https://ucasports.com/news/2020/11/4/mens-basketball-bergersen-jones-earn-all-slc-honors.aspxBERGERSEN, JONES EARN ALL-SLC HONORS
CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears had a pair of players named preseason All-Southland Conference on Wednesday and were picked seventh in the SLC preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and media relations directors.
UCA senior guard Rylan Bergersen was a first-team All-SLC selection, while senior point guard DeAndre Jones was named to the second team.
Bergersen and Jones both hail from Boise, Idaho. Jones is a three-year starter for the Bears after playing at Link Year Prep. Bergersen, who also played at Link Year, transferred to UCA from Brigham Young a year ago.
Bergersen led the Bears in scoring last season at 15.8 points per game, while making 43 three-pointers and pulling down 4.5 rebounds per game. He had season highs of 25 points (vs. Nicholls and Northwestern State), 12 rebounds (vs. Northwestern State) and 6 assists (four times). Bergersen scored in double figures 28 times in 31 games while averaging a team-best 33.6 minutes a game.
Jones, the career assist leader at UCA, was the Bears' second-leading scorer a year ago, averaging 12.9 points per game. He also averaged 6.0 assists per game to lead the SLC. Jones had season highs of 26 points (vs. McNeese and Nicholls), 7 rebounds (three times) and 11 assists (three times) while missing more than a month with an injury. Jones has 452 career assists, shattering the old mark of 341.
The Bears were picked seventh in the poll with 153 total points. Stephen F. Austin was the top choice, followed by Abilene Christian, Sam Houston State and Nicholls. Five different teams received at least one first-place vote.
The Bears open the 2020-21 in 21 days, taking on the Ole Miss Rebels on Nov. 25 in the Justin Reed Ole Miss Classic in Oxford, Miss.
2020-21 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team School Pos. Class Hometown
Joe Pleasant* Abilene ChristianF Jr. Overland Park, Kan.
Rylan Bergersen*Central ArkansasG Sr. Boise, Idaho
Dru Kuxhausen*McNeese G Sr. Scottsbluff, Neb.
Zach Nutall* Sam Houston St G Jr. Bryan, Texas
Gavin Kensmil* Stephen F. AustinF Sr. Paramaribo, Suriname
Second Team School Pos. Class Hometown
DeAndre Jones Central Arkansas PG Sr. Boise, Idaho
Davion Buster Lamar G Jr. Austin, Texas
A.J. Lawson McNeese G Sr. Bryan, Texas
Troy Green New Orleans G Sr. St. Rose, La.
Kevin Johnson Nicholls G Sr. Thibodaux, La.
Roti Ware Stephen F. Austin G Sr. Morton, Miss.
* Automatic Selection, 2019-20 All-Conference Team Member
2020-21 Southland Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
School (First-place votes) Total
1. Stephen F. Austin (17)278
2. Abilene Christian (3) 254
3. Sam Houston State 216
4. Nicholls (1) 209
5. Lamar (3) 199
6. McNeese (2) 177
7. Central Arkansas 153 8. New Orleans 132
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 131
10. Northwestern State 123
11. Southeastern Louisiana 68
12. UIW 64
13. Houston Baptist 24