Hallowell, Brown Both Named First-Team All-NCAC

The College of Wooster had two representatives on the All-North Coast Athletic Conference First Team, as senior Justin Hallowell and freshman Xavier Brown were among the league's top seven to earn the honor, the NCAC office announced Monday. Brown was also voted as the NCAC Newcomer of the Year.

For Hallowell, a former NCAC Newcomer of the Year himself, it marks the third all-NCAC citation of  his career, having been second-team as a freshman and junior. The 6-7 forward has been putting together his best season, the Fighting Scots' leader in scoring as well as rebounding for the first time at 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while also chipping in 1.5 assists and 0.7 blocks per night.

Hallowell scores in a variety of ways, as he's made 66 3-pointers (second-most in the conference) on a .398 percentage (fourth in the conference), 61 two-point field goals, and 56 free throws. The MVP of the NCAC Tournament this past weekend, Hallowell has played especially well down the stretch, averaging 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks the last 10 games.

Brown, Wooster's fifth NCAC Newcomer of the Year since the award was established (1994-95), has been a welcome addition to the Scots' lineup at the guard position. He's scoring at a rate of 12.8 points, including 18.1 through his first seven collegiate games, and defensively, he leads the team in steals with 29.

Two of Brown's best outings came against Wittenberg University, as he pumped in 21 points during the archrivals' first regular season meeting and 24 in the second, including a buzzer beater that sent the game to overtime.

Wooster, 24-4 overall, will continue its 2011-12 season Friday, as the Scots are preparing to host Maryville (Tenn.) College (18-9) in the first round of the NCAA Div. III Men's Basketball Championship.