Feb. 19, 2006

Sophomore forward Tyler Cooper of the West Texas A&M University men's basketball team was named to the first-team CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District list.

Cooper, a 6-4 sophomore forward from Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo HS), has a 4.0 GPA majoring in pre-medicine. He leads the conference and would lead the nation, but doesn't reach the minimum, in 3-point FG percentage, as he is .500 (31-of-62) from behind the arc. Cooper has been on a scoring spree of late, as he has scored double figures in six out of the last eight games, including a career-high 22 points in Saturday's 81-77 win at Angelo State University, in which Cooper sparked WTAMU's rally as the Buffs were down by 19 points in the first half and 13 points at halftime. Cooper scored 20 points in the second half, which by itself surpassed his previous career-high of 19 points. Since division play has started Cooper has averaged 11.5 points and has pulled down 5.0 rebounds per game. Cooper has also been very hot from behind the arc as he is 51.4 percent (19-of-37) percent from behind the 3-point line since WTAMU began division action. On the season, Cooper is averaging 8.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg.

Cooper was one of six players on the first-team list, and the only player from the Lone Star Conference. Cooper will now advance to the national ballot.

Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors: 1) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better, 2) must have at least two terms of attendance at the institution, 3) must be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility, 4) must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport. First-team All-District selections advance to the national ballot, from which the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team is selected.

The All-District selection is determined by voting of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). District VI is comprised of NCAA Division II and Division III and NAIA institutions from the states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

WTAMU is 19-6 overall and 8-2 in LSC South play, currently sitting in second-place. The Buffs will be at Wichita Falls, Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 22 to take on Midwestern State University.

The Buffs return home to host Tarleton State University at the First United Bank Center in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in an LSC South clash. TSU is currently in first-place, while WTAMU is in second. The contest is the second half of an LSC South twinbill with the WTAMU women.

For ticket information, contact the WTAMU Athletics Office at 806-651-4424.

-WT-