Nov. 22, 2004
New Mexico guard Mark Walters was named Mountain West Conference Men’s
Basketball Player of the Week, marking his first career award. A 6-2 junior from Albuquerque, N.M., Walters was instrumental in the Lobos’ 4-0 start on the year.
After returning from an injury-plagued sophomore campaign to win back a starting role, Walters shot .714 (20-of-28) from the field and .500 (7-of-14) from the three-point line in four games this season. After scoring four points in 24 minutes in the season opener vs. North Carolina A&T, Walters erupted for 19 points in each of the next two games (vs. Santa Clara and Duquesne), hitting 14-of-20 field goals and 7-of-12 treys. His four treys vs. Santa Clara were part of a school record 20 made three-pointers for the Lobos on the night. In a win vs. Western New Mexico, he drained 4-of-5 field goals for eight points in just 12 minutes of action.
For the week, Walters averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. He committed just two turnovers in 85 minutes played over the four contests and has a 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.