Box Score Bevo Francis Award Watchlist
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Colorado School of Mines guard Gokul Natesan has been named to the Bevo Francis Award watchlist as one of the top players in small college basketball.
The award is given to one outstanding player from among NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA, USCAA, and NCCAA basketball. It is named in honor of former Rio Grande College star Clarence "Bevo" Francis, who averaged 50 points per game and scored over 100 twice in his career. Natesan is one of 100 on the initial watchlist; a 50-man shortlist will be released Feb. 15.
Natesan has been one of the nation's top players through the first half of his junior season. He ranks third in the RMAC in scoring (22.0 ppg), first in three-pointers made (49), third in steals (1.7 spg), sixth in assists (3.7 per game), and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2). He also ranks in the top-10 in field goal percentage (.490), free throw percentage (.820), and minutes (34.1 mpg).
His individual-game exploits have been equally impressive. He's scored 25 or more six times in 15 games, including a career-high 38 in overtime against Colorado Mesa and 27 against Adams State. His buzzerbeater three-pointer gave Mines the win over Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 25, and he's hit five or more three-pointers six times. He was named the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and was the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 30.
Mines continues its season tonight at UCCS in a game televised live on CET at 7:30 p.m.
