Sextet of Players Earn NABC All-District Honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Six Horizon League men's basketball players earned a place on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District teams.  Voted on by members of the NABC, Matt Howard, Norris Cole and Brandon Wood were named First Team All-District 12, with Vaughn Duggins, Shelvin Mack and Anthony Hill receiving recognition on the second team.

Howard earned MVP honors at the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship after leading Butler to its second consecutive tournament title and fifth straight NCAA Tournament bid.  A three-time First Team All-Horizon League pick, the senior enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 16.7 points per game to go along with 7.8 rebounds per contest.

Cole received Horizon League Player of the Year accolades after pacing the League in scoring, steals and tying for the lead in assists in the regular season, becoming the first player since the second year of the League's existence to do so.  The senior recorded one of the most memorable games in recent NCAA history with a 41-point, 20-rebound, 9-assist effort on Feb. 12.  At 21.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.3 assists per game, Cole will lead Cleveland State into postseason play, with the opponent to be determined.

Wood rounded out the first team after leading Valparaiso to the most Horizon League wins (12) in its four years in the conference.  Eclipsing the 1,000-point mark in just his second year with the Crusaders, Wood paced the team with 17.0 ppg.  Receiving All-Tournament Team honors at the League Championship after back-to-back 24-point performances, the junior will take Valparaiso into postseason play.

Duggins climbed the Wright State career scoring charts throughout the season, finishing third in the Raiders' record book after averaging 18.0 ppg.  Playing with a broken back for most of the year, Duggins received First Team All-Horizon League honors at the end of the regular season.  The senior was part of a class that saw Wright State win 10 or more League teams in five straight years, making the Raiders one of two League schools to achieve the feat in the last half decade.

On Tuesday, Mack picked up his third consecutive All-Tournament Team honor, giving him a chance to tie his teammate, Howard, for the record of four next season.  The junior finished the regular season by scoring in double figures in each of the last 16 games, entering the NCAA Tournament with a scoring average of 15.2 ppg.  Playing more of a facilitator role this season, Mack is fifth in the League with 3.6 apg.

Hill was a major reason behind Milwaukee's resurgence in the second half of the Horizon League season, locking down the block to post 15.5 ppg and 6.6 rpg on the year.  Leading the Panthers to 10 straight wins over League opponents until the title game, Hill had 24 points in a semifinal win and recorded a team-high 10 points and eight boards on Tuesday night.  The senior takes Milwaukee to the NIT, where they will learn its opponent on Sunday night.

The six are part of the national pool of 245 student-athletes now eligible for the State Farm Coaches' Division I All-America teams, to be announced on Saturday, April 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET as part of the NABC Convention and the NCAA Final Four.