Clavell, Eustachy named tops in Mountain West by media, coaches

Mountain West media members and coaches named Gian Clavell the conference Player of the Year and Larry Eustachy the Coach of the Year.

Clavell missed the first nine games of the season before coming off the bench to make his 2016-17 debut against Northern Colorado. The senior guard torched Mountain West defenses with regularity, averaging a league-leading 21 points to go with seven rebounds.

The CSU standout led the team in scoring in 11 of 18 conference games, including a pair of 30-point performances. Clavell, who now joins Mike Mitchell as the lone Rams to be recognized as conference Player of the Year, recorded a career-high 37 points and scored the winning basket in a Jan. 28 matchup at San Diego State.

Eustachy, meanwhile, worked magic in conference play given the circumstances. The five-year CSU coach had just seven scholarship players available beginning Jan. 17 when Che Bob, Devocio Butler and Kimani Jackson were declared academically ineligible for the spring semester.

After getting blown out at Fresno State, CSU went on a tear, winning 10 of 11 games. The Rams had a chance to win their first regular season conference title since 1989-90, but lost to the season’s conference champion Nevada Saturday night.

Eustachy, who now has six Coach of the Year honors, added a few personal milestones this season with his 500th career win and 100th victory with the Rams. He guided a CSU team that tied a school record with 13 conference wins in a single season.

Clavell and Eustachy weren’t the only Rams recognized, though. Senior forward Emmanuel Omogbo joined Clavell on the first-team all-conference group and All-Defensive team. Omogbo averaged a double-double in league play while also tallying 16 points a game.

Omogbo’s 13 double-doubles this season in conference play are the most in Mountain West history, while his 18 total double-doubles on the year tie the school record for a single season. Media members also gave votes to Omogbo for Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

It’s the first time ever that CSU put two players on the first-team all-conference team in the same season.

The pair of Rams were joined by Nevada’s duo of Marcus Marshall and Cameron Oliver plus San Jose State’s Brandon Clarke.

Sophomore guard Prentiss Nixon, who hit the game-winning 3 against Wyoming just five days ago, was named an honorable mention selection by the media.

The No. 2 seed Rams will take on the winner of Wyoming/Air Force Thursday from the Thomas & Mack Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.