Thompson feted as Defensive Player of the Week
HELENA, Mont. -- For the second-straight week a Bruin has been named the Frontier Conference Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office Tuesday morning.
Bellevue University junior Liam Thompson (Phoenix, Ariz.) collected the honor, the first of his career. Thompson has been a defensive specialist for the Bruins in his time on campus, earning NSAA All-Defense honors in 2023-24.
Last week, Thompson drew the primary defensive assignment on Dakota State's Nathan Ojukwu, holding the Division I transfer below his scoring average as BU picked up a 78-72 win in their first-ever Frontier Conference game. Thompson recorded a game-high three steals, blocked a shot, and hauled in six rebounds, including five defensive boards.
The Bruins are among the top defensive teams in the NAIA through six games. Their 6-0 start is their best since opening the 2007-08 season at 9-0 and the fourth-best in program history. Bellevue ranks 12th nationally allowing just 63.2 points per game, 14th in three-point field goals allowed per game at 5.3, and opponent three-point percentage of 26.4% checks in at 24th in the country.
Bellevue returns to the hardwood this weekend with a pair of Frontier Conference games. They host MSU-Northern at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 and entertain the University of Providence at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 inside the BU Fieldhouse.