Ames, Kalipinde highlight all-MCAC team

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Lee Ames and Given Kalipinde were each named to the all-Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball team in an announcement made by the league office.

Ames, who was also named the MCAC Newcomer of the Year, has played and started in all 30 games this season for the Bruins. He averages a team-best 14.3 points per game and shoots 48.1 percent from the field and 88.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Phoenix, Ariz. native has also made 85 3-pointers and ranks third in the NAIA with a 47.5 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. He set the single-game school record with nine 3-pointers in BU's 108-62 win over Waldorf College on Feb. 11 as he scored a career-high 33 points.

Kalipinde, the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 11.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 57.3 perent from the field. He also leads the team with 58 steals this season.

He was named the MCAC Player of the Week on Jan. 20 and scored a season-high 27 points (Feb. 8) against Oklahoma Wesleayn University. Kalipinde has played and started in 29 games this year.

Thomas Hammock and Taylor Young both earned honorable mention all-conference accolades.

Devin Harris of Oklahoma Wesleayn was named the Player of the Year. Harris is second in the MCAC in scoring (21.1 ppg) while leading the conference in assists with 172. The Eagles' head coach, Jason Beschta, was also awarded the MCAC Coach of the Year.

The 10th-ranked Bruins (25-5, 12-2 MCAC) will host the MCAC North Division Tournament on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1 at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. Bellevue will play Haskell Indian Nations University (7-21, 3-11 MCAC) in the quarterfinals at 7:00 p.m.

MCAC Player of the Year: Devin Harris, Oklahoma Wesleyan
MCAC Newcomer of the Year: Lee Ames, Bellevue
MCAC Freshman of the Year: Michael Gholston, Central Christian
MCAC Defensive Player of the Year: Given Kalipinde, Bellevue
MCAC Coach of the Year: Jason Beschta, Oklahoma Wesleyan

All-MCAC Team
Devin Harris, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Nathane Simniok, College of the Ozarks
Lee Ames, Bellevue
Tyler Woods, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Jordan Nelson, Waldorf
Dylan Brewer, York
Aaron Miller, Central Christian
Given Kalipinde, Bellevue
Ron Rousseau, Haskell Indian Nations
Erik Brewer, Waldorf

Honorable Mention All-MCAC
Andre Vaughn, York
Josh Young, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Terrell Eskridge, Central Baptist
Thomas Hammock, Bellevue
Stand Lovato, Haskell Indian Nations
Michael Gholston, Central Christian
Trey Scott, Waldorf
Xavier Huskey, Central Baptist
Heyvis Jackson, York
Taylor Young, Bellevue
Philipp Jahn, Oklahoma Wesleyan