Jay DeMaestri scores hat-trick with 3rd weekly honor

QUEEN CREEK, AZ - Hawai‘i Hilo senior forward Jay DeMaestri (Mill Valley, CA/Tam) averaged a double-double over four games to claim the Pacific West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week award for the third time this season.

The honor was announced on Monday, Dec. 29, by the PacWest media office in Queen Creek, AZ, for games played from Dec. 15-21.

DeMaestri averaged 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game to lead the Vulcans to a 3-1 week. He led the PacWest in scoring and ranked second in rebounding. He also ranked fourth for the week in three-point shooting (46.4%) after making 13 of 28 attempts. DeMaestri finished the week ranked second in three-pointers made per game (3.25) and eighth in steals per game (1.75).

PacWest Men's Basketball Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll

Lucas Alves - BYU-Hawaii (Jr., F/C, 6-9, 230, Casa Branca, Brazil)...averaged 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in a 2-1 week for the Seasiders...ranked seventh in scoring and sixth in rebounding for the week in the PacWest...shot 60.7% from the field (7th)...made 17 of 28 field goal attempts...ranked ninth in the league in free throw shooting (84.6%) after making 11 of 13...hit five three pointers (1.67 per game) to rank ninth for the week...ranked second in shots blocked per game for the week (2.33).

Jason Curtis (photo) - Hawai‘i Pacific (Sr., G, 6-0, 175, Landover, MD/Du Val)...averaged 17.7 points, 2.67 steals and 5.00 assists per game for the Sea Warriors during a 2-1 week...ranked second in steals and assists per game for the week in the PacWest...ranked sixth in scoring.

Nick Howard - Dixie State (Jr., F/C, 6-6, 215, Sandy, UT/Jordan)...helped guide Dixie State to a 2-0 week with wins vs. Western Washington and Central Washington on Dec. 15 & 16...averaged 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7% (10 for 15) from the floor...ranked third in shooting, 12th in scoring and 13th in rebounding in the PacWest during the week.

Jeff Ingram - Hawai‘i Pacific (Jr., G, 6-4, 185, Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek)...averaged 18.0 points per game for the Sea Warriors in a 2-1 week...ranked fourth in the league in scoring for the week...averaged 3.00 three-pointers made per game (3rd in the PacWest)...shot 45% (9 for 20) from beyond the arc, good enough to rank fifth in the league for the week...ranked fourth in free throw shooting after making 9 of 10 (90%).

Bennie Murray - NDNU (Fr., G, 6-4, 160, Fairfield, CA/Will C. Wood)...scored 20 points in loss at Cal State Monterey Bay on Dec. 20...was lone game of the week for Argos...shot 57.1% from the field in the contest (8 for 14).

Ryan Sanchez - Dixie State (Sr., G, 6-4, 185, Ogden, UT/Fremont)...led Dixie State to a sweep of Western Washington and Central Washington on Dec. 15 & 16...averaged 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the week...ranked third in rebounding and ninth in scoring in the conference for the week...doled out 4.00 assists and recorded 2.00 steals per game...ranked fifth in assists per game and fourth in steals per contest for the week.

Deon Sharps (photo) - NDNU (Sr., C, 6-8, 240, Fairfield, CA/Armijo)...posted a double-double in loss at Cal State Monterey Bay on Dec. 20...was lone game of the week for Argos...shot 75% from the field (9 for 12)...scored 20 points and pulled down a dozen boards.

Joel Smith - Chaminade (Sr., G, 6-4, 210, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc)...ranked in the Top 10 in the PacWest for the week in scoring, rebounding, assist average, three-pointers made and three-point shooting...averaged 15.0 points (8th) and 8.0 rebounds per game (8th)...doled out 4.00 assists per game (5th) while making 3.00 three-pointers per contest (3rd)...connected on 9 of 25 three's (36%) to rank ninth for the week.

John Smith - Hawai‘i Hilo (Sr., G, 6-2, 165, Berkely, CA/Pinole Valley)...averaged 17.8 points per game over four contests...ranked fifth in scoring for the week in the PacWest...connected on 18 of 21 foul shots (85.7%) to rank sixth in the league in free throw shooting...drained nine three-pointers, averaging 2.25 per game (7th).

Mohamed Tangara (photo) - Chaminade (Sr., C, 6-8, 250, Bamako, Mali)...averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest for the Silverswords in a 2-1 week...ranked 14th in scoring and fourth in rebounding in the conference for the week...made 12 of 14 free throws (85.7%).