Smart earns Athlete of the Week Honors

     The New Mexico Junior College men's basketball team had a big week last week, and Roosevelt Smart played a large role for the Thunderbirds.  NMJC hosted the HydoTech Classic on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the Thunderbirds won all three games they played.  Smart scored 58 points while playing just 67 total minutes in the Thunderbirds' three wins.  Smart sank eight total three-pointers while going 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.  Smart also pulled down 15 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, and came up with three steals during the three games. 

     Thursday night, Smart scored 27 points for the Thunderbirds as NMJC beat Louisiana Christian Prep 95-74.  Smart sank three treys and was 6-of-7 from the free throw line, all while coming in off the bench.  The 27 points matched Smart's season-high which was set on November 5 when the Thunderbirds beat New Mexico Military Institute. 

     Friday, Smart was in the starting lineup and while he was limited to 19 minutes, he still scored 12 points and dished out seven assists in the Thunderbirds 123-69 win over Impact Academy.

     On the final day of the tournament, Smart was again in the starting lineup as the Thunderbirds played University of the Southwest's junior varsity squad.   Smart sank four treys on the way to a 19-point game as NMJC won 102-58.

     Smart and the Thunderbirds will now head to Tucson, Arizona for the Native American Classic.  NMJC will play Pima Community College on Thursday, Glendale Community College on Friday and Tohono O'odham Community College on Saturday.