THREE FERRIS MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE GLIAC KUDOS

Senior Guard Dennis Springs Honored As First-Team All-Conference Pick

Dennis Springs

Antwuan Holt

Terrance Shaw

Three members of the 2005-06 Ferris State University men's basketball team have claimed All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) recognition as announced Thursday (March 2) by the league office.

Senior guard Dennis Springs (Toledo, Ohio/Scott) was named to the GLIAC North Division First Team while senior guard Antwuan Holt (Okemos) along with junior forward Terrance Shaw (Saginaw/Bridgeport) both picked up second-team GLIAC North Division accolades. In addition, Springs garnered GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team kudos for the third year in a row.

Springs was joined on the division's first team by Michigan Tech's Radayl Richardson, Callistus Eziukwu and Courtney James of Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan's Ricky Volcy. Findlay's Dustin Pfeifer claimed the GLIAC Player of the Year Award while Northwood freshman Aaron Simpson was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year and Findlay head coach Ron Niekamp picked up league Coach of the Year recognition for the second-straight year in voting conducted by the conference's 13 head coaches.

The 5-6 Springs currently leads the league in assists (5.9 apg) this season and ranks as the league's fourth-leading scorer (16.7 ppg) this campaign. Springs’ current career average of 6.2 assists per game ranks tied for 17th place all-time in NCAA Division II history and is the GLIAC’s top career performance average for all games played. He has 699 career assists to date and is 17th on the all-time NCAA Division II assists leaders list. The two-time (2003-04 & 2004-05) GLIAC North Division Second Team honoree presently ranks 17th nationally in assists along with 42nd in steals (2.3) this season among the latest (Feb. 26) NCAA-II National Statistical leaders.

Springs, who has compiled 25 double-figure scoring outings to date this season, currently is listed among the school's all-time performers in five statistical categories including 10th in scoring with 1,449 career points. He earned GLIAC North Division Player of the Week Award honors three times this campaign. Springs attained NCAA-II Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team kudos as FSU advanced to the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen during the 2004-05 campaign. He also set a school single-season record with 213 assists last year and presently tops the school's all-time assists leaders list.

Holt, who has started all 28 outings this season, currently ranks as the squad's third-leading scorer (10.8 ppg) to date this campaign. He also is presently listed first among FSU's overall leaders in made three-point field goals (60). Holt claimed the league's Player of the Week Award once (Jan. 9) this year.

Last season (2004-05), Holt claimed team Most Improved Player Award honors as Ferris State won its second consecutive GLIAC North Division Championship and advanced to the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championship game. Holt registered 220 points and dished out 87 assists in 30 appearances last campaign. The 6-3 Holt, who spent his initial two seasons of collegiate eligibility from 2002-04 at GLIAC member Northern Michigan, has posted 17 double-figure scoring performances to date this campaign.

Shaw presently ranks as both Ferris' second-leading scorer (12.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.5 rpg) this campaign. He has reached double-figure scoring in 19 of FSU's 28 outings to date this season. He currently is listed ninth in rebounding, tied for 14th in blocked shots (0.75 bpg) and 20th in scoring among the league's leaders for all games played this year.

Last season (2004-05), Shaw posted then personal career-highs in both scoring (8.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.5 rpg) as the Bulldogs claimed their second-straight conference crown. He started 29 of Ferris' 31 outings last year while scoring 10 points or more nine times.

Ferris State will square off against nationally-ranked Findlay in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals this Friday, March 3, in Grand Valley State’s Fieldhouse Arena at Allendale, Mich. Tipoff for the first men’s semifinal game is set for 3 p.m. (EST). The winner will advanced to Saturday's (March 4) title game beginning at 8 p.m. (EST) in Allendale.