Elon’s Matheny Named SoCon Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year; Troutman, Isenbarger Earn All-League Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2013 postseason men’s basketball awards on Tuesday, March 5. Elon University head coach Matt Matheny was named the league’s coach of the year in the media poll, while juniors Lucas Troutman and Jack Isenbarger picked up all-league honors in both the media and coaches’ polls.

Matheny guided the Phoenix to 20-10 record during the regular season, including a 13-5 mark in conference play. Elon won the North Division for the first time since 2006 with a win at Samford on Feb. 21 and has increased its win total in each of Matheny’s four seasons at the helm. The 13 conference wins in 2013 are the most for Elon since joining the league in 2004. Elon’s 20 victories this season are the most in the school’s Division I era and most since the 1987-88 season.

Troutman, a first-team selection in the media poll, ranks fifth in the Southern Conference in scoring at 15.1 points per game and is second in field-goal percentage with a 55 percent clip for the season. Troutman has tallied a league-best 61 blocked shots this season (2.2 per game) and ranks 13th in the conference in steals. The junior from Belton, S.C., has been named the SoCon Player of the Week twice this season on Nov. 27 and Feb. 5. Troutman scored his 1,000th career point on Feb. 2 in a home victory over Samford, tying a career-high with 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. Troutman was named the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Regional Games Most Outstanding Player on Nov. 18 after leading Elon to the tournament’s title. During the two-day tournament, Troutman averaged 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. Troutman has scored in doubles figures 25 times this season, including a streak of 22-straight games from Nov. 13 to Feb. 7.

Isenbarger, a third-team selection in the media poll, ranks second in the Southern Conference in three-pointers made with 76 and in free-throw percentage at 87.1 percent. Isenbarger ranks 13th in the league in scoring at 13.7 points per game and is 10th in the conference in minutes played at 32.0 per game. The junior from Zionsville, Ind., has scored 20 or more points five times this season, including a season-high 25 at VMI on Nov. 24. Isenbarger scored his 1,000th career point on Jan. 24 against Chattanooga, pouring in a game-high 23 points.

Elon opens the 2013 Southern Conference Tournament on Saturday, March 9, at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. The second-seeded Phoenix takes on the winner of seventh-seeded Chattanooga and tenth-seeded UNCG in the quarterfinals.

2013 SoCon Men’s Basketball Awards (Coaches’ Poll)

All-Conference Team
Nathan Healy, Appalachian State
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina

All-Freshman Team
Matt Van Scyoc, The Citadel
Clide Geffrard Jr., Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Gee McGhee, Chattanooga
Spencer Collins, Wofford

Player of the Year
Jake Cohen, Sr., F, Davidson

Defensive Player of the Year
Nathan Healy, Sr., F, Appalachian State

Freshman of the Year
Tim Williams, F, Samford

Coach of the Year
Bob McKillop, Davidson

2013 Men’s SoCon Sports Media Association Awards

All-Conference First Team
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Jake Cohen, Davidson
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Trevis Simpson, UNCG
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina

All-Conference Second Team
Nathan Healy, Appalachian State
Mike Groselle, The Citadel
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Karl Cochran, Wofford

All-Conference Third Team
Nik Cochran, Davidson
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern
Tim Williams, Samford
Z. Mason, Chattanooga

All-Freshman Team
Matt Van Scyoc, The Citadel
Clide Geffrard Jr., Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Gee McGhee, Chattanooga
Spencer Collins, Wofford

Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jake Cohen, Sr., F, Davidson

Freshman of the Year
Tim Williams, F, Samford

Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Matt Matheny, Elon