2011-12 All-RMAC men's basketball team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fort Lewis College's
Matt Morris was a unanimous pick on the All-
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference first team, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced yesterday.
Additionally,
Matt Billups was named to the All-RMAC third team.
“This is richly deserved for both players. They've been great ambassadors for our program, both on and off the floor,” said 16th-year FLC head coach
Bob Hofman. “They've never missed a (RMAC Shootout) Final Four, which is a tribute to not only their ability, but to their leadership. I couldn't be happier for two players who have earned everything they've achieved.
Morris, a 6-foot-6 senior center from Durango High School, earned All-RMAC honors for the third year in a row. He previously earned first team honors as a junior and second team All-RMAC West Division as a sophomore.
Earlier this month, Morris became the second men's basketball player in school history to earn Capitol One Academic All-America accolades when he was named to the third team. He was named to the Academic All-District VII first team this year, having earned second team honors as a junior in 2010-11.
Morris is a three-time RMAC All-Academic first team performer, a three-time D2 Athletic Directors Association/WeatherPORT Academic Achievement Award winner, and was chosen as the RMAC/Baden Offensive Player of the Week on Jan. 2 and Feb. 6, 2012.
A four-year starter, Morris leads the RMAC and ranks ninth in the nation in rebounding (10.1 rpg). The only player in the conference to average a double-double this season (15.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg), Morris also leads the RMAC in defensive rebounds (6.7 rpg) and ranks among conference leaders in offensive rebounds (second, 3.4 rpg), field goal shooting (third, .596), scoring (fifth, 15.0 ppg), free throw shooting (23rd, .703), and assists (29th, 1.9 apg).
He ranks among FLC career leaders in rebounds (sixth, 668), free throws (sixth, 302), scoring (13th, 1,160), field goals (14th, 429), and blocked shots (15th, 36).
Billups, a 6-foot senior guard, earned All-RMAC honors for the first time in his career. A three-year starter, he was named to the Capitol One Academic All-Central Region team earlier this month. He is a two-time RMAC All-Academic performer, having been named to the second team this year and the Honor Roll last season. He also received the D2 Athletic Directors Association/WeatherPORT Academic Achievement awards in 2010-11.
Billups ranks among RMAC leaders in minutes played (ninth, 31.9 per game), free throw shooting (ninth, .800), scoring (13th, 12.9 ppg), steals (14th, 1.3 spg), three-point field goals (18th, 1.3 per game), assists (21st, 2.1 apg), and three-point shooting (24th, .354).
Fort Lewis (16-11 overall, 13-9 and tied for fourth place in the RMAC regular season standings) clawed to a 77-73 overtime win over Adams State last night in the first round of the RMAC Shootout.
The Skyhawks advance to the Final Four of the RMAC Shootout, where they'll face archrival Colorado Mesa (15-12) in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Colorado State Fair Events Center in Pueblo. The Mavericks upset 12th-ranked Metro State 67-63 tonight in Denver.
Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa split their games in 2011-12, with each holding serve on their home courts. The Mavs beat FLC 69-53 in Grand Junction on Dec. 16, while the Skyhawks beat CMU 61-50 in Durango last Saturday.
