Hall Named Co-Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week

BILLINGS, Mont. –   Montana State Billings men’s basketball senior guard, Michael Hall, was named Co-Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.  It was Hall’s second Player of the Week honor this season.  Hall and Central Washington’s Matt Penoncello share the weekly honor.

Hall averaged 31.5 points this past week in two GNAC victories.  Hall scored a team-high 27 points in a 93-81 victory over Western Oregon Thursday, snapping a string of 14 consecutive conference losses dating back to last season.  He was 9 of 19 from the field, 3 of 10 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.  He had five rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals.

Hall followed that performance with a season-high 36 points in a thrilling 118-112 double-overtime victory over Alaska Fairbanks Saturday.  With the victory, the Yellowjackets won their second consecutive conference game for the first time since MSUB joined the GNAC last season.  Hall was a season-high 11 of 23 from the field, 7 of 15 from downtown and 7 of 9 from the line against the Nanooks. 

The Yellowjackets battled off two Nanoooks who knocked down eight three-pointers each and 71 points from Emmanuel Jenkins and Jon Moe combined.  Hall scored 27 points in the second half and both overtimes to help propel the Yellowjackets to the victory.

For the week, Hall was a team-best 20 of 42 from the field for 48 percent.  He was 10 of 25 from downtown for 40 percent and 13 of 17 from the charity stripe for 77 percent.  Hall had seven rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals.  He averaged 31.5 points for the week in 76 minutes of action.

Hall earned his first GNAC Player of the Week honor after he scored a game-high 24 points at No. 10 Gonzaga (Division I) Nov. 15 in both teams’ season opener.  

Penoncello helped the Wildcats to two victories over Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin’s.  He scored 60 points on the week, including a career-high 36 against Saint Martin’s. 

Central Washington and MSUB meet Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium as both GNAC Player of the Week honorees will square-off.