Tech Men's Basketball Announces Team Awards

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team recently announced the team’s award winners for the 2011-12 season that culminated in a GLIAC North Division Title.

Ken Hammer Award (Most Valuable Player) – Ali Haidar
Haidar, who was named an All-American by both the Division II Bulletin and Basketball Times, was named the Ken Hammer Award winner for the second straight season. The Windsor, Ont., native who was named the GLIAC Player of the Year, ranked third in the league in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game, and ranked second in rebounds, averaging 9.0 per game. He led Michigan Tech to its first GLIAC North Division Title since the 2002-03 season and has tallied 14 double-doubles on the year, ninth most in NCAA Div. II this season.

Bill Gappy Award (Most Improved Player) – T.J. Brown
Brown appeared in 28 games for the Huskies but it was his defense that earned him a spot in the starting lineup for the final nine games of the season.

Bob Olson Award (Outstanding Newcomer) – Ben Stelzer
Stelzer made an immediate impact for the Black and Gold starting the final 25 games of the season. He averaged 7.3 points per game and shot 78-percent from the free throw line. He also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8.

Harold Meese Award (Sportsmanship) – Troy Hecht
Hecht played in 20 games, starting six, and committed just 26 fouls on the year.

Scholastic Achievement – Alex Culy
Culy finished the year with a 3.92 cumulative grade point average in chemical engineering. He was named to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team and averaged 8.8 points per game.