Southern Utah forward Geoff Payne has been named this week's Summit League men's basketball Player of the Week for his performance in the Thunderbirds' two games last week.

Payne led the Thunderbirds in both scoring and rebounding in the team's two games, with 35 points and 15 rebounds in SUU's 71-62 loss at Oral Roberts and another 30 points and six boards in the team's 98-94 win at Centenary. He also led the team with six assists and four steals at Centenary.

For the week, Payne averaged 32.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and a half-block per game last week when he hit 22-of-29 field goal attempts (75.9 percent) and 21-of-25 free throws (84%).

Geoff's 35 points at ORU were personal and team season-highs as were his 15 rebounds vs. the Golden Eagles. The 13 field goals he hit at ORU are tied for the second-most in a game in The Summit League this season and the 15 rebounds are the third-most in the league this season.

Payne's 35 points at ORU were the most by a Thunderbird since Henry Uhegwu scored 35 against Oakland in February 2006. The 15 rebounds were the most since DeAngelo Newsom pulled down 16 against Idaho in December of 2004.

-- SUU --