BYU-Hawaii's Nathan Sims earns PacWest weekly award

QUEEN CREEK, AZ - BYU-Hawaii senior guard/forward Nathan Sims (Sky Valley, CA/Desert Hot Springs) posted a double-double vs. Hillsdale on Dec. 23 to claim the Pacific West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week.

The honor was announced on Monday, Dec. 29, by the PacWest Media Office in Queen Creek, AZ, for games played from Dec. 22-28. Only two games were played during the week by conference teams.

Sims reeled off 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Seasiders routed their opponents from Michigan. He shot 55.6% from the field after making 5 of 9 field goals, and he hit 5 of 8 free throw attempts. Sims also drained a three and recorded a steal.

PacWest Men's Basketball Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll

Lucas Alves (photo) - BYU-Hawaii (Jr., F/C, 6-9, 230, Casa Branca, Brazil)...scored 19 points and collected eight rebounds in BYU-Hawaii's lone game of the week - an 80-63 triumph over Hillsdale (MI)...finished the game 8 for 8 from the line...it was the lone contest of the week for the Seasiders.

Virgil Buensuceso - BYU-Hawaii (Jr., G, 5-9, 170, Eagle Rock, CA/Eagle Rock)...powered in 14 points while handing out four assists in 80-63 win over Hillsdale (MI) on Dec. 23...drained a trio of three-pointers, shooting 60% from beyond the arc (3 for 5)...shot 62.5% from the field (5 for 8).

Tsung-Hsien Chang - BYU-Hawaii (Fr., Yilan, Taiwan)...scored 14 points in 17-point win vs. Hillsdale (MI)...finished the game 5 for 6 from the foul line (83.3%)...contributed two steals, two assists and three rebounds.

Dalton Groskreutz - Dixie State (Fr., F, 6-6, 200, St. George, UT/Snow Canyon)...helped push Dixie State to a 78-62 victory over Academy of Art on Dec. 22 in its lone game of the week...scored eight points in the win...shot 60% (3 for 5) from the field...contributed two rebounds, three assists, two steals and a three.

Ben Hart man (photo) - Dixie State (Sr., G, 6-5, 205, Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon)...helped lead Dixie State to a 16-point victory over Academy of Art on Dec. 22 in its lone contest of the week...pitched in with six points, three rebounds and four assists...shot 75% (3 for 4) from the field.

Nick Howard - Dixie State (Jr., F/C, 6-6, 215, Sandy, UT/Jordan)...led Dixie State to a 78-62 victory over Academy of Art on Dec. 22 in its lone contest of the week...scored 11 points in the victory...shot 57.1% (4 for 7) from the field...made 3 of 5 free throw attempts (60%)...grabbed three rebounds.

Johnny Little - Dixie State (So., G, 6-2, 200, Murray, UT/Murray)...contributed nine points and four rebounds as Dixie State beat Academy of Art 78-62 on Dec. 22 in its lone contest of the week...shot 50% (3 for 6) from the field...made 2 of 3 three-point attempts (66.7%).

Andy Palmer - Dixie State (Jr., F, 6-5, 220, St. George, UT/Pine View)...led Dixie State to a 78-62 victory over Academy of Art on Dec. 22 in its lone contest of the week...scored a team-high 12 points in the victory...shot 50% (5 for 10) from the field...made 3 of 5 free throw attempts (60%)...finished off the double-double by collecting 11 rebounds.

Ryan Sanchez (photo) - Dixie State (Sr., G, 6-4, 185, Ogden, UT/Fremont)...scored eight points in a Dixie State 78-62 victory vs. Academy of Art on Dec. 22...it marked the lone contest of the week for the squad...contributed three steals, two rebounds, two assists and a three-pointer.

Marques Whippy - BYU-Hawaii (So., G, 6-5, 215, Bua, Fiji)...scored six points and snared four rebounds in 17-point win vs. Hillsdale (MI) on Dec. 23...shot 75% (3 for 4) from the field...contributed a steal and two assists as well in the victory.