Akuel Kot and Brendan La Rose Claim RMAC Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fort Lewis’ Akuel Kot and Brendan La Rose are the Week 11 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.
Kot claims his third Offensive Player of the Week nod of the season after leading the No. 17 Skyhawks (18-2, 12-2 RMAC) to a pair of road victories last weekend. The forward registered a game-high 34 points while shooting 11-for-17 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line in Friday’s 93-87 win over No. 5/6 Colorado School of Mines. He then recorded 27 points, including the game-winning free throw with 1.5 seconds left in regulation, to boost Fort Lewis to a 77-76 win over Metropolitan State University of Denver on Saturday.
For the second time this season, La Rose claims RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after leading Fort Lewis to an unbeaten weekend. The senior registered five rebounds and three blocked shots in Friday’s 93-87 win over the Orediggers. He then claimed seven boards and four assists in Saturday's 77-76 win over the Roadrunners.
The Skyhawks are back in action at home this week with one game, a showdown against Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday, Feb. 3. Tipoff between the Skyhawks and ThunderWolves is set for 7:30 p.m. MT inside Whalen Gymnasium in Durango, Colo.
Offensive Player of the Week: Akuel Kot, Fort Lewis – Jr. – G – Amarillo, Texas
Kot had an impressive weekend guiding the No. 17 Skyhawks to the program’s first-ever win over a top-five opponent. The junior stamped 34 points on 64.7-percent shooting in a road win over the No. 5 Orediggers. For the weekend, the Amarillo, Texas, native, averaged 30.5 points on 67.7 percent shooting from the field. Kot currently leads the conference in points per game (24.9) and is third in the league in free-throw percentage (86.1).
Honorable Mention: Matthew Ragsdale, Black Hills State; Bryce Latimer, Chadron State; Blaise Threatt, Colorado Mesa; Riley Schroeder, Colorado School of Mines; Noble Robinson, CSU Pueblo; Tyrei Randall, MSU Denver; Brayden Carter, Regis; Trey Farrer, Westminster.
Defensive Player of the Week: Brendan La Rose, Fort Lewis– Sr. – C – Flacon, Colo.
La Rose led the defensive efforts for Fort Lewis last weekend pulling down 12 rebounds, 10 off the defensive glass, to go along with four blocks. The center recorded three blocks in Friday’s bout against the nationally-ranked Orediggers, marking his fourth game of the season with three or more blocks. La Rose currently ranks third in the RMAC in blocks per game with 1.1.
Honorable Mention: Sindou Cisse, Black Hills State; Isaiah Wyatt, Chadron State; Trevor Baskin, Colorado Mesa; Kai Barr, Colorado School of Mines; Tyrei Randall, MSU Denver; Eddy Egun, Regis; Donaval Avila, Westminster.
| Date |
Offensive Player of the Week |
Defensive Player of the Week |
| Week 1 – Nov. 15 |
Akuel Kot, FLC |
Mac Riniker, CMU |
| Week 2 – Nov. 21 |
Joel Scott, BHSU |
Jaeton Hackley, BHSU |
| Week 3 – Nov. 28 |
Akuel Kot, FLC |
William Becker, UCCS |
| Week 4 – Dec. 5 |
Joel Scott, BHSU |
Josh Robinson, CSC |
| Week 5 – Dec.12 |
Adam Moussa, BHSU |
Josh Robinson, CSC |
| Week 6 – Dec. 19 |
Dante Moses, NMHU |
Adam Krasovec, Mines |
| Week 7 – Jan. 2 |
Mac Stodart, UCCS |
Blaise Threatt, CMU |
| Week 8- Jan. 9 |
Jon’il Fugett, UCCS |
Brendan La Rose, FLC |
| Week 9- Jan. 15 |
Blaise Threatt, CMU |
Adam Thistlewood, Mines |
| Week 10- Jan. 23 |
Joel Scott, BHSU |
Trevor Baskin, CMU |
| Week 11- Jan. 30 |
Akuel Kot, FLC |
Brendan La Rose, FLC |