Xavier Brown

Doug Thorpe

2012-13 D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region Team

The College of Wooster's starting backcourt, Xavier Brown and Doug Thorpe, was named to the D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region Second Team, the website announced on Wednesday.

Brown has improved his numbers across the board after being voted the region's Rookie of the Year a season ago, now averaging 13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals as Wooster heads into the third round of the NCAA Div. III Basketball Championship this Saturday night. As one of the team's top defenders, Brown leads the way in minutes played (30.8 mpg) and steals, and he also has scored in double figures in all but six games. Brown had a career-high 35 points against Wabash College back on Dec. 8, and more recently, has played well in the NCAA Tournament with 17.5 points and 5.5 boards over the first two rounds.

Thorpe, a junior, emerged as the Fighting Scots' top offensive playmaker, currently putting up 13.6 points and 2.4 assists a night. An early-season injury limited the 5-9 guard's production and he didn't even enter the starting lineup until Jan. 9, but since then his scoring average is 15.3. Thorpe has been efficient with his offensive output, shooting more than 40 percent from 3-point range (.406; 52-for-128) and over 80 percent at the free throw line (.808; 84-for-104). He has done particularly well against tough competition, averaging 15.7 points in the seven games Wooster has played against teams that were part of the 2013 NCAA field.

The Scots will host Cabrini College (24-5) in a match-up of the last two national runner-ups, Wooster in 2011 and Cabrini in 2012, Saturday at Timken Gymnasium, with the winner advancing to this year's quarterfinal round in Salem, Va. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.