UMC's Cleary Named 2017-18 D2CAA All-Central Region First Team

ST. PAUL, Minn. – University of Minnesota Crookston sophomore men’s basketball player Harrison Cleary (G, Oak Creek, Wis.) named named D2CAA All-Central Region First Team as announced Mon., March 12. Cleary becomes the first player since Joe Hasz following the 2002-03 season to represent Minnesota Crookston on an All-Region team.

Cleary joined Minot State University’s Tyler Rudolph as the only two NSIC players on the D2CAA All-Central Region First Team. Justin Pitts of Northwest Minnesota State University was named D2CAA Central Region Player of the Year. Ryan Bruggeman of Southwest Minnesota State University, Gage Davis of St. Cloud State University and Ian Smith of Northern State University represented the NSIC on the D2CAA All-Central Region Second Team.

Cleary was an All-NSIC First Team selection, also the first since Hasz since the 2002-03 season. He was the first back-to-back All-Conference honoree since Hasz. Cleary led the NSIC with 24.2 points per game. He was sixth in all of NCAA Division II for scoring. In addition, Cleary led the league by shooting 96.0 percent (143-of-149) from the charity stripe. Cleary was sixth in the NSIC for three-point shooting percentage at 47.0 percent. He was second in all of NCAA Division II for free throw shooting. Cleary tallied a school-record 702 points on the 2017-18 season. The sophomore has scored an astounding 1,342 points in just two seasons at Minnesota Crookston. Cleary needs just 597 points to move past Joe Hasz for No. 1 all-time in scoring for the Golden Eagles. Cleary has also scored 1,022 points in NSIC play, which is Top 30 all-time in the NSIC. He notched 19 games with 20 or more points, including a school-record 46 points against Minnesota State University. In addition, he tallied double-figure scoring 28 or 29 games on the season.

Cleary moves on to the D2CAA All-American ballot. The national teams will be announced Mon., March 19.

2017-18 D2CCA MEN’S BASKETBALL CENTRAL REGION FIRST TEAM

Justin Pitts*! Northwest Missouri State Sr.

Jhonathan Dunn Southern Nazarene So.

Tyler Rudolph# Minot State Sr.

Harrison Cleary Minnesota Crookston So.

CJ Carr Missouri Southern State Sr.

2017-18 D2CCA MEN’S BASKETBALL CENTRAL REGION SECOND TEAM

Trey Lansman Nebraska-Kearney Sr.

Brady Skeens# Washburn Sr.

Ryan Bruggeman Southwest Minnesota State Jr.

Gage Davis# St. Cloud State Jr.

Ian Smith Northern State Jr.