Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fort Lewis’ Akuel Kot and University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ William Becker are the week three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.
 
Kot earns his second Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season after leading the Skyhawks (6-0) to an unbeaten weekend at the ASU Thanksgiving Classic in Alamosa, Colo. The junior guard combined for 60 points while averaging 30 points per game. Kot dropped 34 points while shooting six-for-nine from beyond the arc and 11-for-15 from the field in a 99-85 win over Southeast Oklahoma State on Friday. On Saturday, Kot recorded 26 points, three steals and one assist in the Skyhawks’ 120-78 win over Navajo Tech.
 
The Skyhawks will start conference play on the road in Alamosa, Colo., on Thursday, Dec. 1, against Adams State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT inside Plachy Hall and will be broadcast on the RMAC Network.
 
Becker claims Defensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Mountain Lions (6-1)  to a 2-1 record in the Big Island Holiday Classic and the Hoops in Hawaii Classic last week. In Wednesday’s win over Hawaii at Hilo, Becker recorded his first double-double of the season posting 20 points and 11 rebounds. On Friday, Becker recorded 11 boards in the Mountain Lions’ only loss of the 2022-23 season. Becker continued to lead the UCCS defense with 10 rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in Saturday’s ##-## win over Hawaii Pacific.
 
The Mountain Lions will head to Rapid City, S.D., to begin conference play against South Dakota Mines on Friday, Dec. 2. The game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. inside the Hardrockers’ King Center and will be broadcast on the RMAC Network.
 
Offensive Player of the Week: Akuel Kot, Fort Lewis – Jr. – G – Amarillo, Texas
Kot had another phenomenal week averaging a point per minute across both games to lead Fort Lewis to an undefeated 6-0 start. Against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Kot scored 36 points on an 11-for-15 clip from the field, 6-for-9 shooting from the three-point line, and 6-for-7 at the free-throw line. Kot also supplied three assists, two rebounds, two blocks, and a steal against the Southeastern Oklahoma State. In Saturday’s matchup, Kot played just 26 minutes, scoring a point per minute while shooting 9-for-15 from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.  
 
Honorable Mention: Sava Dukic, Black Hills State; Isaiah Wyatt, Chadron State; Jason Gallant, Colorado Christian; Blaise Threatt, Colorado Mesa; Brendan Sullivan, Colorado School of Mines; Caleb McGill, MSU Denver; Beni Fungula, UCCS; Robel Desta, Western Colorado.
 
Defensive Player of the Week: William Becker, UCCS – R-Jr. – F – Aurora, Colo.  
Becker played a big role in the Mountain Lions' 2-1 record in Hawaii last week as the forward generated 10.7 rebounds, 10.0 points, 1.3 steals and one block per game. Becker recorded double-digit rebounds in all three contests for UCCS and now ranks second in the RMAC in rebounds per game (9.9) this season. Becker currently leads the conference in field goal percentage (.727) after shooting 66.7 percent last week.
 
Honorable Mention: Adam Moussa, Black Hills State; Josh Robinson, Chadron State; Christian Bento, Colorado Christian; Trevor Baskin, Colorado Mesa; Adam Thistlewood, Colorado School of Mines; Sekou Dembele, Fort Lewis; Tyrei Randell, MSU Denver; Robel Desta, Western Colorado.