UNC player named Big Sky Conference player of the week for fourth time

Thomas is co-player of the week for 3rd time; shares honor with Montana State’s Robert Ford III

The University of Northern Colorado’s Saint Thomas was named Big Sky Conference men’s basketball player of the week for the fourth time this season Tuesday, and it’s the third time in 10 weeks the Bears forward has shared the award with another player.

Thomas and Montana State guard Robert Ford III were named co-players of the week for the 10th week of the season, the Big Sky Conference office announced in a news release.

Thomas averaged 32 points and 11 rebounds in two games last week — including scoring 27 points in a 90-81 loss Jan. 13 at Montana State. Thomas scored a career-high 37 points in a 98-92 overtime win Jan. 11 at Montana.

Thomas, a 6-foot-7 junior from Omaha, Nebraska, is a first-year player at UNC after transferring from Loyola Chicago.

Ford III scored 14 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had four steals and three assists in Saturday’s win over UNC. He scored 15 points, and he collected 12 rebounds with four assists and three steals in the Bobcats’ win Jan. 11 win over Northern Arizona.

He ranks sixth in steals in men’s Division I this season with 49 for an average of 2.88 per game.

Ford was named Big Sky player of the week for the first time this season. This is the second time a Montana State player was selected. Bobcats guard Tyler Patterson shared the honor with Thomas on Nov. 28.

Weber State forward Dillion Jones has been named men’s player of the week five times this season, which are the most of any player in the Big Sky. Jones has never shared the weekly award.

Thomas, in addition to sharing the award with Montana State’s Patterson and Ford III, was co-player of the week Dec. 4 with Montana’s Money Williams. Thomas earned the award solo after week seven on Dec. 26.

Jones won the award the past two weeks.

Thomas is averaging teambest 19.9 points and 9.6 rebounds. Jones is averaging 19.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Northern Colorado (2-1 in the Big Sky and 9-7 overall) plays two games at home this weekend. The Bears host Sacramento State at 6 p.m. Thursday and Portland at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena.