MSC BASKETBALL

Smith honored by BCANY The Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) recently named Morrisville State College men’s basketball coach Joseph Smith the 2014 Division III Men’s Coach of the Year. Smith guided the Mustangs to their third straight North Eastern Athletic Conference ( NEAC) Championship Tournament title and a third straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament behind a 22- 9 overall record on the season. Following a historical season for the Mustangs just a year ago with an appearance in the Sweet 16, Smith led Morrisville State back to the tournament where they again made college and conference history. In NCAA Tournament play, Smith coached the Mustangs program to upset victories over two nationally ranked programs ( No. 11 Brockport, No. 22 Richard Stockton) in its post- season run, advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in college and conference history. In five seasons at the helm of the program, Smith has posted an 83- 53 overall record, including a 45- 15 record the past two seasons, along with a 5- 3 NCAA tournament record. Smith, who in 2004 was named the Liberty League Player of the Year, the BCANY Division III Player of the Year and an All- American in his final season with Hamilton College, is the first coach to garner such honors from the New York coaches association at Morrisville State. In mid- March, the Sherrill native was named the D3hoops. com East Region Coach of the Year for a second straight season, leading Morrisville State to a No. 16 national ranking come year end.