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Oklahoma City University Athletics

Oklahoma City University
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Xavier Smith

Men's Basketball

Stars' Smith collects SAC player of year

Alderman, Dunbar from OCU made honorable-mention all-SAC

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University's Xavier Smith snared Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball player of the year.
Smith was also named league co-defensive player of the year. Tyler Alderman and Lou Dunbar of the Stars took honorable-mention all-SAC accolades.
Smith, a senior from Richardson, Texas, became the first from OCU to be named SAC player of the year since Ollie Bailey in 2008. Smith completed the regular season averaging 15.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.50 blocks per game with 13 double-doubles. He ranks among the NAIA's top 10 in blocked shots per game, blocks (70), defensive rebounds a game and rebounds (263).
In 2016-17, Smith posted three 27-game performances, an 18-rebound game at Mid-America Christian and six rejections against Langston on Nov. 22, when the Stars blocked 14 shots to set an OCU single-game record. OCU had the previous mark with 13 blocks in a 73-62 win over USAO on Feb. 3, 1994 in Oklahoma City. Smith made the top 100 watch list for the Bevo Francis Award and the finalist list for the Dark Horse Dunker competition.
Alderman provided the Stars with 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.00 block per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the field. Alderman, a senior from Fishers, Ind., established season highs with 24 points vs. St. Gregory's on Jan. 19, 13 rebounds vs. Trinity Bible (N.D.) on Dec. 10 and five blocks vs. Langston.
Dunbar collected 14.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists a contest while nailing 42.5 percent of his 3-point shots. Dunbar, a junior from Seabrook, Texas, rates among the NAIA's top 10 in treys made (79) and 3-pointers made per game (2.82).
On Jan. 26, Dunbar scored 50 points for one of three 50-point performances in the NAIA this season. Dunbar had the highest scoring output by a player in OCU's NAIA era and tied the program's single-game record with 11 3s. Dunbar became the first OCU player since Rich Travis in 1967 to go for 50 points. Dunbar reeled in SAC player of the week and NAIA player of the week for Jan. 23-29.
 
All-Sooner Athletic Conference
MEN
First Team
Xavier Smith, Oklahoma City; Naiel Smith, Texas Wesleyan; Taran Buie, USAO; Dion Rogers, Texas Wesleyan; Keyunta Watkins, Southwestern Assemblies of God.
Second Team
Marvin White, Southwestern Christian; Maurice Redmond, Wayland Baptist; Najeal Young, Texas Wesleyan; Olajuwon Garner, Mid-America Christian; Rodney Smith, St. Gregory's.
Third Team
Josh Simmons, Southwestern Christian; Isaak Rowe, Southwestern Assemblies of God; Jordan Rutherford, St. Gregory's; Zach English, John Brown; Malcolm Mann, Mid-America Christian.
Honorable Mention
Tyler Alderman, Oklahoma City; Julius Foster, USAO; Lou Dunbar, Oklahoma City; Shawn Scott, Southwestern Christian; Brendan Chapman, USAO.
 
Player of the year: Xavier Smith, Oklahoma City.
Defensive player of the year: Shawn Scott, Southwestern Christian; Xavier Smith, Oklahoma City.
Freshman of the year: Lance Tipton, Southwestern Assemblies of God.
Newcomer of the year: Naiel Smith, Texas Wesleyan.
John Hudson coach of the year: Donnie Bostwick, Southwestern Assemblies of God; Brennen Shingleton, Texas Wesleyan.
Sportsmanship award: Keyunta Watkins, Southwestern Assemblies of God.

SAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1980—Rob Mayberry, Oklahoma Christian
1982—Gary Childs, Oklahoma Baptist
1984—Devi Parks, Oklahoma Baptist
1985—Doug Bradley, Oklahoma Christian
1986—Doug Bradley, Oklahoma Christian
1987—Luther Burks, Oklahoma City
1988—Herb Blunt, USAO
1989—Steve Dunn, Oklahoma Christian
1990—Willie Gilmore, Oklahoma Baptist
1991—John Turner, Phillips
1992—Eric Manuel, Oklahoma City
1993—Fabio Sant'Anna, Oklahoma Baptist
1994—Cory Cole, Oklahoma Christian
1995—Eric Jones, Oklahoma Baptist
1996—Dwayne Williams, Southern Nazarene
1997—Eric Cardenas, Oklahoma Baptist
1998—Joe Bunn, Phillips
1999—Jay Mauck, Oklahoma Christian
2000—L.J. Johnson, Oklahoma City
2001—Tyrone Ellis, Southern Nazarene
2002—Dujuan Brown, Oklahoma Baptist
2003—David Williams, Oklahoma Baptist
2004—Jamel Coachman, Oklahoma Baptist; Jarred Merrill, Oklahoma Christian
2005—Jarred Merrill, Oklahoma Christian
2006—Brandon Cole, John Brown
2007—Kendall Webb, Wayland Baptist
2008—Ollie Bailey, Oklahoma City
2009—Jason Taylor, Oklahoma Christian
2010—Nate Brumfield, Oklahoma Baptist
2011—Kevin Swinton, Oklahoma Baptist
2012—Kyle Hunt, USAO; Emmanuel Wilson, Oklahoma Baptist
2013—Charlie Shorter, Mid-America Christian
2014—Dominque Rambo, Southwestern Assemblies of God
2015—Semar Farris, Mid-America Christian
2016—Jerell Ellis, Texas Wesleyan
2017—Xavier Smith, Oklahoma City

 
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Players Mentioned

Lou Dunbar

#22 Lou Dunbar

G
6' 3"
Junior
Tyler Alderman

#4 Tyler Alderman

C
6' 9"
Senior
Xavier Smith

#11 Xavier Smith

C
6' 9"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Lou Dunbar

#22 Lou Dunbar

6' 3"
Junior
G
Tyler Alderman

#4 Tyler Alderman

6' 9"
Senior
C
Xavier Smith

#11 Xavier Smith

6' 9"
Senior
C