ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced its postseason awards on Sunday and senior guard Michael Hale III earned a spot on the league's third team.
The Federal Way, Wash., native is scoring 16.1 points per game, which ranks fourth in the WAC, and he has topped the 20-point barrier eight times this season. Hale III became the third Roadrunner and first since 1987 to eclipse 30 points in back-to-back contests with 31 against Texas State on Jan. 19 and a career-best 35 in the 78-75 victory at Seattle five days later, which was the program’s first-ever WAC victory.
He ranks in the conference's top 10 in seven other statistical categories, including first in minutes per game (35.9), third in assists per game (3.8), fourth in free throw percentage (.766) and 3-pointers per game (2.1), seventh in steals per game (1.5), ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4) and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (.366).
In league play, Hale III finished first in minutes (37.4), third in assists (4.2), fourth in scoring (15.6), seventh in free throw percentage (.764), steals (1.5) and 3-pointers per game (1.8) and 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
His all-conference selection is the 33rd in program history and the first WAC honor. It also marks the sixth consecutive season that a Roadrunner has been voted to an all-conference squad.
Idaho senior Kyle Barone was voted WAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.2 points and 10.9 rebounds in league games and 17.1 and 9.9 for the season. Meanwhile, New Mexico State’s Sim Bhullar was tabbed Freshman of the Year award and Louisiana Tech's Michael White earned his first Don Haskins Coach of the Year honor after leading the Bulldogs to a share of the school’s first-ever regular season WAC title.
2012-13 Western Athletic Conference Postseason Award Winners
All-Conference
First Team
Raheem Appleby, So., G, Louisiana Tech
Kyle Barone, Sr., C, Idaho
Kenneth Smith, So., G, Louisiana Tech
Bandja Sy, Sr., F, New Mexico State
Chris Udofia, Jr., F, Denver
Second Team
Spencer Butterfield, Jr., G/F, Utah State
Chase Hallam, Sr., G, Denver
Daniel Mullings, So., G, New Mexico State
Jarred Shaw, Jr., F/C, Utah State
Joel Wright, Jr., F, Texas State
Third Team
Sim Bhullar, Fr., C, New Mexico State
Kevin Butler, Sr., F, UT Arlington
Michael Hale III, Sr., G, UTSA
Brett Olson, So., G, Denver
Royce O’Neale, So., F, Denver
Player of the Year: Kyle Barone, Sr., C, Idaho
Freshman of the Year: Sim Bhullar, Fr., C, New Mexico State
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Michael White, Louisiana Tech
All-Defensive Team
Chase Hallam, Sr., G, Denver
Michale Kyser, So., F, Louisiana Tech
Daniel Mullings, So., G, New Mexico State
Kenneth Smith, So., G, Louisiana Tech
Chris Udofia, Jr., F, Denver
All-Newcomer Team
Sim Bhullar, Fr., C, New Mexico State
Spencer Butterfield, Jr., G/F, Utah State
Alex Hamilton, Fr., G, Louisiana Tech
Jarred Shaw, Jr., F/C, Utah State
Joel Wright, Jr., F, Texas State