Defiance Has Three Named All-HCAC; Alexander Selected MVP

GREENWOOD, IND.  --  Three members of the Defiance College men's basketball team have been selected to the All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Teams for their individual efforts this season.  In addition, junior Tyler Alexander (Indianapolis, Ind./Northwest) has been named the league's "Most Valuable Player."  [All-HCAC Teams]

Alexander and fellow junior Michael Parker (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) were tabbed first-team All-HCAC.  Junior Devin Mangas (Leipsic) was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

All three players helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a third-straight HCAC regular-season championship (outright or shared) and make a fifth consecutive appearance in the conference tournament.

Alexander had a standout first season with the Purple & Gold as a transfer.  He led the team, and ranked fifth in the HCAC, in scoring average at 17.5 points per game while shooting 59.4 percent (170-of-206) from the field.  He scored in double figures in 21 games this season with nine games of 20 or more points and a season-high of 29 points.  Alexander also led the team in three other statistical categories including assists (77), free-throws made (77) and free-throw attempts (128).  In addition, he was second on the team in rebounding at 6.4 boards per game and third overall in steals with 21.

Parker started every game this past season and earns his first All-Conference award.  He ended the season second on the team in scoring with a 14.3 ppg. average.  He was one of the team's top shooters, leading the team in both three-pointers made (79) and attempts (217) and had an overall shooting percentage of 43.1 (135-of-313).  His 79 made triples and 217 attempts also led the HCAC in both categories.  He scored in double figures in 19 games, including six games of 20 or more points with a season and career-high 29 points.  Defensively, Parker had a team-leading 41 steals and ranked third in the conference.  He also averaged 3.6 rpg. and had 48 assists which were third most on the team.

Mangas played in all 26 games and started four games.  He averaged 8.9 ppg. while shooting 45.0 percent (77-of-171) from the field.  Mangas was third on the team in three-pointers made with 28 and shot 41.2 percent overall from long range (28-of-68).  He was also the team's top free-throw shooter converting 84.5 percent (49-of-58) of his attempts.  Mangas averaged 3.6 rpg. and tallied 27 assists and 20 steals.