Phillips collects Frontier Conference defensive honors

HELENA, Mont. -- Bellevue University senior guard Jaden Phillips (Oakland, Calif.) has been named the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week after his performance last week in a pair of Bruin victories.

Phillips totaled eight steals and blocked a pair of shots in two dominating home wins for the Bruins over the weekend. His five steals in BU's 104-74 win over Mission matched a career-high, set a week earlier against Union Adventist.

He led a swarming BU defense that held their opponents to just 63.5 points per game on 42% shooting. Bellevue racked up 29 steals and forced their opposition into 44 turnovers.

Phillips also had a strong weekend at the offensive end of the floor, averaging 18 points per game on 62% shooting from the floor and dishing out nine assists, including a career-high six in the win over Mission. His 22 points against Mission marked his third 20-point game of the season already.

On the season Phillips is averaging 20.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently across the board: 53% (FG), 46% (3-FG), 93% (FT). His 14 steals and 17 assists are both tops on the club.

Bellevue (5-0) is off to its best start since 2014-15 and will open conference play this weekend when they welcome Dakota State University to the BU Fieldhouse for a 4 p.m. tip.