Men's Basketball Announces 2009-10 Awards

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball team announced its 2009-10 season award winners in conjunction with its annual postseason banquet held this past Sunday (April 20) at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Big Rapids.

In addition to presenting the award winners, the banquet also highlighted the season's accomplishments. Head coach Bill Sall reviewed the 2009-10 season and a special tribute took place for the team’s three senior guards in Jon Yeazel, Josh Young and Austin Randel.  The banquet was sponsored by the FSU Rebounders Club.

Junior forward/center Justin Keenan was tabbed as the squad's Most Valuable Player Award recipient for the third consecutive season.  Keenan became the school's first-ever men's basketball All-America pick at the Division II level and the first Bulldog player in 36 years to claim All-America accolades at any level this past season.  The 2009-10 State Farm® Coaches' All-America First Team selection was also honored this year as the winner of the prestigious Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year Award for the 2009-10 season, becoming the first Bulldog men's basketball player in 20 years to attain the recognition.

A consensus preaseason All-America honoree and two-time first team All-GLIAC recipient, Keenan averaged a league-leading 21.1 points per game in 22 conference regular-season contests this season and held a 20.1 points per game average for all games this campaign.  Additionally, his 465 points in league games finished only six shy of matching the league's single-season scoring record of 471 points set by Saginaw Valley State's Michael Williams in the 1993-94 season.

The 6-6 Keenan also broke two GLIAC single-season records with his 176 made free throws and 253 total attempts in league regular-season play this season while becoming the school's all-time leader in career made free throws (562) along with topping his own single-season record with 215 makes in all games at the charity stripe.  He shattered the previous league records of 132 free throws made and 196 attempts that had been set by former Bulldog center Adam Anderson in the 2000-01 season.

FSU's Most Improved Player Award was given to junior forward Matt DeHart, who played in all 29 contests and started 13 outings this campaign.  The 6-3 DeHart posted personal career-highs with 158 points and 62 rebounds while shooting a team second-best 43.3% (42-97) beyond the three-point stripe.  He ranked sixth in the GLIAC this season in three-point percentage.

The team's Best Defensive Player Award went to senior guard Josh Young.  He started 19 of his 28 contests and compiled 32 steals and 122 rebounds while averaging 8.4 points per game.  Young, who often was given the task of guarding the other team's top offensive player, concluded his two-year Bulldog career with 631 points, 273 rebounds, 98 assists and 68 steals.

Senior Jon Yeazel was the recipient of the Sixth Man Award after coming off the bench for 17 of his 29 outings in his lone season with the Bulldogs.  The former Central Michigan transfer chipped in 260 points and 122 rebounds with 68 assists and 39 steals.  He placed sixth in the league in field goal percentage (.495) and was seventh in free throw percentage (.815). Yeazel led the team in free throw percentage this year.

Finally, the team's Coaches Award went to senior Austin Randel.  The Lake City native concluded his two-year Bulldog career with 492 points and 157 rebounds in 54 outings.  He tallied 11.1 points per game this season while starting 26 of 28 contests and ranked as the squad's second-leading scorer behind Keenan.  Randel also made 58-of-171 (.339) three-point field goals as a senior.

Ferris State concluded the 2009-10 men's basketball campaign with a 16-13 overall record and the Bulldogs placed tied for second (13-9) in GLIAC North Division play. In addition, FSU made its 11th GLIAC Tournament appearance this campaign, which was the program's fifth berth in the last six years.

The Bulldogs have claimed two GLIAC North Division Championships and made two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances under Sall's direction, including a trip to the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen in 2004-05.