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    Alexander Named SLC Freshman of the Year
    Clark earns second-team honors for second consecutive season
    Josh Alexander
    Josh Alexander

    March 6, 2006

    PLANO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin's Josh Alexander has been named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, league officials announced Monday. The rookie from Shreveport, La. earned the honor by ranking in the Top 10 in the conference in six different statistical categories. SFA senior Marcus Clark joined Alexander on the all-conference squads, as he was voted onto the All-SLC second team for the second consecutive year.

    Alexander posted a brilliant Lumberjack debut, leading all SLC freshmen and ranking eighth in the league overall, with 14.2 points per game. He opened the season by scoring in double digits in 10 consecutive games. Alexander finished hot, as well, scoring 10 or more points in seven of the Lumberjacks' last eight contests. He scored 20 or more in five of the last seven games of the season.

    The 6-4 guard was no slouch on the boards, either. He averaged 6.2 rebounds per game, which ranked ninth in the conference. He posted double-digit rebound games three times this season, each time as part of a double-double. Alexander's 2.44 offensive rebounds per contest ranked fifth in the SLC.

    Alexander connected on 52.8 percent of his field goals to finish the regular season ranked sixth in the league. He led the conference in 3-pointers with 2.48 per game, and his 47.9-percent accuracy from 3-point range ranked second. Alexander hit seven threes against Louisiana Monroe on March 1, tying him for fourth place on the SFA single-game list. In that same game, Alexander set career highs in points (27) and rebounds (11).

    Alexander is the third Lumberjack in school history to be named SLC Freshman of the Year. Rontrek Floyd took the honor in 1993, and Stevin Ozier was the league's top rookie in 2002.

    Clark upheld his reputation as one of the best point guards in the Southland Conference to earn his second straight league honor as a second-team All-SLC selection. Clark proved to be one of the most consistent and durable backcourt players in the league this season, as he ranked second in the conference in assists (4.88), assist-turnover ratio (2.00) and minutes played (33.68). The Marshall, Texas native led the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.500), was third in the conference in steals (2.24) and averaged 11.6 points per game, good enough for 19th in the league.

    Clark became the all-time assists leader in school history earlier this season and will finish his career in the Top 10 all-time for free throw percentage. He will also finish in the Top 6 in terms of games played.

    The Lumberjacks (16-11) will open play in the SLC Tournament Tuesday night with a home game against McNeese State (14-13). The contest is set to tip off at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.

    - SFA - 

    2006 All-Southland Conference Men's Basketball

    First Team
Name	                University	         Pos.	 Cl.	Ht.	  Hometown
Ricky Woods	         Southeastern La.	   F	    SR	 6-6	  New Orleans, La.
Clifton Lee         	Northwestern State	 F	    SR	 6-7	  Boyce, La.
Alan Daniels	        Lamar	              F	    SR	 6-6	  Tulsa, Okla.
Chris Jordan	        Sam Houston State	  G	    SR	 6-4	  Hitchcock, Texas
J.T. Williams	       McNeese State	      F	    SR	 6-5	  Portageville, Mo.

    Second Team
Name	                University	         Pos.	 Cl.	Ht.	  Hometown
Andre Owens	         Texas-San Antonio	  G	    SR	 6-4	  Irving, Texas
Steven Thomas	       Texas-Arlington	    F	    SR	 6-5	  Fort Worth, Texas
Marcus Clark	        Stephen F. Austin	  G	    SR	 5-10	 Marshall, Texas
Tyronn Mitchell     	Northwestern State	 G	    SR	 6-1	  New Iberia, La.
Jarrett Howell	      Texas-Arlington	    G	    SR	 5-11	 Arlington, Texas

    Third Team
Name	                University	         Pos.	 Cl.	Ht.	  Hometown
Stefan Blaszczynski	 Nicholls State	     G	    JR	 6-5	  Sydney, Australia
Jejuan Plair	        Sam Houston State	  G	    JR	 6-1	  Killeen, Texas
Jermaine Wallace	    Northwestern State	 G	    SR	 6-3	  Heflin, La.
Dwight Boatner	      McNeese State	      G	    JR	 6-1	  Lake Charles, La.
Thomas Fairley	      Lamar	              F/C	  SR	 6-9	  Long Beach, Miss.

    Player of the Year:
Ricky Woods, Southeastern Louisiana

    Newcomer of the Year:
Jejuan Plair, Sam Houston State

    Freshman of the Year:
Josh Alexander, Stephen F. Austin

    Coach of the Year:
Mike McConathy, Northwestern State