March 3, 2009

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - West Texas A&M senior guard Kyle Shields and junior guard Nick Burns earned Lone Star Conference men’s basketball postseason honors, as announced by the league Tuesday night. The awards announcement came Tuesday night at a pre-tournament banquet in Bartlesville , Okla., where the LSC Basketball Championship tournament is set to begin on Thursday.

Shields was named to the LSC South Division first team, while Burns was honored as a South Division honorable-mention selection.

Midwestern State’s Nolan Richardson earned Player of the Year honors in the South Division.

Richardson was joined on the All-LSC South Division first team by West Texas A&M’s Shields, Tarleton State’s Eric Williams, Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Wendell Mulkey and Angelo State’s Lionel Brown.

Other top awards were distributed for defensive player, newcomer, freshman and coach of the year. In the South Division, Anthony Jones of Texas A&M-Kingsville took Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Kalif Bakare of Tarleton State was named Freshman of the Year. ASU’s Brown took home Newcomer of the Year recognition, while MSU’s Jeff Ray LSC South Coach of the Year recognition.

All-LSC South Division First Team

G-Nolan Richardson, Midwestern State, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.

G-Kyle Shields, West Texas A&M, Sr., Amarillo, Texas

F-Eric Williams, Tarleton State, Sr., Long Beach, Calif.

G-Wendell Mulkey, Texas A&M- Kingsville, Sr., San Antonio, Texas

G-Lionel Brown, Angelo State, Sr., Ardmore, Okla.

Nick Burns

Second Team

F-Dejan Sencanski, Abilene Christian, Sr., Zrenjanin, Serbia

G-Ryan Bennett, Angelo State, Sr., Fort Worth , Texas

G-Earl Rabb, Midwestern State, Sr., Fort Worth , Texas

F-Clyde Johnson, Texas A&M- Kingsville, Sr., San Antonio , Texas

G-Dante Adams, Abilene Christian, Sr., Little Rock , Ark.

Honorable Mention

Angelo State: C, Malik Motnii,Sr.; Eastern New Mexico : F, Dannon Wafer, Jr.; Midwestern State: G, Craig Green, Jr.; Tarleton State : G, Marlin Cloudy, Sr.; Texas A&M-Kingsville: C, Anthony Jones, Sr.; West Texas A&M: G, Nick Burns, Jr.

South Division Special Awards

Player of the Year: Nolan Richardson, Midwestern State

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Jones, Texas A&M-Kingsville

Freshman of the Year: Kalif Bakare, Tarleton State

Newcomer of the Year: Lionel Brown, Angelo State

Coach of the Year: Jeff Ray, Midwestern State