UNC’s Davises, UVA’s Beekman are among honorees in the ACC
Cavalier repeats as Defensive Player Year
North Carolina’s RJ Davis, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s scoring leader at 21.1 points per game, was named the league’s Player of the Year on Monday.
Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis, whose fourth-ranked team won its first outright regular season title since 201617, was named the Coach of the Year in his third season guiding his alma mater.
Other honorees include Virginia guard Reece Beekman, who won his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, Notre Dame’s Markus Burton as Rookie of the Year, Ian Schieffelin of Clemson as Most Improved Player and Ishmael Leggett of Pittsburgh as Sixth Man of the Year.
The All-ACC first team includes Davis, Clemson’s PJ Hall, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, Hunter Sallis of Wake Forest and Blake Hinson of Pittsburgh. The team was determined by a 75-member panel consisting of the league’s 15 head coaches and 60 members of the media.
Late Sunday
Atlantic Sun final
Stetson 94, Austin Peay 91: Jalen Blackmon scored a careerhigh 43 points, making 14 of 17 free throws, as the secondseeded Hatters (22-12) won at home in DeLand, Florida, to gain their first NCAA berth.
Blackmon made 3 of 4 from the line in the final 13 seconds, dealing a defeat to the fourthseeded Governors (19-15). Sai Witt had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Austin Peay.
Sun Belt semifinal James Madison 73, Texas State 68:
Noah Freidel had 28 points and sank all nine of his free throws as second-seeded JMU (30-3) outlasted the 11th-seeded Bobcats in Pensacola Bay Center.
James Madison played No. 4 seed Arkansas State in the championship game at 7 p.m. Eastern Monday. Even with their nation-leading victory total, the Dukes likely needed to take the title to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Freidel also contributed three blocks for the Dukes, and he hit four free throws in the final seconds to preserve a tenuous lead. JMU led by 15 but saw Texas State pull even at 55.
Former Jamestown High star Xavier Brown added 11 points, shooting 3 for 5 from 3-point range), and made three steals. Sun Belt Player of the Year Terrence Edwards had eight points, six rebounds and six assists. The Dukes extended their winning streak to 10 games.
Brandon Love led the Bobcats (17-18) with 17 points and two steals.
CAA quarterfinals Stony Brook 91, Drexel 88, 2 OTs:
Aaron Clarke scored 27 points, including the winning jump shot with 18 seconds left in the second overtime, and the Seawolves knocked off No. 2 seed Drexel.
Seventh-seeded Stony Brook (19-14) played No. 3 seed Hofstra in a semifinal Monday night.
The Dragons (20-12) were led by Luke House, who posted 28 points and six rebounds.
Hofstra 73, Delaware 58: Darlinstone Dubar had 23 points as the third-seeded Pride (20-12) advanced. The sixth-seeded Blue Hens (19-14) were led by Gerald Drumgoole Jr., who recorded 23 points and four assists.
Regular season No. 12 Illinois 73, Iowa 61:
Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 25 points, Quincy Guerrier had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the Illini (23-8, 14-6 Big Ten) beat the Hawkeyes (18-13, 10-10) in Iowa City.
Illinois finished three games behind Big Ten champion Purdue and is the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis.
Payton Sandfort led Iowa with 23 points, 19 in the second half.