Eight PBC Men’s Basketball Players Named NABC All-District

KANSAS CITY, KS – An amazing eight PBC men’s basketball players were among the total of 12 named All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).   PBC players dominated the list, taking all six first-team spots and two of the four on the second team.  Montevallo’s D.J. Rivera was named first team while teammate Antoine Davis was second team.  Lander’s Dwight Tolbert, Georgia College’s Ryan Aquino, Francis Marion’s Liki Turner, USC Aiken’s Sterling Council and Columbus State’s Steve Peterson were also named first-team while Clayton State’s Teondre Williams was named second team.  All first-team selections are now eligible for All-America consideration.

Rivera was a First Team All-PBC selection as well as First Team Daktronics All-Region selection. He was named to the PBC All-Tournament Team and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament. He leads the PBC in points per game with 21.8 and steals per game with 2.5. He currently ranks sixth in scoring in the NCAA and 13th in steals. He has scored in double-figures in all but one game in a UM uniform and has 20, 20-plus point performances this season. He broke the UM NCAA record for free throws made in a game with 14 and free throw percentage in a game going 14-of-14 from the charity stripe earlier this season. He also recently broke the UM single season scoring record with 698 points which bested the record set by Greg Brown during the 2006-07 season of 694 points.

Davis who battled an injury most of the season has come on late and helped lead the team to a PBC Tournament Championship and NCAA Southeast Region Championship. He was named Most Valuable Player at the PBC Tournament and was a member of the NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament team. He was named the PBC Defensive Player of the Year earlier this year as well. He has started every game he has played in this season and has scored in double-figures in the last seven games. He ranks second in the PBC in steals per game with 2.3 and third in assists per game with 5.0.

Tolbert was key in Lander's turnaround season in which the Bearcats recorded their first winning record since the 2006-07 season at 18-9. Tolbert was selected Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, leading the conference in scoring at 21.8 points a game and ranking third in 3-point percentage (.427). He had 18 games in which he scored 20 or more points, including six games of 30 or more points.

Aquino led the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) in rebounding at 10.4 rebounds a game and also averaged 17.6 points a game to garner first team All-Southeast Region honors from both Daktronics and the NABC. Aquino also recorded an amazing 16 double-doubles.  He was also selected to participate in the Reese’s Division II All-Star Game at the NCAA Elite Eight in Kentucky.

Turner, a 6-5 native of Richmond, Va., led the Patriots in scoring and rebounding with averages of 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.  He connected on 43.9 percent of his field goal attempts and 77.1 percent of his free throws, while setting FMU season records for free throws made (158) and attempted (205).  He averaged 30.9 minutes per game and registered 48 assists, 13 blocked shots, and 28 steals. He ranks 29th nationally with 10 double-doubles and is 37th in rebounding.  He scored in double figures 25 of 27 games, including thirteen 20-point games. In the Peach Belt listings, he ranks third in scoring, third in rebounding, and 14th in free throw percentage. Earlier this month, Turner was a first-team All-PBC selection and Daktronics All-Region.

The honor is the third postseason accolade for Council, who was also dubbed a 2012 Peach Belt Conference All-Conference First-Team choice. He was also named to the 2012 Daktronics Division II Men’s Basketball All-Southeast Region Second-Team on Wednesday, March 7. Council (Camden, S.C./Camden HS) finished his senior season averaging 11.3 points per game. The senior guard also averaged 2.8 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game over the course of his senior campaign. He led the Peach Belt Conference and is currently in the top 10 in the country with a 90.1 free throw shooting percentage. Council hit 92.2 percent of his free throws during Peach Belt Conference play this season and set the Peach Belt Conference record for consecutive free throws made with 51.

Steve Peterson was a key to leading Columbus State back to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.  The senior guard from Columbus, Ga., led the team and was ranked 13^th in the PBC with 14.9 points per game.  He was also fourth in the league in steals and 17^th in rebounding.  He made his mark in leading the Cougars to the PBC Championship game, averaging 19 ppg during the tournament including a season-high 24 in the final against Montevallo.  That coming one day after hitting the game-winner against USC Aiken in double overtime.  Peterson was named All-Tournament and second-team All-Conference this year.

A Division I transfer from Oregon, Williams is the Lakers' leading scorer this season, averaging 17.9 points per game. The 6-foot-5, 218-pound senior from Atlanta is ranked fourth in the Peach Belt in scoring, and has reached double-figures in scoring in all but three games played this season.  Williams was named PBC All-Conference.

NABC Division II
Southeast Region All-District Teams

First-Team
DJ Rivera, Montevallo
Dwight Tolbert, Lander
Ryan Aquino, Georgia College
Liki Turner, Francis Marion
Sterling Council, USC Aiken
Steve Peterson, Columbus State

Second-Team
Antoine Davis, Montevallo
Daniel Bailey, Queens
Craig Hayes, Mount Olive
Teondre Williams, Clayton State
Brian Hewitt, King

Coach of the Year: Jason Taylor, Anderson