SAN DIEGO – Following the best statistical game for a Division I men's college player in more than three years, San Diego State sophomore Jalen McDaniels earned the Mountain West Player of the Week honor for the second consecutive week and the third time of his career.
McDaniels becomes the ninth Aztec hoops player to earn the award at least three times and becomes the first SDSU player to earn the honor in consecutive weeks.
In a narrow four-point loss at Fresno State and a convincing 17-point win over UNLV, McDaniels averaged 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals, while connecting on 17-of-27 shots (63.0 percent) from the field, 2-of-4 (50.0 percent) from three-point range and 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line.
Against UNLV, McDaniels scored a career-high 30 points with 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals. He is the first Division I men's basketball player to post at least those numbers in all four categories since LSU's Ben Simmons did it on Dec. 2, 2015 (at the end of the season Simmons became the first overall selection in the NBA Draft).
McDaniels remarkable play extends outside of the past two weeks. He now has five consecutive double-doubles, joining Kawhi Leonard as the only Aztec players in the Mountain West era to post five straight double-doubles in a single season.
In his past eight games, McDaniels has averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He has made 65-of-115 field goal attempts over that span for a remarkable 56.5 percent. He is one of only two players in the nation who averages at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and has connected on at least 50 percent from the field over that span (since Dec. 29, 2018).
McDaniels and the Aztecs, winners of nine consecutive Mountain West home games, play host to Air Force on Wednesday evening at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. PT and tickets are available at GoAztecs.com.
Most San Diego State Mountain West Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honors: Brandon Heath 8, Kawhi Leonard 5, Jamaal Franklin 4, Malcolm Thomas 4, Aerick Sanders 4, Jalen McDaniels 3, Xavier Thames 3, Kyle Spain 3, Randy Holcomb 3.