FARMINGTON, Utah (December 21, 2020) – Eastern Washington junior forward Tanner Groves averaged a double-double while shooting nearly 70 percent from the floor on the road last week to be named the Big Sky Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
Groves averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds per game at Saint Mary’s and Northern Arizona last week. He connected on 16 of his 23 attempts for a 69.6 shooting clip while firing 11-of-13 from the free-throw line for 85 percent. He also averaged 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks on the week.
On Tuesday, Groves and the Eagles fell just short of an upset win over a 7-1 Saint Mary’s squad that is ranked No. 4 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
The Spokane, Wash., native matched a career-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting while adding seven rebounds and two blocks in an 80-75 loss to the Gaels. EWU led for 28 ½ minutes in the contest.
Groves tallied a career-best 26 points and matched a career high of 13 boards in an 80-64 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday in the conference opener. The double-double performance was the fourth of his career, knocking down nine of his 13 shots and 8-of-9 free throws.
He currently leads the Big Sky with 9.8 rebounds per game and ranks in the top five in blocks per game (1.3) and field goal percentage (.552).
Other Nominees: Cameron Shelton, Northern Arizona; Robert Ford III, Idaho State; Tevian Jones, Southern Utah; Josh Bannan, Montana; Zahir Porter, Weber State; James Scott, Portland State; Bodie Hume, Northern Colorado
Previous Big Sky men’s Players of the Week
Dec. 14 – Tevian Jones, Southern Utah
Dec. 7 – Maizen Fausett, Southern Utah
Nov. 30 – Xavier Bishop, Montana State
