Tommy Nixon, a fifth-year guard for the UBC T-birds, earned accolades as the best male player of the week in Western Canada and across the country for his career-high output on the road, which could stamp the end of UBC’s frustrating, underperforming first half of the season. Â
On Jan. 9, Nixon scored 36 points to lead the Thunderbirds to a 92-77 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Kitsilano secondary graduate went 11 for 13, secured a team-best 11 rebounds and added five assists. He led the team with 33 minutes, ad from the foul line, sunk 11 of 14 shots.
For the rematch the next night in Lethbridge, the six-foot-six kinesiology student took the reins again. This time Nixon led the T-birds with 21 points and nine rebounds in a 91-69 victory. He missed only one shot (9 of 10) and one free throw, going five for six and nine for 10, respectively. He also made three steals.
With the weekend performance, Nixon was named the CIS male athletes of the week for the period ending Jan. 11. Canada West also named him the week’s first star.
He moves to fifth in Canada West scoring with an average 19 points a game.
UBC (9-9) has won four straight Canada West regular season games and will host Brandon University at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 and 7 p.m. Jan. 17.
