Published: March 06, 2008 12:16 am         

Spencer, Bolen honored by Independent Region

Mountain State University’s James Spencer was named the Independent Region Player of the Year in a vote of the region’s coaches.

It is the fifth time in the last six years that a Cougar has been honored as the Independent Region Player of the Year.

Each time that player has gone on to earn first-team All-America status.

Two other Cougars, South Carolina natives Adron Marshall and Jarvis Jackson, were named to the 10-player first-team All-Region team and Jason McGriff was on the five-player second team.

Additionally, MSU coach Bob Bolen was named the region coach of the year.

Spencer has an impressive resume. The senior from Los Angeles finished second in the nation in scoring by just .02 (Union’s Matt Neaville averaged 24.37, Spencer 24.35). He also was ninth nationally in field goal percentage (.581).

Overall, Spencer finished with a team-best 63 steals and averaged 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

“James had a great season,” Bolen said.

“He had some outstanding games, but he was also consistent for the entire season. I think he is very deserving as the region player of the year.”

Marshall, in his second year at MSU, averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds, both second on the team in those categories.

Jackson led the region in assists (5.7 per game) and added 8.23 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

“Both Jarvis and Adron had tremendous years,” Bolen said. “I’m glad both are being recognized because they had a big hand in our season.”

McGriff was a steady force all season, finishing with a 9.9 ppg average and a team-best 8.3 rebounds.

“He has consistently gotten better over the course of the year and he is going to be a major contributor as we go into the stretch run,” Bolen said.

As for his own honor, Bolen said he “accepts it as a team award.”

“It reflects on the great season we had as a team,” he said.

MSU (28-2) starts its stretch run at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Independent Region tournament when it faces the winner of Friday’s Brescia/Morris game at Claflin College in Orangeburg, S.C.