Vogelsberg named to All-Sun Belt Conference team

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee junior guard Adam Vogelsberg has been an impact player all season and league coaches, media relations directors and select media members recognized his contributions to the Blue Raiders by naming him to the All-Sun Belt Conference team Wednesday.

Vogelsberg was named to the All-SBC third team and one was of 15 league players recognized on the postseason team. The Home, Kansas native was the only Blue Raider selected to the team.

"I appreciate the people who considered me in their voting and it means a lot to be named to an all-league team in the Sun Belt because there are so many talented players," Vogelsberg said. "On the other hand, I don't think there is a single individual on our team that stands out from another because during this good stretch we have had, every one has contributed at one time or another. With our team it's definitely not about one or two people, it's about our team playing together and being unselfish."

Vogelsberg leads Middle Tennessee with a 12.5 scoring average. He is third on the single-season list for 3-point field goals made with 67, which are the most by a Blue Raider since Robert Taylor connected for 77 in 1991. His 42 percent (67-161) percentage from beyond the arc is currently eighth on the single-season list.

Vogelsberg's 90.4 shooting clip (104-115) from the free-throw line is first on the Middle Tennessee single-season list for free-throw percentage. That mark also leads the Sun Belt and is No. 9 nationally. He has scored double figures in 18 games and he has led the Blue Raiders in scoring 12 times.

"I'm proud that Adam could make an all-conference team," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Kermit Davis said. "I think it speaks volumes of his toughness because he has played with an injury all year. Adam will be the first to tell you, though, to win a Sun Belt Conference Championship and end the season on a positive note would be more than any all-conference team. He's a team player."

Middle Tennessee (16-11, 8-6 SBC) will begin Sun Belt Championship action against Denver Sunday at noon at the Murphy Center. Vogelsberg, a transfer from Cloud County (Kan.) Community College, is one of many reasons the Blue Raiders enter the SBC Championships on a momentum surge, having won eight of 10 games.

During this 10-game stretch, Vogelsberg is shooting 51 percent from 3-point range (33-of-65). He is averaging 14.7 points during this stretch. He has hit three or more 3-pointers in a game 13 times this season, and he's ninth in the Sun Belt for 3-point field goal percentage in all games, and third among league leaders for 3-point percentage in conference games only at 44 percent (37-85).

All-Sun Belt Conference
First Team
Bobby Dixon, Sr., Guard, Troy
Courtney Lee, So., Guard/Forward, Western Ky.
Dwayne Mitchell, Sr., Guard, Louisiana-Lafayette
Yemi Nicholson, Sr., Center, Denver
Anthony Winchester, Sr., Guard, Western Kentucky

Second Team
Ivan Almonte, Sr., Forward, Florida International
Kendrick Davis, Jr., Guard, North Texas
Mario Jointer, Sr., Guard, South Alabama
Michael Southall, Sr., Center, Louisiana-Lafayette
Dereke Tipler, Sr., Guard, Arkansas State

Third Team
Adam Vogelsberg, Jr., Guard, Middle Tennessee
Rashad Jones-Jennings, Jr., Forward, UALR
Richard Law, Sr., Forward, South Alabama
Jaime McNeilly, Jr., Guard, New Orleans
Zack Wright, Jr., Guard, UALR

Player of the Year
Anthony Winchester, Sr., G, Western Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Year
Yemi Nicholson, Sr., C, Denver
Newcomer of the Year
Kendrick Davis, Jr., G, North Texas
Freshman of the Year
Lekheythan Malone, Fr., G, UALR
Coach of the Year
John Pelphrey, South Alabama