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LAS VEGAS, Nev. — When asking Tony Snell a question, be prepared for a short answer.
UNM’s junior guard isn’t the most talkative person, but what he lacks in words he more than makes up on the hard court. Snell’s quiet demeanor has earned him the nickname “Silent Assassin.”
In the Mountain West men’s basketball championship title game against UNLV, Snell netted 21 points on 8 of 11 shots in the No. 15 Lobos’ 63-56 victory over the Runnin’ Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center. Sinking five 3-pointers against both San Diego State on Friday and UNLV on Saturday, he became the second player in UNM history to hit five triples in consecutive conference tournament games.
The Lobos barraged the Runnin’ Rebels with a balanced attack as seven players scored at least two points, but UNLV head coach Dave Rice said Snell did the majority of the damage.
“The guy who really got away from us today is an NBA player,” Rice said. “There’s no doubt that Tony Snell is going to play in that league for a long time with the things he’s able to do.”
Snell snagged the tournament MVP and MWC all-tournament team honors after averaging 17.6 points, three boards, three assists and four 3-pointers per game over a three-game stretch. He shot 51 percent from the floor and 57 percent from beyond the arc.
During the last two seasons, Snell heated up when winter turned into spring. He said March is the time of year when he feels most comfortable.
“I just have more confidence now,” he said. “My teammates always encourage me to keep shooting the ball whenever I miss it. My confidence definitely went up.”
The defensive end is where Snell has improved most since he began at UNM, said head coach Steve Alford. He flashed his defensive skills against San Diego State’s Jamaal Franklin, limiting last season’s MWC player of the year to eight points (3 of 12 shooting) in Friday’s 60-50 semifinal win.
“Everybody sees him shoot, everybody wants him to shoot more and score more, but now they see a guy that is really committed to the defensive end,” Alford said, referring to Snell. “The defensive end is the unselfish end. I think seeing his development there has given Tony confidence: Now he’s doing more offensively because I think where he’s built his confidence at the defensive end.”
Alford said he wants Snell to become more verbal, but at the same time he doesn’t want to change who Snell is.
“All these guys lead in their different ways,” Alford said. “Kendall (Williams) is more vocal than Tony; Tony leads a little bit different, but still has done a very good job for us in leadership.”
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