Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez
Trio of Honors
3/1/2017 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — For the second year in a row, California Baptist University's Michael Smith was named the PacWest Player of the Year, while two other Lancers earned all-conference honors, announced Wednesday.
The senior guard led a trio of Lancers on the all-conference team, grabbing first team distinction with Kalidou Diouf, while Jordan Heading picked up honorable mention.
Smith etched himself in not just CBU history by becoming the program's all-time leading scorer, but also in the PacWest by becoming the conference's all-time leading scorer as well. In his four years as a Lancer, Smith has scored 1,953 career points, almost 200 more points than the previous Lancer record holder. He also holds the record for most points scored in a single season with 726, set last year.
This year, Smith leads CBU and the PacWest, while ranking third overall in NCAA Division II, with a 24.7 points per game average. He has scored in double figures in every game he's played in, riding a 37-game streak of double-digit points. On Nov. 22, Smith led the Lancers to a 76-63 victory over UC San Diego – which currently ranks third in the West Region – with a career-high 42 points, the most points scored by a Lancer in the NCAA era. Smith also averages 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Diouf has also had a big year, earning himself his first All-PacWest honor. The junior big man averages 16.0 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game, with 33 blocks on the year. He is not only the most efficient shooter on CBU, but ranks fourth in field goal percentage in all of NCAA Division II with a 67.0-percent.
The Heidelberg, Germany native has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including a career-high 32 points against Arkansas-Fort Smith back on Nov. 26. Diouf has had eight double-doubles this year.
Heading picked up his first All-PacWest recognition after finishing the regular-season with a 12.8 points per game average. The redshirt sophomore has grabbed double-digit points in 18 games, including a career-high 31 points against Concordia University of Irvine on Jan. 14.
The Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia native also averages 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Eighth-ranked CBU enters the PacWest Tournament as the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye, hoping to defend its 2015-16 title. The Lancers will face the winner of Thursday's matchup between Dixie State and Point Loma on Friday at 2:45 p.m. The victor then advances to the championship game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., which will be broadcast on ESPN3.
The Lancers are also the No. 1 team in the West Region for the third week in a row and will find out Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific if they will host the regional.
COMPLETE ALL-PACWEST TEAM
The senior guard led a trio of Lancers on the all-conference team, grabbing first team distinction with Kalidou Diouf, while Jordan Heading picked up honorable mention.
Smith etched himself in not just CBU history by becoming the program's all-time leading scorer, but also in the PacWest by becoming the conference's all-time leading scorer as well. In his four years as a Lancer, Smith has scored 1,953 career points, almost 200 more points than the previous Lancer record holder. He also holds the record for most points scored in a single season with 726, set last year.
This year, Smith leads CBU and the PacWest, while ranking third overall in NCAA Division II, with a 24.7 points per game average. He has scored in double figures in every game he's played in, riding a 37-game streak of double-digit points. On Nov. 22, Smith led the Lancers to a 76-63 victory over UC San Diego – which currently ranks third in the West Region – with a career-high 42 points, the most points scored by a Lancer in the NCAA era. Smith also averages 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Diouf has also had a big year, earning himself his first All-PacWest honor. The junior big man averages 16.0 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game, with 33 blocks on the year. He is not only the most efficient shooter on CBU, but ranks fourth in field goal percentage in all of NCAA Division II with a 67.0-percent.
The Heidelberg, Germany native has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including a career-high 32 points against Arkansas-Fort Smith back on Nov. 26. Diouf has had eight double-doubles this year.
Heading picked up his first All-PacWest recognition after finishing the regular-season with a 12.8 points per game average. The redshirt sophomore has grabbed double-digit points in 18 games, including a career-high 31 points against Concordia University of Irvine on Jan. 14.
The Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia native also averages 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Eighth-ranked CBU enters the PacWest Tournament as the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye, hoping to defend its 2015-16 title. The Lancers will face the winner of Thursday's matchup between Dixie State and Point Loma on Friday at 2:45 p.m. The victor then advances to the championship game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., which will be broadcast on ESPN3.
The Lancers are also the No. 1 team in the West Region for the third week in a row and will find out Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific if they will host the regional.
COMPLETE ALL-PACWEST TEAM
Players Mentioned
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