Kent State's Fisher, NIU's Anderson Pick Up Postseason Awards
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Today the Mid-American Conference announced that Kent State’s Al Fisher and Northern Illinois’ Darion “Jake” Anderson have earned top honors for the 2007-08 basketball season. Fisher was named Player of the Year, while Anderson captured Freshman of the Year honors. The awards were voted on by th MAC News Media Association members.
Anderson was a near unanimous selection by the MNMA, while Fisher edged Ohio’s Leon Williams by six votes in the Player of the Year race. Western Michigan’s Joe Reitz followed in the voting for the top player in the conference, while Miami’s Tim Pollitz, Western Michigan’s David Kool and Central Michigan’s Giordan Watson also received consideration.
Fisher leads KSU with 14.3 points and 4.2 assists per game. A four time MAC East Player of the Week, he has been even more impressive in league play and ranks in the top ten in four categories, averaging 16.3 points per game (4th); 4.0 assists per game (4th), .859 FT percentage (2nd); .94 assist/turnover ratio (8th). All five of Fisher’s 20 point games this year have come on the road, including a signature 28 point performance in the ESPNU BracketBuster upset at No. 20 Saint Mary’s.
In Sunday’s regular season finale he hit the game winning three-pointer in the closing seconds to give Kent State the overall MAC and East Division Titles outright. He finished the game with 17 points along with eight rebounds, leading the team in scoring for the 14th time this season. Averaging 9.6 ppg after halftime in league play, Fisher’s flair for the dramatic has increased throughout the season as he has scored double figures in the second half of 12 of the last 14 games. Fisher became the second player in Kent State history to be recognized as Player of the Year.
“This is a tremendous achievement for Al,” said Kent State Head Coach Jim Christian. “The impact he made this year as a newcomer to the league is remarkable. I can’t say enough about the lift he has given our program this season. He is a pleasure to coach and hope his success continues as we turn our focus toward winning the MAC Tournament.”
Anderson became the third player in NIU history to be recognized as Freshman of the Year. The last player from Northern Illinois to win the award was Kenny Battle in 1985. Anderson became the first freshman to lead NIU in scoring (11.8 ppg.) since 1996. He also leads the Huskies in assists (2.8 apg.) and second in rebounding (5.2 rpg.). Anderson is third in school history for points scored by a freshman (308).
Anderson’s No. 11 seeded Northern Illinois Huskies will take on the No. 6 seed Central Michigan Huskies in the first round of the 2008 FirstEnergy MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 12 at 3 p.m. Fisher and the Golden Flashes will face off against the winner of the No. 8 Toledo vs. No. 9 Bowling Green game in the Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
“It is a tremendous honor for Darion to be named Freshman of the Year in such a competitive field of Freshman,” said NIU Head Coach Ricardo Patton. “There’s no question that Darion is a great starting block to building the NIU men’s basketball program.”
Tomorrow the All-MAC and All-Freshman teams will be announced along with the Sixth Man of the Year Award and Defensive Player of the Year Award.
