Spartans Named D3Hoops.com All-Region

AURORA, Ill. March 16, 2005 - D3hoops.com has announced the fourth annual D3hoops.com All-Region team for Division III men's basketball. The Aurora University men’s basketball team placed two members on the All-Midwest Region Team.

Senior guard Adam McCoy (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa) and freshman forward Larry Welton (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) were tabbed as First-Team selections. Both players led AU to a 23-5 record, Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference regular season and tournament championships, and a second round appearance in the 2005 NCAA Division III Championships.

Welton led the Spartans, averaging 20.1 points per game and grabbed 7.6 rebounds per game, en route to being named NIIC Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and All-Conference. He was also recently named a finalist for The V Foundation Comeback Award. In his first season at AU, Welton tallied double figure scoring outputs in 27 of the 28 contests, while tallying 20 or more points 15 times and had a career high 40 points against Beloit College.

McCoy was a NIIC All-Conference selection, a 2005 Jostens Award finalist, and Second-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in his final season as a Spartan. McCoy entered the Spartan men’s basketball 1,000-point club and set new marks for three-point field goals attempted and made in a career. He finishes his career with 1,199 points (15th all-time) and 244 of 636 from three-point range. On the year, McCoy averaged 16.0 points and shot 40.1 percent from three-point range (95 of 237).

The Sports Information Directors at the various schools nominated players for these awards and a record 606 players were nominated nationwide. The ballot was then made available to SIDs, who voted for 10 players in their region. SIDs voted for six frontcourt players and four backcourt players and the top vote-getters at each position were named to the All-Region team.

"We are thankful to the Sports Information Directors across Division III who took the time to nominate and vote to provide broader recognition to these worthy student-athletes," said D3hoops.com publisher Pat Coleman. "Participation continues to grow each year and that only strengthens the team."

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