Henderson, Majauskas All-Southland
3/7/2016 11:07:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aurimas Majauskas and Dakarai Henderson have been named as two of the 15 men's basketballplayers who have been honored as 2016 All-Southland Conference team members.
The pair are the top two scorers for a Sam Houston team that will be making its 14th consecutive appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament this week. Action begins Thursday at the Leonard Merrell Center in Katy, Texas when the No. 3 seeded Bearkats will take on the winner of the McNeese State vs. Nicholls No. 6-7 seed matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3.
Majauskas and Henderson have been voted to the second team. Henderson, a 6-2 junior guard from Pearland / Dawson High School, averaged 15.6 points per game in Southland Conference play this winter. Majauskas added 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in league action.
The pair helped lead Sam Houston squad that was predicted to finish fourth in the league head coaches' preseason poll to a third place finish and the No. 3 seed in the tournament. The Bearkats have been ranked among the top three seeds in the Southland post-season event 10 of the last 12 years.
Henderson posted 23 double figure scoring performances this year including a season best of 28 points in the Kats' come-from-behind victory at Central Arkansas during the final week of the regular season. This season he has led the Bearkats in scoring in 14 games. He ranks No. 9 in the league in points per game and is No. 7 in total three point baskets (68).
Majauskas has scored in double figures in 22 games and pulled down double figure rebounds five times. He has led Sam Houston in total points in 12 contests. He ranks No. 6 in the Southland in field goal accuracy (.802) and No. 19 in rebounding (5.6).
Both Henderson and Majauskas are in their first season as starters after playing the past two years as back-ups to All-Southland performances.
“We really needed both Dakarai and Aurimas to step up and assume leadership roles for us to be successful this year and they did just that,” Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said. “Dakarai went from playing 21 minutes a game to more than 30 and Aurimas went from a 14 minute average to playing 24 to 25 minutes a game. They both are extremely deserving of this honor.”
The 2016 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament will be played this week at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. The opening round of the tournament is Wednesday, followed by the second round on Thursday. For the first time, all rounds of the men's tournament will be televised. The first and second rounds along with the semifinals will be available solely on ESPN3, while the championship game will be covered exclusively ESPN2 and WatchESPN. Tickets for the tournament are available through Ticketmaster or at the Merrell Center box office.
2015-16 All-Southland Conference Men's Basketball Teams
|
First Team |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
|
Thomas Walkup |
Stephen F. Austin |
G/F |
Sr. |
|
Rashawn Thomas |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
F |
Jr. |
|
Zeek Woodley |
Northwestern State |
G |
Jr. |
|
Anthony Odunsi |
Houston Baptist |
G |
Sr. |
|
Jordan Howard |
Central Arkansas |
G |
So. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
|
Kyle Hittle |
UIW |
F |
Sr. |
|
Jaylen Franklin |
Abilene Christian |
G |
Fr. |
|
Demetrious Floyd |
Stephen F. Austin |
G |
Sr. |
|
Sam Houston State |
F/C |
Jr. |
|
|
Sam Houston State |
G |
Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third Team |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
|
Zay Jackson |
Southeastern La. |
G |
Sr. |
|
Jamaya Burr |
McNeese State |
G |
Jr. |
|
Glide Geffrard |
Stephen F. Austin |
G |
Sr. |
|
Hameed Ali |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
G |
Sr. |
|
Christavious Gill |
New Orleans |
G |
Jr. |
Player of the Year: Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
Defensive Player of the Year: Rashawn Thomas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Freshman of the Year: Jaylen Franklin, Abilene Christian
Newcomer of the Year: Derreck Brooks, Central Arkansas
Coach of the Year: Brad Underwood, Stephen F. Austin
