Thomas Remains Eligible

In Albuquerque, N.M., freshman Kenny Thomas, a major force in unbeaten New Mexico’s best start in 22 years, won another round in his legal battle with the NCAA, which contends the 6-foot-9 forward is ineligible.

State District Judge Daniel Schneider rejected an NCAA motion that he lift a preliminary injunction he issued last month allowing Thomas to play for the Lobos, whose 6-0 start is their best since 1973-74.

The NCAA declared Thomas ineligible in August, saying he was a half-credit short on core curriculum courses.

UCLA freshman Jelani McCoy was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Week.

McCoy, a 6-foot-10 center, had the Pac-10’s tenth triple-double as UCLA beat Maryland, which was No. 20, 73-63 on Saturday. He had 15 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and a conference-record 11 blocked shots.

Weber State forward Jimmy DeGraffenried was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.

DeGraffenried leads the Big Sky in scoring, averaging 20.8 points per game.

Steve Shephard, a starting guard for the Boise State basketball team, is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, according to an announcement from Boise.