Nov. 27, 2006
New Mexico junior J.R. Giddens was named the Mountain West Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, marking his first MWC career award. A 6-5 guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., Giddens recorded his second career double-double with 21 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in a 78-54 victory over Kansas State. He was 6-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free throw line while playing all but two minutes. The junior’s 12 boards, all of which came on the defensive end, topped his previous high of 10 rebounds, set in 2003 during his freshman season at Kansas. Giddens also turned in a solid defensive performance against David Hoskins, holding the Wildcats’ top scorer to just two points, well under his season average of 18.