SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference has named its Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for December 23, 2019.
#WCCHOOPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – COLBEY ROSS, JR., G – PEPPERDINE
Junior guard Colbey Ross scored 31 and 27 in the Waves' two games this week, averaging 29.0 points and making clutch baskets down the stretch in leading Pepperdine to two thrilling comeback victories.
Ross also averaged 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals. With several backcourt players injured or ill this week, he played all but 20 seconds in the two games (79:40 of 80:00).
In Tuesday's 77-71 win over Portland State, Ross scored 31 points (his second time this season scoring 30 or more, and the third time of his career). Twenty-two of his 31 came after halftime. Pepperdine trailed by seven with six minutes left but Ross had 11 points in a game-ending 18-4 run, including a three-pointer with 3:10 left that gave Pepperdine the lead for good, and a basket with 12 seconds left that clinched the victory.
In Saturday's 75-73 victory over Northern Arizona, Ross scored 27 points, with 16 coming in the second half. Pepperdine was once again down by seven with 3 1/2 minutes left but outscored NAU 11-2 the rest of the way. Ross scored the Waves' final nine points -- a three-pointer, then a floater in the lane to tie, then a contested jumper in the right corner to give the Waves a 73-71 lead with 52 seconds left. After NAU tied the game, Ross hit what turned out to be the game-winning free throws with 6.8 seconds left.
Ross, who became Pepperdine's all-time leader in assists on December 14, moved into the top 20 on Pepperdine's career scoring list against Northern Arizona.
Ross improved his scoring average from 18.7 to 20.3 points this week, and he also averages a WCC-best 7.2 assists.
Also Nominated: Yoeli Childs, BYU; Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga; Eli Scott, LMU; Jahlil Tripp, Pacific; Trey Wertz, Santa Clara
2019-20 #WCCHOOPS Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
December 23 – Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
December 16 – Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s
December 9 – Eli Scott, LMU
December 2 – TJ Haws, BYU
November 25 – Isaiah White, Portland
November 18 – Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
November 11 – Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s