The Eagle basketball team following the Final Four banquet on the Branson Belle Showboat.
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (3-18-09) – The great season by the Oklahoma Wesleyan men’s basketball team was capped on Wednesday afternoon with the announcement of several National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics awards.
After qualifying for the NAIA Division II Final Four for the second season in a row, the Eagles were awarded the team sportsmanship award by the tournament committee. The team fell short on Monday night at the hands of the eventual national champion, University of Saint Francis (Ind.).
Leading the way for the Eagles awards this season is their coach Donnie Bostwick. In his third season, Bostwick led the Eagles to a 30-4 overall record, a third straight national tournament, and second straight final four. For his leadership on and off the court, coach Bostwick was honored with his second straight Coach of the Year honor.
Topping the list of individual player awards is senior Steve Briggs. During the Final Four banquet on Sunday evening, Briggs was named the NAIA Div. II Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Two days later, Briggs was named First Team All-American and named to the All-Tournament Team as well.
During his four games at the tournament, Briggs averaged 29.3-points a ball game, while knocking down 20 three-pointers. His 117 total points in the four games, left Briggs just seven shy of breaking the career points in NAIA Div. II National Tournament play.
His teammate and fellow All-American Sadiel Rojas also picked up several awards, including being named Second Team All-American. On Monday, the junior was recognized for his academics as well, becoming a 2010 Daktronics/NAIA Academic All-American.
Just like Briggs, Rojas made a strong showing in the tournament, picking up a double-double in each of the Eagles four games, averaging a little over 17-points and 12.3-rebounds a contest. His play also helped put Rojas on the All-Tournament team.
With 108 boards career national tournament rebounds, 49 in this season’s tournament, Rojas moved to fifth all-time in tournament rebounds. This season’s tournament total also marks the third best single tournament in NAIA Div. II history. Rojas is the OKWU career leader in rebounds with 1,062 in three seasons.
Eagle junior Matthew Atwell was also recognized as a Academic All-American this season. Two qualify for the honor, athletes must be a junior in academic status, and have a 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.