UT, BG players earn MAC honors

Rian Pearson, A'uston Callhoun named to All-MAC second team

3/8/2012
BLADE STAFF

UT's Pearson, BG's Calhoun All-MAC second-team selections

Toledo and Bowling Green State University each had two players earn All-Mid-American Conference men's basketball honors Wednesday.

Toledo's Rian Pearson and Bowling Green's A'uston Calhoun were named to the All-MAC second team in a vote of the conference's coaches. BG's Scott Thomas was selected for the third team, while UT's Curtis Dennis received honorable mention.

Pearson, a sophomore playing in his first season since transferring from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, leads the league in scoring at 16.6 points a game. The 6-foot-4 guard is third in rebounding (8.4) and eighth in steals (1.6).

Dennis, a New Mexico transfer who became eligible after the fall semester, ranks second on the team in scoring (12.7). In 16 MAC games, the 6-5 guard was tied for fifth with 2.1 3-pointers made per game, averaging 13.3 points a game.

Calhoun, a junior who was an honorable mention pick last year, averaged 13.5 points (ninth in the MAC) and 5.8 rebounds (12th) this season. Calhoun scored 20 points or more in seven games this season.

Thomas, a senior who was an honorable mention a season ago, averaged 12.3 points (12th in the MAC) and 6.5 rebounds (ninth). He also ranks among the NCAA Division I leaders with his 2.4 steals per game.

The All-MAC first team was conference player of the year Mitchell Watt along with Javon McCrea of Buffalo, Justin Greene of Kent State, Julian Mavunga of Miami, and D.J. Cooper of Ohio.

The Rockets' Julius Brown was named to the MA all-freshman team, along with Ball State's Aaron Adeoye, Central Michigan's Austin McBroom, Miami's Brian Sullivan, and Northern Illinois' Abdel Nader.

Brown was named the MAC's freshman of the year on Tuesday.