GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Owen Koonce won the first RMAC Men's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week award of 2024 after continuing his remarkably efficient offensive season with four standout games.

Koonce averaged 19 points on 52 percent shooting over a four-game stretch which included the redshirt junior's career high of 27 points against Simon Fraser on December 19 and his second career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds against New Mexico Highlands last Saturday. Koonce shot 25-for-48 from the field and 18-for-19 from the free-throw line over the four games.

Koonce's win marks the first RMAC Offensive Player of the Week award for Colorado Mesa so far in the 2023-24 season. Mac Riniker has won two Defensive Player of the Week awards, on November 14 and December 4. It is also the first Player of the Week win in Koonce's career.

The redshirt junior has been one of the Mavericks' most efficient offensive players and has benefitted greatly from CMU's switch to a high-tempo, ball-movement focused scheme. Koonce is on a 50-40-90 shooting pace, currently firing at a 56.6 percent clip from the field and shooting 43.5 percent from three and 93.8 percent from the free-throw line. Koonce is also averaging 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

The No. 14/10 Mavericks are 11-2 with both losses to teams currently ranked in the top six nationally in the NABC Coaches Poll. The Mavs are a perfect 7-0 in the RMAC heading into two road games this weekend against Chadron State and Colorado Christian.