A pair of University of Charleston senior men's basketball players earned second-team recognition on the All-Mountain East Conference team, released Tuesday afternoon.
Guard Elliott Cole and forward Justin Coleman both were named to the second team after a regular season where the Golden Eagles finished 14-14 overall and 8-14 in MEC play. A 5-foot-11 guard from Chicago, Cole finished the regular season fourth in the MEC at 20.0 points per game, one of just four players in the league to average at least 20 points. He also finished first in free-throw percentage (91.9) and 3-pointers made per game (3.68) and finished fourth in 3-point percentage (41.5).
Coleman, a 6-8 forward from Nashville, Tennessee, led the conference with 11.3 rebounds per game. He averaged 12.1 points and was one of four MEC players to average a double-double in points and rebounds. Coleman also blocked 23 shots.
Fairmont State's Matt Bingaya was named MEC Player of the Year, while Falcons coach Jerrod Calhoun was named conference coach of the year. Fairmont State finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the country with a 27-1 record, 21-1 in the MEC. Ripley native Luke Layhew was named freshman of the year after averaging 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds and shooting a conference-best 64 percent for West Virginia Wesleyan.
The MEC men's and women's tournaments begin Wednesday at the Civic Center. UC plays Urbana in a first-round game at 8:15 p.m., the winner facing Fairmont State at 6 p.m. Friday.