Nelly Junior Joseph Named Mountain West Player of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico’s Nelly Junior Joseph was named Mountain West Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. Joseph was honored after posting a pair of double-doubles in the Lobos’ victories over Fresno State and Nevada.

Joseph’s honor is his second of the season, having also been honored on Nov. 11 after the opening week of the season. He becomes the first Lobo to win multiple Mountain West Player of the Week awards in a season since 2019-20, when JaQuan Lyle was honored twice. It is Joseph’s ninth career conference player of the week honor, as he was a seven-time MAAC Player of the Week selection over his three seasons at Iona.

Over the two victories, Joseph averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, while shooting 11-14 (78.6%) from the floor and 10-13 (76.9%) from the line. His play helped the Lobos improve to 4-0 in conference play, tying the program’s best start to a Mountain West season.

Joseph’s week was highlighted by his game-winning 15-foot jumper as time expired in overtime against Nevada, giving the Lobos an 82-81 victory in the 1,000th game in The Pit. His buzzer-beater, UNM’s first game-winning shot as time expired since 1998-99, capped a 20-point, 10-rebound effort against the Wolf Pack. That performance followed a 12-point, 12-rebound effort in the New Year’s Eve victory at Fresno State.

The Lobos (12-3, 4-0 MW) will visit Wyoming on Tuesday (8:00 pm, CBS Sports Network) before returning home to host San Diego State on Saturday. The game against the Aztecs will air on CBS and tip-off at 11:00 am.