Player of the Year Davis Leads SAC Men’s Basketball Award Winners

ROCK HILL, S.C. – After finishing as the leading scorer in the SAC men's basketball regular season, Carson-Newman forward Antoine Davis has been named the conference's Player of the Year, headlining its list of award winners that was announced on Wednesday.

Davis averaged 19 points per game during the regular season, helping lead Carson-Newman to a 19-7 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the SAC standings. He also averaged six rebounds and 0.88 blocks per game, both of which were among the top-10 in the conference.

The junior scored over 20 points in 12 games and eclipsed the 30-point mark on two occasions, including a season-high 36 on Dec. 18 against Queens. He also ranked seventh in Division II in three-point shooting, making 45.6-percent of his attempts.

[RELATED: SAC Basketball Championship Central]

Joining Davis on the All-SAC First Team is Carson-Newman teammate Ishmael Sanders. The sharp-shooting guard finished second in the conference in scoring this season at 18.7 points per game and made 3.7 three-pointers per game, the second-most in the nation. He also ranked third in the conference in assists at 1.9 per game.

Anderson guard Chandler Hash - another prolific long-range shooter - earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team after averaging 17.9 points per game, the fourth-highest average in the league. Hash led the nation in three-point shooting at 48.6-percent and ranked eighth in free throw shooting at 90-percent.

Forwards Vincent Bailey and Jake Troyli, who led Lincoln Memorial to the regular-season SAC title, were both selected to the All-Conference First Team. Bailey ranked 12th in the league in scoring at 13.5 points per game fourth in rebounding average at 7.5 per game. Troyli, meanwhile, finished 14th in scoring at 13.4 points per game and eighth in rebounding at 6.3 per contest.

Completing the All-SAC First Team was Lenoir-Rhyne guard Denzel Dillingham, the conference's fourth-leading scorer at 18.1 points per game. Dillingham also ranked second in the league in steals at 1.9 per game and ninth in three-point shooting at 42.4-percent.

Wingate led the All-Conference Second Team with two selections, forward Odell Turner and guard Paidrick Matilus. They are joined by Anderson guard Denzail Jones, Catawba forward Tyrece Little, Newberry forward Dondray walker and LMU guard Lorenza Ross.

After averaging 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, Tusculum forward Keith Jumper was named the conference's Freshman of the Year. Also earning All-Freshman Team accolades were Catawba guard Elon Edwards, Brevard guard Manzey Miller, Newberry guard Mitch Riggs and LMU guard Tim Pierce.

Finally, Carson-Newman's Chuck Benson was selected as the SAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. The Eagles' 12-6 conference record marked the program's most league wins since the 2001-02 season.

The SAC basketball postseason awards were selected by the conference's head coaches.

2012-13 SAC Men's Basketball Awards

All-SAC First Team

Antoine Davis, Carson-Newman (Jr.)^

Chandler Hash, Anderson (Jr.)

Ishmael Sanders, Carson-Newman (Jr.)^

Vincent Bailey, Lincoln Memorial (Jr.)^

Jake Troyli, Lincoln Memorial (Sr.)

Denzel Dillingham, Lenoir-Rhyne (So.)

All-SAC Second Team

Odell Turner, Wingate (Sr.)+

Denzail Jones, Anderson (Sr.)*

Tyrece Little, Catawba (So.)

Paidrick Matilus, Wingate (Sr.)

Dondray Walker, Newberry (So.)^

Lorenza Ross, Lincoln Memorial (So.)

SAC All-Freshman Team

Keith Jumper, Tusculum

Elon Edwards, Catawba

Manzey Miller, Brevard

Mitch Riggs, Newberry

Tim Pierce, Lincoln Memorial

SAC Player of the Year: Antoine Davis, Carson-Newman

SAC Freshman of the Year: Keith Jumper, Tusculum

SAC Coach of the Year: Chuck Benson, Carson-Newman

[SAC men's basketball statistical champions]