Article

Anderson is NCC's Most Valuable

Margenthaler also honored as Co-Coach of the Year.

by Dax Larson

Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Mens Sports

After leading the conference in points with 19.2 a game, senior Luke Anderson was honored with the NCC Most Valuable Player Monday. Anderson is just the second Maverick to receive the award. He is the only player in conference history to be named to the All-NCC Team four seasons in a row. Anderson is the Mavericks' all-time leading scorer.

"It's a great honor," Anderson said. "The first thing I think about is how I couldn't have accomplished this without my teammates, especially Tony and Paris. Those two could have easily gotten the MVP of the league, as well."

Maverick head coach Matt Margenthaler was named Co-Coach of the Year for the 2006-07 season. He shares the award with South Dakota head coach Dave Boots. Margenthaler has led the Mavericks to a record setting 26 wins, including a 16-0 mark at home. MSU went 10-2 in conference play to share the regular season title with USD. Margenthaler was the sole NCC Coach of the Year last season when he led MSU to its first outright regular and postseason conference titles.

"It shows how good of a coach he truly is," Anderson said. "He brought this program from winning nine games to 20 plus games a year."

Senior Tony Thomason and Paris Kyles were also named to the All-NCC team for their efforts this season. The honor is a first for both players. Thomason finished second in the conference in free-throw shooting with a .868 mark. Thomason was also fifth in assists with 3.54 a game. Kyles is second on the team and finished 10th in the league in scoring with 14.3 points per game. Kyles was named NCC Newcomer of the Year last season.

Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer