Trent Plaisted received his third MWC Player of the Week award this season. He was previously honored on Nov. 26 and Dec. 10. (Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)

BYU's Trent Plaisted and New Mexico's J.R. Giddens Named MWC Men's Basketball Co-Players of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS -- BYU junior forward/center Trent Plaisted and New Mexico senior guard J.R. Giddens have been named the Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Co-Players of the Week. This is the fourth weekly award of the season for Giddens and the third for Plaisted.

Plaisted, from San Antonio, Texas, recorded back-to-back 20-point games last week to lead first-place BYU to a road win at Colorado State (79-65) and a home victory over UNLV (74-48). He went a perfect 9-for-9 from the field while totaling 21 points in the Cougar win over Colorado State. Plaisted added five rebounds and one steal in his 22 minutes on the court.

The 6-foot-11 junior followed with a game-high 22 points vs. UNLV. He made 8-of-17 field goals and went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe while adding seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Plaisted scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, connecting on 6-of-10 attempts to help BYU maintain its conference lead.

For the week, Plaisted averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists per game. He shot 65.4 percent (17-for-26) from the field and 60.0 (9-for-15) percent from the free throw line.

Giddens, an Oklahoma City, Okla., native, helped the Lobos to league wins at San Diego State (73-63) and at home against TCU (64-48) last week. He averaged 23.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game, converting 17-of-26 field goals (65.4 percent) and 4-of-5 attempts from three-point range.

At San Diego State, Giddens notched his second straight double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 7-for-8 from the floor, including a season-high three three-pointers, while adding four assists, two steals and a career-high four blocked shots. Against TCU, Giddens had game-highs of 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists. He also contributed two steals and a blocked shot.

MWC Men's Basketball Players of the Week:
Nov. 12    Tim Anderson, Sr., G, Air Force
           Kyle Spain, Jr., F, San Diego State 
Nov. 19    Stuart Creason, Sr., C, Colorado State
           J.R. Giddens, Sr., G, New Mexico
Nov. 26    Trent Plaisted, Jr., F/C, BYU
Dec. 3     Brandon Ewing, Jr., G, Wyoming
Dec. 10    Trent Plaisted, Jr., F/C, BYU
Dec. 17    Lee Cummard, Jr., G, BYU
Dec. 24    Kevin Langford, Jr., F, TCU
Dec. 31    Billy White, Fr., F, San Diego State
           Wink Adams, Jr., G, UNLV
Jan. 7     J.R. Giddens, Sr., G, New Mexico
Jan. 14    Tim Anderson, Sr., G, Air Force
Jan. 21    Lorrenzo Wade, Jr., F, San Diego State
Jan. 28    Johnnie Bryant, Sr., G, Utah
Feb. 4     Lee Cummard, Jr., G, BYU
           Wink Adams, Jr., G, UNLV
Feb. 11    J.R. Giddens, Sr., G, New Mexico
           Johnnie Bryant, Sr., G, Utah
Feb. 18    Trent Plaisted, Jr., F/C, BYU
           J.R. Giddens, Sr., G, New Mexico