All-Conference Release

Senior Jaleel Bell of Fitchburg State is the 2016-17 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and headlines the All-Conference team which is voted on by the seven coaches around the conference.

Leading the Falcons to the top seed in the MASCAC Tournament and the MASCAC Regular Season Title, the senior from Dorchester, Mass. earns his second straight Player of the Year honors. He finished the regular season first in the conference in points per game (22.2), total points (554) and steals (54). He was also third in defensive rebounds (171), fourth in free throw percentage (83) and fifth in total rebounds (205 and three-point percentage (41). Throughout the season, Bell was named the MASCAC Player of the Week four times. 

Keiland Cross of MCLA is the 2016-17 MASCAC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year. The junior from Pittsfield, Mass. had a solid season for the Trailblazers, averaging 16 points per game, second most in the league while tallying the most assists in the conference with 104. He also collected 169 rebounds, 36 steals and 13 blocks. Cross was a seven-time MASCAC Rookie of the Week this season while also earning Player of the Week once. 

Titus Manderson of Fitchburg State was named the 2016-17 MASCAC Champion’s Choice Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to a 10-2 MASCAC record and repeat as the regular season champions. This is Manderson’s second straight Coach of the Year honor. 

Joining Bell on the 2016-17 MASCAC first-team All-Conference squad were Salem State’s Marcus Faison and Shaquan Murray, Westfield State’s Jesus Sanchez and Worcester State’s Paul Brooks.

The second-team is comprised of Bridgewater State’s Rocky DeAndrade, Joseph Carty and Fawaz Mass and Fitchburg State’s Joshua Bosworth and Leonny Burgos.