Brown, Baron, Mason Honored by MidMajorMadness.com
MAAC Sports
Rhamel Brown of Manhattan was named “Defensive Player of the Year” and Billy Baron of Canisius was selected to the Mid-Major All-America first team by the website MidMajorMadness.com. Additionally, Antoine Mason of Niagara was chosen Mid-Major All-America honorable mention by the website.
Brown played an instrumental role in Manhattan’s run to the MAAC Championship title and the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Brown averaged 10.1 points per game, and was 14th in the MAAC with 5.9 rebounds per game.
Brown also spearheaded the Jaspers’ defense, averaging 3.64 blocks per game, best in the MAAC and No. 3 in NCAA Division I. Brown was a key as Manhattan led the MAAC in field goal percentage defense, allowing its opponent to convert just .409 field goals, and No. 3 in No. 3 in scoring defense, allowing just 70.0 points per game. Manhattan also led the MAAC with 6.1 blocked shots per game, was third in rebounding margin with +1.1 rebounds per game.
Baron was the 2014 Pepsi MAAC Player of the Year, and finished his senior season averaging 24.1 points per game, No. 4 in Division I and second in the MAAC. Baron, who was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America, led the MAAC with 5.3 assists per game, and 3.1 three-point field goals per game. He was also the conference leader in field goal percentage, hitting .884, No. 15 nationally. Baron was also second nationally in minutes played per game, averaging 38.58.
Baron scored in double figures 33 times, had 20-plus points 26 times and scored 30 or more points in a game nine times in 2013-14, highlighted by a career-high 40 points in a win at Siena on Feb. 16. He was a two-time All-MAAC First Team honoree.
Mason led the MAAC in scoring, averaging 25.6 points per game. He was nation’s leading scorer for almost three months of the season, and led the country with 260 free throws made.
During the year, Mason scored 30 or more points 12 times, including a career-high 39 points in win over Brown which were the most points in regulation by a MAAC player last season. Mason, an All-MAAC Second Team selection, also averaged 3.6 rebounds per game while averaging 37.6 minutes in 33 games
The MidMajorMadness.com awards and All-America teams were chosen by a panel of experts who cover mid-major college basketball on a regular basis. Cleanthony Early of Wichita State was named Player of the Year, while Greg Marshall, head coach of the Shockers, was the Coach of the Year. Cameron Payne of Murray State was named Freshman of the Year.