BARTLESVILLE, OK – Ouachita’s men’s basketball head coach Dennis Nutt was unanimously named the 2014-15 Great American Conference Coach of the Year at Wednesday’s awards banquet in Bartlesville, Okla. Tirrell Brown took home GAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, and Colt Fason and Micah Delph also received All-GAC honors.
In his four years as head coach, Nutt has compiled an overall record of 62-46, including a record of 20-5 this season. Behind Nutt’s coaching, the Tigers won their first GAC regular-season championship in program history this season, while leading the conference in scoring margin, free-throw percentage, rebounding defense, steals and turnover margin. The Tigers also finished with an undefeated record of 13-0 in Bill Vining Arena.
Brown, a junior from Jacksonville, Ark., was a unanimous first-team selection. He is the first player from Ouachita to be named GAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Brown played in 23 games for the Tigers, leading the team in points per game (17.6), blocks (25) and free-throws made (91). His field-goal percentage of 63.3 percent tied for first in the GAC.
Fason, a senior from Conway, Ark., was also a first-team selection. Fason finished second on the team in points per game (13.8), and he led the Tigers in rebounds per game (7.9). For his career as a Tiger, Fason has never missed a game, playing in all 106 games since the 2011-2012 season. He has compiled 1,157 career points, ranking him 10th in Ouachita history and second in GAC history. Fason was also named to the 2013-14 GAC Honorable Mention Team.
Delph, a senior from Conway, Ark., was named to this year’s honorable mention team. Delph averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game during the regular season. He led the team with 67 three-pointers and 30.5 minutes per game. Delph also converted on 60-66 free-throws, giving him a team-high 90.9 percent from the line. He finished sixth in the conference in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio. Delph is the GAC’s all-time leader in free-throw percentage (87.8%).
On the season, Brown, Fason and Delph accounted for 53 percent of the team’s points and 35 percent of the team’s rebounds. When Brown was on the floor, he and the Tigers outscored their opponents by 166 points. The Tigers outscored their opponents by 207 points when Delph was in the game and outscored their opponents by 210 points when Fason was playing.
The Tigers earned their first 20-win season since 2008, ninth in program history, and the first 20-win season in Nutt’s coaching career. Ouachita earned the number-one seed for the Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla., and will play the eighth-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday, March 6, at 5:45 p.m.
In his four years as head coach, Nutt has compiled an overall record of 62-46, including a record of 20-5 this season. Behind Nutt’s coaching, the Tigers won their first GAC regular-season championship in program history this season, while leading the conference in scoring margin, free-throw percentage, rebounding defense, steals and turnover margin. The Tigers also finished with an undefeated record of 13-0 in Bill Vining Arena.
Brown, a junior from Jacksonville, Ark., was a unanimous first-team selection. He is the first player from Ouachita to be named GAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Brown played in 23 games for the Tigers, leading the team in points per game (17.6), blocks (25) and free-throws made (91). His field-goal percentage of 63.3 percent tied for first in the GAC.
Fason, a senior from Conway, Ark., was also a first-team selection. Fason finished second on the team in points per game (13.8), and he led the Tigers in rebounds per game (7.9). For his career as a Tiger, Fason has never missed a game, playing in all 106 games since the 2011-2012 season. He has compiled 1,157 career points, ranking him 10th in Ouachita history and second in GAC history. Fason was also named to the 2013-14 GAC Honorable Mention Team.
Delph, a senior from Conway, Ark., was named to this year’s honorable mention team. Delph averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game during the regular season. He led the team with 67 three-pointers and 30.5 minutes per game. Delph also converted on 60-66 free-throws, giving him a team-high 90.9 percent from the line. He finished sixth in the conference in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio. Delph is the GAC’s all-time leader in free-throw percentage (87.8%).
On the season, Brown, Fason and Delph accounted for 53 percent of the team’s points and 35 percent of the team’s rebounds. When Brown was on the floor, he and the Tigers outscored their opponents by 166 points. The Tigers outscored their opponents by 207 points when Delph was in the game and outscored their opponents by 210 points when Fason was playing.
The Tigers earned their first 20-win season since 2008, ninth in program history, and the first 20-win season in Nutt’s coaching career. Ouachita earned the number-one seed for the Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla., and will play the eighth-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday, March 6, at 5:45 p.m.
