The way UNM head coach Steve Alford sees it, J.R. Giddens locked up the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Award in his final collegiate home game.
The senior was the catalyst in the Lobos' 59-45 win against UNLV on Tuesday at The Pit.
Giddens finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists on Senior Night and left to a standing ovation and chants of "MVP" when he was taken out of the game in the final minute.
"If it was just 'J' on the inscription of the MVP trophy, it should be J.R. Giddens now," Alford said. "He's just done it for us all year."
Giddens recorded his ninth double-double of the season despite facing constant double teams from the Rebels.
Just about every time he touched the ball, the UNLV defense collapsed on him. But he still managed to put up double-digits on 6-of-15 shooting and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
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Alford said Giddens' ability to fight through double teams only strengthens his case for player of the year.
"That's why he's the MVP," Alford said. "He gets 17 and 15 and five when everybody is zeroing in on him from a scouting report."
Giddens said playing in The Pit - which sold out consecutive games for the first time since 1996 - is what made this year and Tuesday's win so special.
"I don't know if anybody knows how good it feels when you get a win and a crowd like that and they support you," he said. "Everybody you know gets to smile at the end of Senior Night. It's beautiful, and it was a good team effort."
Fellow senior Darren Prentice said Giddens has lifted the Lobos this season and has a great future ahead of him.
"J.R., in my mind, is the best player in the league," he said. "Very talented player - I believe an NBA player one day."
