentage, and minutes played. Hansen's 17 boards tops his previous high of 15 rebounds set earlier this year and are the most by a Cougar since Brett Applegate had 17 rebounds in December 1983.
This is Hansen's first player of the week honor of his career and the second awarded to a Cougar this season. BYU senior forward Eric Nielsen earned the honor on Dec. 24.
"It's an nice honor for me and the team," Hansen said. "I think it reflects how we have played as a team during the preseason. Obviously it would be a lot sweeter had we won the game at Pepperdine, but it is something to build upon entering our conference games. "
Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Players of the Week:
Nov. 19 -- Joel Gerlach (So., F), Air Force
Nov. 26 -- Ruben Douglas (Jr., G), New Mexico
Dec. 3 -- Tony Bland (Jr., G), San Diego State
Dec. 10 -- Al Faux (Sr., G), San Diego State
Dec. 17 -- Dalron Johnson (Jr., F), UNLV
Dec. 24 -- Eric Nielsen (Sr., F), BYU
Dec. 31 -- Marcus Banks (Jr., G), UNLV
Jan. 7 -- Travis Hansen (Jr., F), BYU.
