INDIANAPOLIS – The 2014-15 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball season has come to close with Alderson Broaddus University claiming the G-MAC regular-season title for the second consecutive year - representing the two years as a member of the league.
The 2014-15 G-MAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament will begin on Thursday in Philippi, West Virginia, and as the teams prepare, the conference office has released the 2014-15 All-Conference Teams and individual awards winners.
The coaches submitted nominations and selected the five-member All-Conference First Team, a six-member All-Conference Second Teams that features all juniors, and the five member All-Freshman team. The coaches also recognized and selected the Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Player of the Year.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Men’s Coach of the Year
GREG ZIMMERMAN - Alderson Broaddus University
Coach of the Year honors go to the top seeded team for the second-straight season, as the Battlers head coach Greg Zimmerman helped guide his squad to its second G-MAC regular-season title and will look for its second Tournament Championship as well.
Zimmerman is in his 14th season at Alderson Broaddus and holds a career record of 324-105. The team finished with an overall record of
20-7 on the season and 11-3 in the conference to secure the top overall seed. The team finished the season on a five-game winning streak and have won eight of their last nine.
The team is 10-1 at home this season and 22-13 at home over the last two years.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Men’s Player of the Year
MALCOLM TATUM - Guard
Junior - Alderson Broaddus University
Malcolm Tatum, now a two-time G-MAC All-Conference First Team selection and the Battlers leading scorer for the second-straight season, finished the season averaging 14.6 points per game, which was sixth in the conference. However, Tatum distributed the ball just as much as he scored it, averaging 3.5 assists a game, ranking sixth in the conference as well.
Tatum was named G-MAC Athlete of the Week early in the year (11/24) after scoring 18.5 points a game and 4.5 assists over a three-game span, shooting just under 53%. On the season Tatum had five 20-point performances, including three against G-MAC opponents.
Tatum was clutch at the free-throw line, ranking third in the league, converting on 82.9% of his attempts (121-146), which was critical coming down the stretch in many close games this season. In one game alone, he sank 13 free throws - which was tied for second most in a single game this season.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Men’s Freshman of the Year
GERARD TARIN - Guard
Freshman - Salem International University
Gerard Tarin led all freshmen in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game this season, which ranked 20th in the league and was third on his team. He was even more vital down low, ranking sixth in the league with 7.1 rebounds a game - again leading all freshmen.
Tarin ranked in the top-15 in field goal percentage (14th - 46.1%), blocked shots (10th - 0.8 per game), offensive rebounding (10th - 2.1 per game), and defensive rebounds (4th - 5.0 per game).
On the season, Tarin had seven double-doubles with his best performance coming in the last game of the year, scoring 21 points and pulling down 14 boards on the road against Trevecca Nazarene. He had two 20-point performances, scoring 21 points in both games against TNU. His seven double-doubles were third most in the league this season.
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The Great Midwest Athletic Conference also announced the All-Conference First, Second, and All-Freshman teams prior to the start of the Men’s Basketball Championships. Below is a list of the All-Conference honors, which were nominated and voted upon by the G-MAC coaches.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-Conference First Team
KEN-JAH BOSLEY Kentucky Wesleyan College Guard Sophomore
MASCEO HARMON Central State University Guard Senior
RAHEEM LEMONS Central State University Forward Senior
MARCUS REINEKE Cedarville University Guard Senior
MALCOLM TATUM Alderson Broaddus University Guard Junior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-Conference Second Team
C.J. BLACKWELL Kentucky Wesleyan College Forward Junior
DEVIN LANGFORD Kentucky Wesleyan College Guard Junior
RICHARD LEMON Alderson Broaddus University Guard Junior
THYLAS PERKINS Alderson Broaddus University Forward Junior
BYRON SANFORD Trevecca Nazarene University Center Junior
DARRYL WALKER Ohio Valley University Guard Junior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-FRESHMAN TEAM
PATRICK BAIN Cedarville University Guard Freshman
JEREMY BROWN Central State University Forward Freshman
RICKENJEE BELLEVUE Davis & Elkins College Center Freshman
GERARD TARIN Salem International University Guard Freshman
JACOB WILLIAMS Trevecca Nazarene University Guard Freshman
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Every game of the 2014-15 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship will be streamed for free with live video, audio, and stats courtesy of Alderson Broaddus and Cedarville. Check the championship pages on G-MACsports.com for links and details on the broadcasts. Photo galleries, video, and game recaps will also be available on G-MACsports.com.