MCCAW NAMED MW PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore guard earns league honor for first time after averaging 20.8 points per game over four games last week
UNLV sophomore Patrick McCaw has been named the Mountain West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for games through Sunday, Nov. 29, the league announced Monday. This is the first MW weekly accolade for McCaw and also the Runnin’ Rebels’ first of the season.
McCaw, a 6-foot-7-inch guard from St. Louis, Mo., led the Runnin’ Rebels to a 3-1 record this past week, including a win over No. 13/14 Indiana at the Maui Invitational. He led the team in scoring with 83 points for an average of 20.8 per game. He also led the team in assists with 20 (5.0 apg) and steals with 15 (3.8 spg).
McCaw only turned the ball over seven times and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9, while collecting 14 rebounds for an average of 3.5 rpg. He shot 50.8 percent from the field for the week (32 of 63) and a team-high 41.9 percent from 3-point range (13 of 31). Additionally, he made six of his eight free-throw attempts for a percentage of 75.0.
In the first game of the week against UCLA in Maui, McCaw scored a game-high-tying 20 points. He also had four rebounds, three assists and two steals. In his second game against Chaminade, he scored a career-high 25 points (17 in the second half) on 11 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers. He had a team-high four assists, while also adding three steals and three rebounds.
In UNLV’s win over No. 13 Indiana on Wednesday, McCaw scored a game-high 20 points, which marked his fourth straight game with 20 or more. He was 7 of 15 from the floor and made all of his four three-throw attempts. He also dished out a team-high-tying six assists and turned the ball over just once. Additionally, he had a game-high five steals, which tied his career high, and he collected a couple of rebounds.
When the game against the Hoosiers could have turned in Indiana’s favor, Ike Nwamu made a 3-pointer and McCaw scored on a fast-break layup that extended the Runnin’ Rebels’ lead. McCaw then made two free throws before sinking a crucial corner 3-pointer to put UNLV up 67-54 with 4:07 to play.
In the week’s final game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, McCaw scored a game-high-tying 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 5 of 8 from behind the 3-point line (four made 3-pointers in the first half). He also dished out seven assists, had a career-high-tying five steals for the second straight game and recorded a season-high-tying five rebounds.
The Runnin’ Rebels (6-1) continue their non-conference schedule this Friday, Dec. 4, vs. No. 21/23 Oregon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The 8 p.m. game will be televised by ESPN2. Tickets may be purchased by clicking here or calling (866) 740-7711.