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Fort Hays States Simmons honored by MIAA
spt mm Simmons
Fort Hays State University center Matt Simmons, a Great Bend High School alum, was named second-team All-MIAA, as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year and also on the All-Defensive Team. - photo by Fort Hays State Sports Information

HAYS — Fort Hays State University seniors Matt Simmons, Karron McKenzie, and Moses Dayee were honored on Tuesday with the release of the All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Men’s Basketball Team.
Simmons, a 6-foot-7 product of Great Bend High School, earned second-team honors and was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, while McKenzie and Dayee earned third team honors. This is the second straight year that a Tiger has won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Simmons, the conference’s rebounding leader (10.0 per game) and blocked shots (2.0 per game), earned his first all-conference nod in the MIAA, joining the second team.
Simmons had 16 games this year in which he reached double figures in rebounds and recorded eight double-doubles in points and rebounds. Entering the postseason, Simmons ranks 10th in Division II in rebounds per game and tied for 24th in blocked shots per game.
After Dijon Smith was honored as Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the Tigers last year, Simmons earns the honor this season. Simmons has grabbed 76% of his 259 rebounds on the defensive end of the court this year, while adding 53 blocked shots. His 53 blocked shots currently ranks eighth-highest in a single season at FHSU. With this honor, Simmons is also a part of the MIAA All-Defensive Team.
McKenzie, Fort Hays State’s leading scorer entering the postseason, earns his first all-conference nod in the MIAA with a third-team selection. He is averaging 11.8 points per game and has scored in double figures 18 times for FHSU this year. He is the second-leading rebounder on the team at 6.1 per game. He has three double-doubles in points and rebounds to his credit this year. McKenzie is also by far the team leader in steals with 41, averaging 1.6 per game, and ranks second on the team in assists with 70, averaging 2.7 per game.
Dayee earns his first all-conference honor in the MIAA, making the third team. Dayee sat out the first nine games of the season due to having just one semester of eligibility left, but made a significant impact when he returned. He has 49 3-pointers to his credit, averaging 2.9 3-point field goals made per game, and averages 11.4 points per game, which ranks second on the team. Dayee is third on the team in assists per game, averaging 2.5. In his two seasons at FHSU, Dayee has 114 3-point field goals made.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the Tigers have had multiple players named to the All-MIAA Team. All three of these players were key reserves on last year’s MIAA Tournament Championship team, but have stepped forward to lead the Tigers this year.

 

ALL-MIAA
MEN’S BASKETBALL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keane Thomann, Sr., C, Missouri Southern

DEFENSIVE PLAYER
OF THE YEAR
Matt Simmons, Sr., F, Fort Hays State

FRESHMAN
OF THE YEAR
Seth Jackson, G, Truman

COACH OF THE YEAR
Ben McCollum, Northwest Missouri

FIRST TEAM
Keane Thomann, Sr., C, Missouri Southern**
Will McNeill, Jr., G, Washburn**
Deshaun Cooper, Jr., G, Northwest Missouri
Ryan Dougherty, Sr., G, Southwest Baptist
Jason Adams, Sr., G/F, Missouri Southern
 
SECOND TEAM
Dominique Long,Jr., F, Central Missouri
Boo Hunter, Sr., G, Central Missouri
Jake Reinders, Sr., F, Northwest Missouri
Andra Bailey, Sr., F, Pittsburg State
Matt Simmons, Sr., C, Fort Hays State
 
THIRD TEAM
Karron McKenzie, Sr., G/F, Fort Hays State
Lavonte Douglas, Sr., F, Missouri Western
Moses Dayee, Sr., G/F, Fort Hays State
Marquis Addison, So., G, Missouri Southern
Eric Ray, Sr., G, Pittsburg State
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Widgett Washington, Jr., G, Central Missouri
Tola Lawal, Sr., G, Emporia State
Cedric Ridle, Jr., G, Lincoln
Jordan Talbert, So., F, Missouri Southern
TJ Johnson, Sr., G, Missouri Western
Kyle Haake, Sr., G, Northwest Missouri
DeAngelo Hailey, Jr., G, Northwest Missouri
Javon McGee, Jr., C, Pittsburg State
Robson Memnon, Sr., F, Southwest Baptist
Seth Jackson, Fr., G, Truman
Tom Norton, Jr., G, Truman
Martin Mitchell, Jr., G, Washburn
Bobby Chipman, Jr., F, Washburn

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Matt Simmons, Sr., C, Fort Hays State
Ryan Dougherty, Sr., G, Southwest Baptist
Will McNeill, Jr., G, Washburn
Jake Reinders, Sr., F, Northwest Missouri
Andra Bailey, Sr., F, Pittsburg State

**Unanimous Selection