Feb. 28, 2005

RICHARDSON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' senior forward Calvin Nite was named the American Southwest Conference's West Division Player of the Year and head coach Dylan Howard nabbed coach of the year honors to highlight the Cowboys' awards.

Nite was named player of the year, newcomer of the year, first-team All-ASC and first-team All-ASC West Division. He is the first HSU men's player named ASC Player of the Year. The Amarillo, Texas native that transferred to HSU from Abilene Christian for his senior season, averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds and helped the Cowboys go from 7-18 last season to 19-8 this year and claim the ASC West Division title. His 472 points were the third highest total at HSU since going non-scholarship.

Howard, who has seen his team improve each of the last three seasons, had the Cowboys in the ASC Tournament for the first time this year. HSU won 19 games, which is the most in the ASC era at the school. Nine of the Cowboys top 11 scorers this season were freshmen or sophomores.

Sophomore forward Zach Pickleman was named second-team All-ASC West. Pickelman averaged 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. Sophomore Tanner Kudrna and redshirt freshman James Peters were named honorable mention All-ASC. Freshman Mardochee Jean was named to the ASC West All-Freshman team.

--- HSU Athletics ---

American Southwest Conference 2005 Men's Basketball ALL-ASC Team Sidney Hooper G Jr. Sul Ross State Andrews, Texas Cedric Isom G Jr. East Texas Baptist Newton, Texas Calvin Nite F Sr. Hardin-Simmons Amarillo, Texas (Randall HS) Tommy Stolhandske C Sr. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, Texas (Churchill HS) Travis Tennison P So. McMurry San Antonio, Texas (Converse-Judson HS)

First Team All-West Division Keith Darden PG Sr. Concordia-Austin Sante Fe, Texas Sidney Hooper G Jr. Sul Ross State Andrew, Texas Calvin Nite F Sr. Hardin-Simmons Amarillo, Texas (Randall HS) Tommy Stolhandske P Sr. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, Texas (Churchill HS) Travis Tennison P So. McMurry San Antonio, Texas (Converse-Judson HS)

West Division Player of the Year: Calvin Nite, F, Sr., Hardin-Simmons University West Division Defensive Player of the Year: Keith Darden, PG, Sr., Concordia University at Austin West Division Newcomer of the Year: Calvin Nite, F, Sr., Hardin-Simmons University West Division Freshman of the Year: Valentino Maxwell, F, Fr., Concordia University at Austin West Division Coach of the Year: Dylan Howard, Hardin-Simmons University

Second-Team All-West Division Michael Blaylock G Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Dallas, Texas Brandon Gatlin G Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Austin, Texas Zach Pickleman F So. Hardin-Simmons New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon HS) Justin Steward F Sr. Sul Ross State Texico, N.M. J.R. Williams G So. McMurry Dallas, Texas (Duncanville HS)

West Division Freshman Team Ryan Burgart C Fr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Huntsville, Texas Greg Fabry G Fr. Concordia-Austin Austin, Texas (Westwood HS) Brandon Graves G Fr. Concordia-Austin Houston, Texas (Waltrip HS) Mardochee Jean C Fr. Hardin-Simmons Houston, Texas (Hightower HS) Valentino Maxwell F Fr. Concordia-Austin Killeen, Texas (Harker Heights HS)