SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (UND Athletics)– Four members of the North Dakota men’s basketball team received honors from the Summit League, as announced by the conference office on Thursday. B.J. Omot, a preseason second team all-conference member, was named First Team All-Summit League. Tyree Ihenahco also earned all-league honors, placing on the second team. Eli King was named to the all-defensive team and Amar Kuljuhovic the newcomer team.
Omot led the Fighting Hawks in points for the second straight season, bolstering his scoring average from 12 points per game to 16.8 (in all games—fifth in the SL). In Summit League games he scored 17 points per game, sixth in the SL. He set a new career high with 30 points in an 82-69 win at Kansas City this season. Additionally, he earned his first career Summit League Peak Performer of the Week award with 21 points and eight rebounds at Nebraska.
He shot .413 from the floor and .700 from the foul line, also averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and led UND with 29 blocked shots.
Ihenacho was second to Omot in minutes per game with 33.2, and one of the top distributors in the conference with four per game; third best in the SL. He also finished with a 1.6/1 assist/turnover ratio, top ten in the conference. He set a new career high with 24 points against South Dakota this season and also tied his career high with eight assists in that game.
He had his first UND double-double against Oral Roberts with 22 points and 11 rebounds. He also set a new career high with four blocked shots at Oral Roberts in February. For the year he averaged 14.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game (all games).
King was among the league leaders in steals all season, and finished second with 1.8 steals per game in conference play. His quick hands and nose for the ball set up numerous opportunities for UND on the fast break. In addition to his 49 steals, he averaged 7.1 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game.
He set career highs with 18 points at Denver, nine rebounds at Cal State Fullerton, five assists at Pacific and six steals against Kansas City, which tied the program’s Division I record.
Kuljuhovic was the top rebounder in SL games this season, averaging 10.3 per game in conference. He finished with eight double-doubles this season, the first one coming against New Orleans in November with 15 points and ten rebounds and six coming against SL opponents—including both games against Denver and both games against North Dakota State. He averaged 8.8 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game (in all games).
His season highs were 19 points against Denver, 17 rebounds at South Dakota, three assists in three separate games, three steals against New Orleans and at South Dakota State and two blocks against New Orleans and North Dakota State. He won Peak Performer of the Week in February after back-to-back double-doubles at South Dakota and against NDSU.
Men’s Basketball All-League Awards
First Team:
Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
Frankie Fidler, Omaha
Tommy Bruner, Denver
B.J. Omot, North Dakota
Jamar Brown, Kansas City
William Kyle III, South Dakota State
Second Team:
Andrew Morgan, North Dakota State
Issac McBride, Oral Roberts
Raheem Anthony, St. Thomas
Tyree Ihenacho, North Dakota
Parker Bjorklund, St. Thomas
Honorable Mention
Kaleb Stewart, South Dakota
Lahat Thioune, South Dakota
Boden Skunberg, North Dakota State
Charlie Easley, South Dakota State
Touko Tainamo, Denver
All-Newcomer Team
Jamar Brown, Kansas City
Raheem Anthony, St. Thomas
Lahat Thioune, South Dakota
Kaleb Stewart, South Dakota
Amar Kuljuhovic, North Dakota
All-Defensive Team
William Kyle III, South Dakota State
Charlie Easley, South Dakota State
Babacar Diallo, Kansas City
Eli King, North Dakota
Jacari White, North Dakota State
Player of the Year: Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Jamar Brown, Kansas City
Freshman of the Year: Jayson Petty, Kansas City
Sixth Man of the Year: Khristion Courseault, Kansas City
Defensive Player of the Year: William Kyle III, South Dakota State
Coach of the Year: Marvin Menzies, Kansas City
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