The Austin College men’s basketball team put together a strong season in 2011-2012, finishing the year with a 15-11 overall record. That finish included an 11-5 mark in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play and the team’s fifth straight trip to the conference tournament as the # 2 seed out of the SCAC West.
The ’Roos were led all season by forward Josh Saunders ’12, who led the team with averages of 12.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Saunders finished among the conference leaders in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals, and free throw percentage, and was second on the team with 59 assists. Saunders was named 1st Team All-SCAC in recognition of his outstanding final season.
First-year forward Antoine Thompson ’14 had an immediate impact, finishing second on the team in scoring with 11.0 points and adding 4.3 rebounds per game despite coming off the bench all 26 games. Guards Ransom Okpala ’14 and Jordan Hancock ’14 each put together solid seasons, finishing third and fourth on the team in scoring, respectively. Both Okpala, who was among the conference leaders in free throw percentage, and Hancock, who led the team with 76 assists, were named Honorable Mention All-SCAC.
The ’Roos also got strong contributions from forwards Walter Phillips ’13, who averaged 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, and Alen Michael ’13, who stepped into a starting role this season and averaged 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 52.8 percent from the field for the year. Graduate student Greg Harrell, a two-time 1st Team All-SCAC wide receiver for the Kangaroo football team, started 24 games this season and quickly became one of the team’s key contributors and top defensive players.
Next season, head coach Rodney Wecker will be forced to replace Saunders and Harrell, but the ’Roos return the bulk of their squad and look to head back to the SCAC tournament in 2012-2013 for a sixth straight challenge for the conference championship.