PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Edvinas Rupkus, Senior, Guard, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior Edvinas Rupkus was named the Liberty League Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He led the Thoroughbreds to the 2019 Liberty League regular season and championship titles with a 19-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in league play. The team advances to the NCAA tournament for the third time in five years. Rupkus averaged 17.5 points per game this season, good for second on the team and third among league leaders. He recorded 20 or more points on ten different occasions this season, including both of Skidmore’s Liberty League tournament games. He was tops for the team and league in free-throw percentage at 87.6% hitting 78 out of 89 attempts, which is currently ranked 39th in Division III. Rupkus became the first player in Skidmore program history to reach over 2,000 career points this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Peter Ezema, Senior, Forward, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior Peter Ezema was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. The Bombers were the fourth seed in the league tournament, won their first tournament game since joining the league in 2017 and reached the semifinals for the 2018-19 season. Ezema paced the league in steals per game (2.6) and was tied for first in rebounds per game (8.7). He produced seven double-doubles this year and totaled 34 over his career at Ithaca. This season, he set Ithaca’s all-time steals record and rebounds record and he also became the first player in Ithaca program history to record over 1,000 points, 900 rebounds and 200 steals.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Luke Hicks, Forward, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University forward Luke Hicks has been recognized as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Hicks was third on the team with 10.4 points per game, totaling 260 on the season as the Saints advanced to the Liberty League semifinals. The three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection recorded double-figures in 14 games this season. He also contributed a team-high 94 assists, averaging 3.8 per game, which was fourth among league leaders.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: St. Lawrence University, Chris Downs – Head Coach, Assistant Coaches Corey Begley, Tom Miller & Mick Bickelhaupt
The St. Lawrence University men’s basketball coaching staff was recognized as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year as voted upon the league’s head coaches. Head coach Chris Downs and his assistants directed the Saints to a 16-10 overall record, an improvement of 11 wins from a year ago. St. Lawrence was predicted to finish seventh in the Liberty League Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll and the Saints exceeded expectations this season as they finished the year at 13-5 in league play and earned the second seed in this year’s league tournament. St. Lawrence was second in the league in scoring defense this season, holding opponents to 68.7 points per game. The Saints were also among league leaders in offensive rebounds as they were second with 12.1 per game, totaling 314 on the year.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
Colin Dougherty, Sr., G, Hobart
Tom Horvat, Sr., G, RPI
Noah Meren, So., G, Skidmore
Riley Naclerio, Gr., F, St. Lawrence
Edvinas Rupkus, Sr., G, Skidmore
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
Peter Ezema, Sr., F, Ithaca
Jamal Lucas, Sr., G, Hobart
Justyn Rogers, So., G, Bard
Alijah Rue, So., G, Bard
Riley Thompson, Jr., G, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
Sebastian Alderete, Jr., G, Ithaca
Ben Crawford, Sr., F, St. Lawrence
Patrick Mahoney, So., F, RPI
Alex Seff, Sr., G, Vassar