Feb. 27, 2002

MILWAUKEE - UWM head coach Bruce Pearl has been named the Horizon League Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, the league office announced today.

Clay Tucker, Ronnie Jones and Adrian Tigert were also honored by the league in voting conducted among the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

Pearl is the first UWM men's basketball coach to ever win league coach of the year honors. He led the Panthers to a 16-12 mark this year, their best since the 1992-93 season. UWM won 11 league games and finished in second place - both school bests. Plus, the 16 wins equal the most for a first-year head coach in UWM's 106-year basketball history.

Clay Tucker was named to the All-Horizon League First Team after finishing the regular season among the league's top five in scoring (2nd, 17.7), steals (2nd, 2.25) and rebounding (5th, 6.2). Tucker is UWM's leader in nearly every statistical category and the junior became UWM's second-leading all-time scorer and all-time leader in three-point shots made during the 2001-02 season. Tucker, who has been among the league leaders in steals all season long, also made the All-Defensive Team.

Ronnie Jones was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team. Jones saved his best basketball for league play, including a record-setting 33-point outburst against Youngstown State. Jones is second on the team in scoring and averages 15.6 ppg in league play.

Freshman Adrian Tigert is the lone true freshman on the league's all-newcomer team. Tigert finished the regular season fourth on the team in scoring and second in rebounding after starting 27 of 28 games during his rookie season. He scored a career-high 17 points against Cleveland State last Thursday then reset the mark by scoring 18 against Detroit two days later.

Butler's Rylan Hainje was named the League Player Of The Year while Cain Doliboa of Wright State was named the Newcomer Of The Year.

All-Horizon League First Team

Thomas Jackson, G, 5-9, Sr, Butler

Clay Tucker, F, 6-3, Jr., Milwaukee

David Bailey, G, 5-8 Jr., Loyola

Rylan Hainje, F, 6-6, Sr., Butler

Greg Grays, G, 6-0, Sr. Detroit

All-Horizon League Second Team

Cain Doliboa, F, 6-8, Sr., Wright State

Seth Doliboa, F, 6-8, So., Wright State

Ronnie Jones, G, 5-9, Jr., Milwaukee

Cedrick Banks, G, 6-2, So., UIC

Theo Dixon, F, 6-6, Sr., Cleveland State

Horizon League All-Newcomer Team

Cain Doliboa, F, 6-8, Sr., Wright State

Seth Doliboa, F, 6-8, So., Wright State

Cedrick Banks, G, 6-2, So., UIC

Martell Bailey, G, 5-10, So., UIC

Adrian Tigert, F, 6-6, Fr., Milwaukee

Horizon League All-Defensive Team

Darius Belin, G, 6-4, Sr., Detroit

Thomas Jackson, G, 5-9, Sr, Butler

Clay Tucker, F, 6-3, Jr., Milwaukee

Rylan Hainje, F, 6-6, Sr., Butler

Joel Cornette, F, 6-10, Jr., Butler

2002 Player of the Year

Rylan Hainje, F, 6-6, Sr., Butler

Coach of the Year

Bruce Pearl - Milwaukee

Newcomer of the Year

Cain Doliboa, F, 6-8, Sr., Wright State