UH-Hilo’s Tait-Jones nets PacWest Player of the Week honor

Because of his stellar performance in an overtime win at home Nov. 14 against the University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo men’s basketball squad member Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 14-20.

Tait-Jones, a 6-foot-6-inch sophomore forward from New Zealand, had a monster game last week to help the Vulcans plant an 87-82 overtime verdict on the University of Alaska Anchorage. Tait-Jones, who has been the PacWest Newcomer and Freshman of the Year during the past two seasons, scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds against the Seawolves. He also had three assists, a steal and a blocked shot.

He drilled 16-of-21 free-throw opportunities, including 4-for-4 marksmanship in overtime after the Vulcans built a small lead.