Four WKU Men’s Basketball players were recognized Monday as Conference USA announced its post-season awards.
Senior Guard Don McHenry was named to the All-CUSA Second Team while graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. and graduate guard Khristian Lander were honorable mentions. Freshman guard Julius Thedford was named to the All-Freshman team.
McHenry was the fifth-leading scorer within Conference USA, averaging 16.9 points per game. During conference play he only had one game below double digits and seven performances over 20 points including a 30-point outing against Kennesaw State on Feb. 6. The Hilltoppers were just 3-6 in games McHenry scored below 15 and did not win a single game when McHenry scored below 12.
He wasn’t the only Hilltopper in the top 20 scorers. Lander landed in 18th, averaging 12 points per game. A 30-point game against Jacksonville State on Feb. 8 and a 28-point night against UTEP on Jan. 30 cemented him as a reliable scorer outside of McHenry.
Marshall ended his season averaging 10 points a game as well as 6.6 rebounds, breaking out in the Hilltopper’s 101-69 win over New Mexico State on Feb. 1. Against the Aggies he shot 10-14 with four 3-pointers in pursuit of a 24-point night.
Thedford, who went down with a knee injury on Jan. 18 against Middle Tennesse State, was averaging 12 points a game overall and 14 per game in his five conference games. He had two consecutive 18-point conference performances in the Hilltoppers comeback win against Liberty on Jan. 2 and their loss against FIU on Jan 4.
The Hilltoppers will play FIU on Tuesday at 8 p.m. as the No. 7 seed in the first round of the Conference USA tournament.
Sports Reporter Nathan Mueller can be reached nathan.mueller103@topper.wku.edu.
