United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Basketball - Prebeck, Sowers named to All-conference team

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(2/27/07)--Juniors Jeff Prebeck and Al Sowers, who led seventh-seeded Coast Guard to an improbable run to its first New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament were named to the all-conference team in voting by the leagues seven head coaches on Tuesday. Prebeck was named to the first team and Sowers the second team.

Prebeck, who leads the nation with 12.3 rebounds per game, is fourth in the NEWMAC and leads the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game. Prebeck set the single-season school record with 333 rebounds this season. He had a big game in the NEWMAC Tournament semifinal win over Wheaton with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Prebeck was a second team selection last season and the 2004-2005 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. He registered 21 double-doubles this season.

Sowers, who was named to the second team for the second straight season, was second on the team with 15.3 points to go with his team-high 3.4 assists per game this season. Sowers was named the NEWMAC Player of the Week on Monday as the point guard hit the game winning shot against Wheaton with 24.7 seconds left in the semifinals and then had a game-high 23 points in the championship game. He had just three turnovers in 104 minutes of play in the tournament while averaging 12.3 points per game.

Coast Guard, 14-13 overall, will play in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history and first time since 1979 on Friday night when they visit Rhode Island College at 8 p.m.

The Bears lost seven of their final eight regular season games and were 11-13 overall and 2-10 in league play before winning three straight tournament games.

WPI’s Ryan Cain was named NEWMAC Player of the Year, MIT’s Erich Bracht earned Rookie of the Year honors while Babson’s Stephen Brennan was named Coach of the Year.

Coast Guard also win the NEWMAC sportsmanship award.