Louison Named Player of the Year, Cocozello Coach of the Year Highlights Three on All-HVIAC Team

Louison Named Player of the Year, Cocozello Coach of the Year Highlights Three on All-HVIAC Team

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - After leading the Bears to an appearance in the  Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Tournament final and a 5-1 regular season record against the conference, senior David Louison (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) and juniors Michael Megafu (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional) and Matt O'Neill (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) were named members of the HVIAC All-Conference Team, while head coach Joseph Cocozello was awarded Coach of the Year. In addition, Louison claimed the inaugural HVIAC Player of the Year award.

The senior Louison has now received All-Conference honors in all four seasons as a Bear. The forward ranks third in the HVIAC in scoring (16.5 ppg), including a career-high 35-point performance, and second in rebounding (11.3 rpg), leading the Bears in each category. He also leads the team in minutes (33.0 mpg) and blocks (1.5 bpg).

Louison nabbed four HVIAC Player of the Week awards this season, totaling ten for his career. He has led St. Joseph's in scoring nine times and rebounding a team-high 15 times. The reliable forward has reached double-digit scoring in 23 of 27 games. In addition, Louison's 19 double-doubles are good for third most in NCAA Division III.

Megafu receives the All-Conference accolade for the third straight season. Alongside Louison, Megafu is a double-double threat each time he hits the court, recording 13 in an impressive junior campaign. He is also averaging a double-double, sitting fifth in the HVIAC in scoring (16.0 ppg) and third in rebounding (10.0). The forward makes the most of his shot attempts, leading the Bears and ranking second in the league with a highly efficient 60.2 shooting percentage.

Megafu has been St. Joseph's leading rebounder in 11 games and leading scorer in a team-high 14, picking up an HVIAC Player of the Week award along the way. The consistent junior has notched 21 double-digit scoring games and a team-best nine 20-plus point performances.

O'Neill is a first-time recipient of the All-Conference honor. The junior is the Bears' primary facilitator, averaging a team- and conference-high 4.6 assists. His 13.3 points per game rank third on the team and tenth in the HVIAC. The crafty junior also swipes 3.3 steals per contest, fourth most in all of Division III.

O'Neill has logged five or more assists a team-leading ten times, including a career-high 11 on two occasions. He is also the only Bear to record at least five thefts in a game, reaching the mark five times. The AD3I Player of the Week recipient was also named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance in the Connecticut College/Coast Guard Invitational.

Following his second consecutive season with at least 18 victories, head coach Joseph Cocozello was selected as the 2015 HVIAC Coach of the Year, his fourth straight year receiving the honor.

On Monday, the Bears received a bid into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship Tournament. The team will travel to Uniontown, Pa. for a first-round matchup with Rochester (Mich.) on Wednesday, March 4 at 3 p.m.

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2014-15 All-HVIAC Men's Basketball Team

Avery Britton * Culinary So. F Kirkland, Wash.
James Brooks Kings (N.Y.) So. C Los Angeles, Calif.
Kenton Chan-Man Berkeley Sr. G Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ari Grant % Pratt Jr. F Denver, Colo.
Keenan Langston * Berkeley Jr. G/F Brooklyn, N.Y.
David Louison *** St. Joseph's Sr. F Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rashad Luckett * Vaughn Jr. G Chicago, Ill.
Ryan McVaigh * Albany Pharmacy Sr. G Ballston Spa, N.Y.
Michael Megafu ** St. Joseph's Jr. F Brooklyn, N.Y.
Massiah Merritt Berkeley  So. G Brooklyn, N.Y.
Emmanuel Okafor Albany Pharmacy Sr. C Ikoyi, Lagos
Matt O'Neil St. Joseph's Jr. G Brooklyn, N.Y.
Michael Pena * Vaughn So. G Dumont, N.J.

% Denotes 2012-13 All-Conference Team Selection
* Denotes 2013-14 All-Conference Team Selection
** Denotes 2012-13 and 2013-14 All-Conference Team Selection
*** Denotes 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 All-Conference Team Selection 

Player of the Year - David Louison (St. Joseph's College)
Rookie of the Year - Sergio Mejia (Vaughn College) 
Coach of the Year - Joseph Cocozello (St. Joseph's College)