- Thomas had 57 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists in the three victories
- Thomas is the fourth DMACC men's basketball player to be honored by the ICCAC this season
- Thomas is averaging 12.6 points a game for the Bears
The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) has named DMACC's Elijah Thomas the ICCAC Athlete of the Week for Division II Men's Basketball for the week of January 22 to 28.
Thomas, a sophomore from Surprise, Ariz., is the fourth member of the DMACC men's basketball team to be honored by the ICCAC this season. Sophomore Angelo Winkel of Algona has been honored twice, the week of Nov. 1 to 12 and the week of Dec. 11 to 17. Sophomore James Glenn of Altoona was honored the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 and sophomore Trey Lewis of Johnston earned the honor for the week of Nov. 13 to 19.
Thomas averaged 19 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game as the Bears recorded three victories during the week. He scored 22 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out five assists in a 106-70 win over Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC), Jan. 22 inside the DMACC gymnasium. Thomas had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 96-68 win over Western Iowa Technical Community College (WITCC) Jan. 24 at Sioux City and recorded 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists in DMACC's 81-70 win over Ellsworth Community College (ECC) Jan. 27 inside the DMACC gymnasium.
Thomas has scored 265 points and is averaging 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds a game for the Bears, who are 21-2 overall, 10-1 in the ICCAC and ranked third in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll. He is shooting 45 percent from the field, having made 88 of 197 field goal attempts. Thomas is 54-of-132 from three-point range for 41 percent and 35-of-46 from the free throw line for 76 percent.
Thomas' season includes 99 rebounds, 73 of them on the defensive end of the floor, 35 assists, 30 steals and 11 blocked shots.
The DMACC men's basketball team faces Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) Feb. 3 at Estherville. The Lakers, ranked 17th in NJCAA Division II, are 16-5 overall and 73 in the ICCAC. Their losses include a 93-74 setback against the Bears Jan. 3 inside the DMACC gymnasium.