NMSU Hoops: Baker Named Player of Week

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State guard Ian Baker was named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after his outstanding play and heroic performance last week.

The 6-0 junior from Washington D.C. picked up his first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor. He averaged 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as the Aggies picked up a pair of road wins, including a double overtime victory at CSU Bakersfield, a team that was previously unbeaten in WAC play and hadn’t lost at home since Feb. 7, 2015.

It was Baker’s 28-foot 3-pointer as the horn sounded in the second overtime that gave the Aggies the 68-67 victory before a sold out crowd at the Icardo Center. Baker posted his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with six assists in the victory.

He opened the week with 15 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line, to go with two rebounds and two assists in a win at Seattle U.

Baker leads the WAC and is 32nd nationally from the free throw line at 87.1 percent (61-of-70). Ian went 11-of-11 for the week. He has made 13 straight free throws and 24 of his last 25 attempts at the line.

Baker joins teammate Pascal Siakam as Aggie winners of the WAC Player of the Week this season. Siakam has won the award four times this season.