Simmons, Warner receive MCC honorable mention awards

Iowa Wesleyan College men?s basketball players Jeremy Simmons, a senior from Jackson, Tenn., and Kyle Warner, a junior from Gresham, Ore., were named Honorable Mention All-Midwest Collegiate Conference selections, as the MCC released its postseason awards Tuesday afternoon.

Simmons was honored by the conference for the first time as a senior after being among the MCC?s leading scorers much of the season. The 6-1 shooting guard carried the team offensively until an ankle injury slowed him the second half of the season. Simmons still finished the year averaging 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, making 61 3-pointers and also shooting 78.3 percent from the free throw line.

Simmons finished among the MCC leaders in a number of categories, including tying for eighth in the conference in scoring. His 2.44 3-point field goals per game made ranked third in the conference, and he also ranked third in the MCC in free throw percentage.

Warner also received MCC postseason honors for the first time in his first year as a transfer from Lane (Ore.) Community College. The 6-5 forward averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shot 58.1 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3-point range.

A threat from the inside and outside, Warner ranked second in the MCC in 3-point field goal percentage and fourth in overall field goal percentage. He also ranked 15th in the conference in scoring, rebounding and steals (1.2 per game).

St. Ambrose University swept the conference?s individual awards, as Mike Kennedy was named Player of the Year and Nicholas Frazier was named Newcomer of the Year. SAU Head Coach Ray Shovlain also was named Coach of the Year.

The Tigers finished the 2011-12 season with a 12-14 overall record and tied for eighth in the MCC standings.