PENN ST. ALTOONA'S ISHIMEAL NANCE EARNS PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS AS MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM IS ANNOUNCED

Penn State Altoona senior guard/forward Ishimeal Nance has been named the 2018 AMCC Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Nance finished the regular season as the AMCC's leading scorer, averaging 19.0 points per game and totaling 476 points. Also in the conference, he ranked first in defensive rebounds (155), second in total rebounds (194), rebounds per game (7.8), minutes (803), minutes per game (32.1), field goals made (164), and free throws made (115). Additionally, he ranked third in points per 40 (23.7), sixth in steals (41), seventh in field goal percentage (52.4%), and 10th in three-point percentage (37.9%) and free throw percentage (77.2%). Nance was a two-time AMCC Player of the Week honoree during the season and led the Lions to a No. 4 seed in the AMCC championship tournament, as well as a berth in the ECAC postseason tournament.

Penn State Behrend junior guard Malike Brinson has been tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year. Brinson is known across the conferene to be an outstanding defender on and off ball. He finished the regular season fourth in total steals and sixth in steals per game, while also drawing 14 charges on the year.

Newcomer of the Year honors goes to Hilbert College freshman guard Antonio Alvarez. Alvarez had an immediate impact with the Hawks, leading them in three-point field goals made (41) and rebounds per game (6.5), while ranking second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg). Amongst his AMCC peers, Alvarez is second in three-point field goal percentage (40.6), third in overall offensive rebounds (73), eighth in total rebounds (163) and three-point field goals made (41), ninth in rebounds per game (6.5), and 10th in blocks (23). He finished the regular season as the conference's 16th leading scorer averaging 12.5 points per game and was a two-time AMCC Player of the Week recipient. For the week ending 1/22/18 Alvarez was a candidate for the NCAA Div III Hero of the Week award. 

La Roche College head coach Hermie Carmichael and Hilbert head coach Rob deGrandpre have been named Co-Coaches of the Year. Carmichael picks up the honor for the second time in the past three years after guiding the Redhawks to a 21-6 overall record and 16-2 in league play. La Roche claimed both the AMCC regular season and postseason championship titles this season. deGrandpre picks up his second coach of the year honor after leading the Hawks to 18-9 overall record, going 13-5 in the AMCC.

Click here for the complete men's basketball all-conference team and postseason awards.