LAS VEGAS8212; Two regular season championships, two MWC player of the year awards, two conference championships and now two tournament MVP awards.
Luke Nevill and Morgan Warburton have been crucial to their teams’ success all season and the MWC conference tournament was no different.
Nevill was the named the tournament MVP to go along with his MWC player of the year award as he helped the Utes earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 52-50 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs.
“I’m kind of humbled in the experience of getting all these awards, because I just go out there and play everyday,” Nevill said. “Hopefully we can keep winning and, you know, through winning you get awards.”
Nevill led all scorers in the championship game with 18 points as he shot 60 percent from the field and went 6-9 from the free throw line.
The Australian center was also a force on the boards as he pulled 15 of the Utes 35 rebounds, earning him his 16th double-double of the season and his second in two days.
After foul trouble kept Nevill on the bench much of the TCU game, the Australian center dominated in the semifinal and finals games against Wyoming and San Diego State.
In the three tournament games Nevill has scored 48 points, pulled down 35 rebounds, netted eight blocks and even dished out seven assists.
“Luke impacts the game way out of the stat sheet,” coach Jim Boylen said. “That’s the value of him, whether he’s a driver or a roller he draws attention. He’s the MVP of the league because of that, he can beat you in so many ways.”
Warburton also earned the tournament MVP award in addition to the MWC player of the year award after scoring the game winning basket to beat New Mexico in the semifinals and was the catalyst for the Utes run that sealed the championship for them today.
“It takes guts to be willing to make plays to win a game because you’re not going to make all those plays,” coach Elaine Elliott said. “That takes a big heart and that takes somebody who’s willing to take the failure of missing a shot to the wonders of making a shot.”
Warburton led the Utes today with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists and hit the three-pointer to give Utah the lead with three minutes left in the game.
“I think it just sort of happened,” Warburton said about starting the Utes run. “Thankfully my team got some screens for me and I hit that one 3 to get us up a couple of points.”
Warburton scored 37 points, pulled down 14 boards, dished out eight assists and got three steals in the two tournament games Utah played and went an impressive 18-for-18 from the foul line.
“I’m happy for her, she’s been able to come through with big plays,” Elliott said. “She’s been wonderful for us.”
Nevill and Warburton will both be looking to lead their teams deep into the post season, as both teams will be heading to the NCAA tournament next week. Selection Sunday happens tomorrow as both Utah squads will find out where and who they will playing.
Tyler CobbLuke Nevill was named the tournament MVP for his performance during the tournament.
Erik DaenitzMorgan Warburton fallowed up her mountain west conference player of the year honors by earning the Tournament MVP.