For Immediate Release: April 15, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

ALL-INDEPENDENT MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS ANNOUNCED

EDINBURG, TX-Centenary's Andrew Wisniewski was named 2002-2003 Independent Men's Basketball Player of the Year and was one of three players from last year's team to earn repeat honors as the 2002-2003 Independent Basketball Awards were announced. The awards were voted on by the head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors at independent NCAA Division I schools.

Wisniewski, named first team All-Independent as well as Player of the Year, was one of two multiple award winners. Wisniewski led Centenary to their second consecutive 14-win season by leading the Gents in scoring, three-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists, and steals. He scored in double figures in 26 of 28 games, had 18 games of 20 or more points, and five games in which he scored at least 30 points. He ranked seventh scoring among NCAA Division I players, averaging 22 points per game, and 15th in steals, averaging 2.6 points per game.

Corey Lamkin of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was named Defensive Player of the Year, as well as first team All-Independent. Lamkin averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game for the Islanders. He led TAMU-CC in scoring nine times, had 18 games in which he scored 10 or more points, and scored 20 or more points on three occasions.

Kevin Mitchell of The University of Texas-Pan American and Brian Evans of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi joined Wisniewski in earning repeat honors.

Mitchell led Texas-Pan American in scoring this season, averaging 14.7 points per game, was tied for the team lead with 48 steals, and was second with 97 assists. He scored 20 points or more in a game eight times, and was in double figures in scoring 22 times. Mitchell set the UTPA all-time single-season record this year by playing 1,072 minutes.

Evans led the Islanders with a school-record 135 assists, and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game. He had 22 games with 10 or more points, and five in which he scored at least 20 points. One of two TAMU-CC players to start all 29 games, he led the team with 998 minutes played.

Birmingham-Southern's Duane Reboul was named Independent Coach of the Year. He led BSC to a 19-9 record last season, and the Panthers were 12-2 at home. BSC was 13-14 in 2001-2002, and their 19-9 record represents the most wins the Panthers have recorded since joining the NCAA Division I ranks.

Joining Wisniewski, Mitchell, Lamkin and Evans as first team All-Independent players was Josiah James of Birmingham-Southern. The second team included Travis Bailey of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Michael Gale of Centenary, Ryan Roller of Lipscomb, Corey Watkins of Birmingham-Southern and Ric Wyand of Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne. David Simon of IOFW was named Newcomer of the Year, and Lipscomb's James Poindexter was named Freshman of the Year.

2002-2003 MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-INDEPENDENT AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Andrew Wisniewski, Centenary
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Corey Lamkin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR-David Simon, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR-James Poindexter, Lipscomb
COACH OF THE YEAR-Duane Reboul, Birmingham-Southern

ALL-INDEPENDENT FIRST TEAM

Brian Evans, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Josiah James, Birmingham-Southern
Corey Lamkin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Kevin Mitchell, Texas-Pan American
Andrew Wisniewski, Centenary

ALL-INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM

Travis Bailey, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Michael Gale, Centenary
Ryan Roller, Lipscomb
Corey Watkins, Birmingham-Southern
Ric Wyand, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne

Members of the first and second All-Independent Teams are listed alphabetically.

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