Thompson garners FC defensive nod

HELENA, Mont. -- For the second-straight week and fourth time this season a Bellevue University men's basketball player has been named the Frontier Conference's Defensive Player of the Week. Bruins froward Liam Thompson (Phoenix, Ariz.) is this week's award recipient.

Thompson, a 6-6 junior, totaled three blocked shots and three steals to fuel the Bruins' 71-54 road win at Dakota State, keeping BU tied with Rocky Mountain atop the Frontier Conference standings. He paced a defense that held the Trojans 20 points below their season scoring average while limiting DSU to a meager 39% effort from the floor and forcing 13 turnovers.

On the season, Thompson leads the team – and ranks fifth in the Frontier – with 18 blocked shots while his 17 steals are good for third on the squad. He has started all 20 games for the Bruins averaging 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

The award is the second of the season for Thompson. A member of the 2023-24 NSAA All-Defensive Team was also honored back on Nov. 18 of this season as the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Bellevue is back in action on Friday, Jan. 30 when they travel to Mayville, N.D. for a 7 p.m. tip-off against Mayville State University from the Comets' Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.