March 4, 2002
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State senior forward Randy Holcomb was named to the all-Mountain West Conference first team on Monday, making him the first Aztec to earn first-team league honors since Leon Carter was named to the all-WAC team at the end of 1995-96 season.
Holcomb was an all-newcomer team selection last season and ranks second in scoring (17.2 rpg) and first in rebounding (9.3) in the league this year. He also led the MWC in double-doubles this season with 13 and ranked tied for second in 20-plus scoring games with 10.
Two other Aztecs join Holcomb on the all-league squad, with senior guard Al Faux being named to the second team and junior guard Tony Bland receiving an honorable mention nod.
Utah's Britton Johnsen was named player of the year. The league's freshman of the year award will be shared by Wyoming's Jason Straight and Brigham Young's Jared Jensen. Wyoming's Steve McClain earned coach of the year honors after guiding the Cowboys to a first-place finish in the league race. UNLV's Marcus Banks was named defensive player of the year.
No. 5 seed SDSU will face No. 4 seed Brigham Young in the quarterfinals of the 2002 EAS MWC Championship on Thursday at 2:30 pm PST at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center. The championship runs through Saturday.
2001-02 All-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Team
(selected by head coaches)
First Team
Marcus Bailey, Wyoming
Ruben Douglas, New Mexico
Randy Holcomb, SDSU
Britton Johnsen, Utah
Dalron Johnson, UNLV
Second Team
Marcus Banks, UNLV
Al Faux, SDSU
Brian Greene, Colorado State
Travis Hansen, Brigham Young
Uche Nsonwu-Amadi, Wyoming
Third Team
Eric Chatfield, New Mexico
Josh Davis, Wyoming
Nick Jacobson, Utah
Donta Richardson, Wyoming
Honorable Mention
Lamoni Yazzie, Air Force
Tom Bellairs, Air Force
Joel Gerlach, Air Force
Mark Bigelow, Brigham Young
Matt Montague, Brigham Young
Eric Nielsen, Brigham Young
Andy Birley, Colorado State
Patrick Dennehy, New Mexico
Tony Bland, SDSU
Lou Kelly, Utah
Travis Spivey, Utah
Player of the Year: Britton Johnsen, Utah
Freshmen of the Year: Jason Straight, Wyoming/Jared Jensen, Brigham Young
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Banks, UNLV
Coach of the Year: Steve McClain, Wyoming