Sophomore Aaron Parks (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) helped CSUN secure a spot in the upcoming conference tournament with averages of 20.5 points and 5.5 assists in a pair of crucial home wins, earning him Big West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades.
In defeating UC Riverside, 83-76, on Saturday night, the Matadors wrapped up the eighth and final seed for the Big West Tournament. Parks was vital in that effort, as he contributed a career-high 29 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added six assists.
However, the majority of his scoring resulted from a continuous parade to the free throw line. Parks set school records for most free throws made (19) and attempted (23) in a game, breaking the previous marks of 16 makes and 19 attempts set some 50 years ago.
The 19-of-23 effort from the charity stripe also established Big West single-game records for makes and attempts. UC Irvine’s Johnny Rogers held the previous record of 18 makes against UNLV on Feb. 15, 1986. Hawaii’s Christian Standhardinger and Cal State Fullerton’s Leon Wood were the previous record holders with 22 attempts.
Parks also delivered in CSUN’s 82-72 victory over Cal State Fullerton with 12 points, five assists and two rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench.
Others nominated: Josh Ritchart (UC Davis); Will Davis II (UC Irvine); Taylor Johns (UC Riverside); Alan Williams (UC Santa Barbara); Negus Webster-Chan (Hawai‘i)