Nate Mason Named B1G Co-Player of the Week

After an amazing week against conference foes, where he showed he was and is the heart of the Gopher offense, Nate Mason was honored with co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

Per a University release:

Fresh off a record-breaking performance in the Minnesota men’s basketball team’s overtime win at Purdue, junior guard Nate Mason has been recognized as the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week.

It is Mason’s first such honor and the second weekly award for the Gophers this season. Mason was selected the conference freshman of the week on Dec. 22, 2014.

Mason averaged 24.5 points per game during the Gophers’ narrow overtime loss to Michigan State and overtime victory at the 15^th-ranked Boilermakers. On Tuesday in the conference opener, Mason led the team with 18 points, adding five rebounds and four assists.

Sunday evening in West Lafayette, Mason became the first Gopher to score more than 30 points and 10 assists in a single game, as he led all players with a career-high 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting. His 11 assists were one shy of his career high, which also came against Purdue on Jan. 27, 2016. Mason added six rebounds and two steals while turning the ball over just once.

The Decatur, Ga., native became the first Gopher to score 31 since Andre Hollins did so against Rutgers on Jan. 17, 2015. His 11-assist total ties for eighth highest in program history. Mason shared the award with Nebraska’s Glynn Watson.

Mason was unstoppable against Purdue and one of the main reasons the team was able to come away with a victory. The guard has show tremendous growth in his junior season and is providing much-needed stability in the backcourt. He leads the team in scoring, assists, 3P%, and minutes played.

Mason shared the honors with Nebraska’s Tai Webster.