Co-champions Tarleton State and Midwestern State each placed a player on the all-conference first team, but it was Cameron’s Milton Garner who captured Player of the Year honors for the Lone Star Conference.

      MSU head coach Nelson Haggerty was named LSC Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm for the Mustangs, who went 23-3 overall.

      The awards announcement came Tuesday night at a pre-championship banquet in Allen, Texas, where the LSC Basketball Championship tournament is set to begin on Wednesday. Quarterfinal games will be played all day Wednesday, with semifinal games slated for Friday evening and the championship game Saturday night at 7 p.m.

      Garner led the LSC in scoring with a 19.7 average, also leads the conference in 3-pointers made, averaging 2.5 per game. Garner also leads Cameron in rebounding (5.1) and steals (32).

      Joining Garner on the first team include Midwestern State’s Michael Lloyd, Tarleton State’s Fabian Wilson, Chris Johnson of Incarnate Word and Eastern New Mexico’s Reggie Nelson. 

      Other top awards announced Tuesday included defensive player, newcomer, freshman and coach of the year.

      The top defensive award was shared by Incarnate Word’s Shaun Umeh and Midwestern State’s Keonte Logan. West Texas A&M grabbed the two individual awards with Tez Dumars claiming Freshman of the Year and Donald Sims getting Newcomer of the Year.

      Overall, 20 student-athletes were recognized by the all-conference program. The awards are voted upon by the league coaches.