Aaron Thompson (Los Angeles, Calif./Cerritos College) led Cal State Fullerton to one of the biggest wins in school history with a career-high 22 points against UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, earning him Big West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades.
Thompson, a 6-4 guard, played all but three minutes of Cal State Fullerton’s 68-65 double overtime victory over the Bruins in an nationally televised game on ESPN. The game was part of ESPN’s 24 consecutive hours of college hoops programming.
Thompson made 9 of 14 shots from the floor, including 2 of 5 from three-point range. He also sank both of his free throw attempts in the game. Thompson yanked down nine rebounds while adding three assists and two steals.
His performance allowed the Titans to deliver UCLA its first loss to an unranked non-conference opponent at home for the first time in five years - a span of 37 games.
The win also marked the first ever for Fullerton against UCLA in 10 tries.
Others nominated: Eugene Phelps (Long Beach State); Mark Payne (UC Davis); Michael Hunter (UC Irvine); Kyle Austin (UC Riverside); Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara); Sam Willard (Pacific)