Men's Basketball | 3/6/2017 10:21:00 AM

Robinson Wins Coach of the Year; Vance Earns All-Conference First-Team, Johnson Second-Team

LORMAN, Miss. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its end of the year awards, and Alcorn State University men's basketball head coach Montez Robinson was named Coach of the Year, while senior Marquis Vance was honored on the All-Conference First-Team and Reginal Johnson on the All-Conference Second-Team.
 
Robinson has coached the Braves to back-to-back winning seasons in conference for the first time since 2001-02, 02-03. He's accumulated a 26-10 SWAC record over two seasons.
 
This year, Alcorn won 16 games overall heading into the postseason which is the most since 2001-02. Robinson also secured a winning-season overall for the first time since that same year.
 
Robinson's squad was projected to finish in fifth-place in the SWAC Preseason Poll but rose three spots to earn the No. 2 seed. It came after Alcorn went from ninth-place to second-place after his first year.
 
Vance, from Tchula, Mississippi, was named to the All-Conference First-Team for the second time in his career. He's scored in double-figures 19 times this year and 69 times in his career.
 
Vance averages 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He ranks top-five in the SWAC in both rebounding and blocks. Vance is also second on the team in assists with 64 on the year.
 
Against Alabama State at home, Vance poured in a season-high 27 points. This past weekend at Texas Southern, he racked up 19 points and 12 rebounds for his 10th career double-double and fourth this season.
 
Vance is up to 1,275 career points, 777 rebounds and 207 assists in his four years at Alcorn.
 
Johnson, from Monroe, Louisiana, has been Alcorn's leading scorer all season and averages 15.6 points per game while shooting .524 from the field.
 
In his last 28 games, Johnson has recorded double-figures 27 times. It included a pair of monster performances against Mississippi Valley State where he notched a career-high 28 points at home and 27 on the road.
 
Johnson has etched five double-doubles this year. He ranks top-10 in the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
 
The Braves will be in action Tuesday at home when they host MVSU in the first round of the SWAC Championships at 6 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
NOTES
- Robinson became the first Alcorn head coach to win Coach of the Year since Davey L. Whitney in 2001-02
 
- Alcorn garnered two All-Conference selections for the first time since 1998-99 when guard Reuben Stiff and forward Eddrick Wheaton were both named to the First-Team
 
- The Braves have had a student-athlete on the All-Conference First-Team for four consecutive years with Vance this year and 2014-15, Tamarcio Wilson in 2015-16 and LeAntwan Luckett in 2013-14
 
All-Conference First-Team
Zach Lofton, Texas Southern (Guard)
Marcus Romain, Mississippi Valley State (Guard)
Shawn Prudhomme, Southern (Forward)
Marquis Vance, Alcorn (Forward)
Avery Ugba, Grambling (Center)
 
All-Conference Second-Team
Yettra Specks, Jackson State (Guard)
Tevin Bellinger, Prairie View A&M (Guard)
Reginal Johnson, Alcorn (Forward)
Kevin Scott, Texas Southern (Forward)
Jared Sam, Southern (Center)
 
Player of the Year
Zach Lofton, Texas Southern
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Marvin Jones, Texas Southern
 
Newcomer of the Year
Zach Lofton, Texas Southern
 
Freshman of the Year
Demontrae Jefferson, Texas Southern
 
Coach of the Year
Montez Robinson, Alcorn
 
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