Teams: Men's Basketball: Press Releases

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

JUMBO JUNIOR JON PIERCE HONORED BY THE CONFERENCE FOR THE THIRD TIME

MEDFORD -- For the third straight season, junior co-captain Jon Pierce (Belmont, MA) of the Tufts University men's basketball team has been recognized by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) for his outstanding play. The 6'5" forward is on the 2008-09 All-NESCAC Second Team, as the All-Conference selections were announced today.

Pierce leads the conference in scoring and rebounding with 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He was the only NESCAC player to score more than 500 points during the regular season, pouring in 521 in 24 games. His 163 defensive rebounds are the most in the conference. Players from Middlebury and Amherst are still accumulating stats as those teams continue their seasons in the NCAA Tournament this week.

With a .497 field goal percentage (191/384), Pierce ranks 12th in the league and he was also 12th in NESCAC with 39 three-point field goals made. His 18 blocked shots also put him among the conference's top 15.

In nine conference games, Pierce averaged 22.2 points on .514 field goal shooting (71/138) and 7.4 rebounds. He scored 36 points against Bowdoin on January 24, 29 against Amherst on February 7 and 27 against Trinity College on February 6. He scored the 1,000th point of his career early in the season and currently ranks eighth on the team's all-time scoring list with 1,434 points.

Named to the D3Hoops.com Preseason All-America Honorable Mention team, Pierce was the first NESCAC Player of the Week this season after an outstanding opening week. He was the NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2007 and an All-NESCAC Second Team pick last year.

►2008-09 NESCAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Selections

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