CHARLOTTE, NC – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has announced the 2019-20 Men’s and Women’s Basketball All-CIAA team, All-Rookie team, and superlatives as selected by the respective Basketball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. These outstanding individuals were formally recognized Monday during the annual CIAA Tip-Off Awards Luncheon.
Kwanza Murray, a senior guard from Lincoln (PA), was named CIAA Women’s Player of the Year. The Summerville, SC native led the conference in scoring at 18.4 points per game while also leading the conference in field goal percentage at 44.8 percent and ranking second in the league from the line at 82.4 percent.
Livingstone College senior Roger Ray has been named CIAA Men’s Player of the Year. Ray led the CIAA in both scoring and assists during the regular season with 23.8 points and five assists per game. The Raleigh, NC native ranks second in the conference at nearly 38 percent from three and his 82.8 free throw percentage is top four in the league. One of the top scorers in Division II, Ray’s 45 points against Virginia State were the most by a player in the CIAA this season. The 5-10 lead guard is a three-time All-CIAA selection and will finish his career as Livingstone’s all-time leader in both scoring and assists.
Head Coach Darrell Mosley of Lincoln University (PA) earns his first CIAA Women’s Coach of the Year honor after leading his team to a 12-3 record in conference play, finishing tied for second in the CIAA Northern Division. Mosley has led the Lady Lions to a school-record 23 wins and guided them to their first top 25 national ranking in school history.
Bowie State senior Kyaja Williams has been named Women’s Defensive Player of the Year. Williams, a native of Baltimore, MD, leads the CIAA and Division II with four steals per game and ranks seventh in the conference at a block per game. The 5-8 forward was one of two players in the CIAA to average a double-double during the regular season at 13.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. She ranks second in the league in rebounding and fourth in scoring.
Rookie guard NyAsia Blango of Elizabeth City State University has been selected CIAA Women’s Rookie of the Year. Blango totaled 101 points in her freshman campaign, scoring in double figures twice.
Deaquan Williams of Lincoln University (PA) was selected as Men’s Defensive Player of the Year. Williams, a Camden, NJ native, leads the CIAA with 11.1 rebounds per game, including a CIAA-best 7.6 defensive rebounds per contest. He is one of only two players in the CIAA to average a double-double during the regular season, scoring 12.6 points per game.
Winston-Salem State Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. earns Men’s Coach of the Year honors. Hill led his program to a 13-4 record in league play and a share of the CIAA Southern Division regular season title. This is the second time Hill has been named CIAA Coach of the Year with the first coming in 2012.
Shaw freshman guard Nigel Martin was voted Men’s Rookie of the Year. Martin led all CIAA freshmen in scoring during the regular season at 14.4 points per game. The Cleveland, OH native was also top 10 in the CIAA at 6.6 rebounds per game, which also led all freshman.