Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ Alijah Comithier and Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Laolu Oke are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.
 
Comithier earns Offensive Player of the Week for the first time this season after leading the Mountain Lions (12-6, 7-5 RMAC) to a perfect 3-0 week, averaging 20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. The sophomore notched 20-point performances in two of his three performances and shot an efficient 58-percent from the field on the week to help the Mountain Lions climb the standings and gain momentum in week 10. His offensive antics paved the way for a 103-65 win over Adams State Monday, a 67-64 win over MSU Denver on Friday and an 84-77 win over Colorado Christian on Saturday.
 
UCCS returns to the hardwood for two RMAC road matchups this week, beginning with a Tuesday showdown at New Mexico Highlands. Tipoff against the Cowboys is slated for 7 p.m. MT, inside NMHU’s John A. Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, N.M.
 
For the seventh time this season, Oke claims Defensive Player of the Week distinctions after leading the Roadrunners (13-4, 7-4 RMAC) to a 1-1 week, where he averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He opened the week with nine points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a narrow loss on the road to UCCS on Friday. The following day, he bounced back with 22 points and 14 rebounds while shooting an incredible 89-percent field-goal average against New Mexico Highlands.
 
MSU Denver is back in action with two home contests this week. Up first is a showdown against Chadron State Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m., inside Auraria Event Center.
 
Offensive Player of the Week: Alijah Comithier, UCCS – So. – G/F – Cibolo, Texas
Comithier and the Mountain Lions put together three wins last week at home, overpowering Adams State, MSU Denver and Colorado Christian. The sophomore paced UCCS in scoring with 20.3 points per game, including a double-double against the Roadrunners on Friday, where he exploded for 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-64 win. Comithier also shot 57.8 percent from the field through UCCS’ three games, highlighted by a 78.6-percent field goal average, 24 points and two steals against Colorado Christian on Saturday, which extended the Mountain Lions' win streak to three games.
 
Defensive Player of the Week: Laolu Oke, MSU Denver – So. – F – Aurora, Colo.
Oke had two more incredible outings for the Roadrunners over the weekend, where he rang up 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots. Oke began the weekend with nine points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal in a slim 67-64 loss at UCCS on Friday. He was the catalyst for MSU Denver Saturday, throwing down 22 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots to help his team erase a 14-point deficit in the final 13 minutes of regulation, sealing the 78-73 win at New Mexico Highlands.
 
In the final 1:18 against the Cowboys, Oke threw down a thunderous tie-breaking dunk, grabbed two defensive rebounds and made a pair of free throws to put the Roadrunners ahead for the remainder of the contest. He shot a ridiculous 8-of-9 from the field and nailed all six of his free throws against Highlands. Following the weekend, Oke is now averaging 14.3 points and 11.8 rebounds per game on the season.