Jan. 6, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Geoff Payne of Westminster (Utah) College has been selected as the NAIA Men’s Basketball Division I Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 29 – Jan. 4.
Payne, a 6-7 senior forward from Sandy, Utah, posted four games of double-figure scoring and hit for two double-doubles during a 4-0 week. The two-time Frontier Conference Player of the Week started off with 11 points and four rebounds in just 24 minutes of action in a 78-49 win over No. 17 Concordia (Neb.). Then, he went for 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks while shooting 8-for-11 (.727) against Dana (Neb.). Against two NCAA Division II schools in consecutive nights, Geoff finished with 50 points and 16 rebounds, which included a 27 point, 12 board effort in the 71-65 win over Metro State (Colo.).
For the week, he averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 70 percent (33-for-47) overall. Geoff has helped the Griffins to a No. 5 (tie) ranking, the highest ever in school history.
Among NAIA statistical leaders, Payne ranks fourth in field goal percentage (.635) and 18th in scoring (19.4).
