Ball State University Athletics
Maurice Acker Named MAC Freshman of the Year
March 06, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Ball State University men's basketball freshman guard Maurice Acker (Hazelcrest, Ill./ Hillcrest H.S.) has been named the 2006 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in a vote conducted by members of the MAC News Media Association and announced today by the league office.
In addition, Acker was voted to the five-man All-MAC Freshman Team in a vote conducted by the league's 12 head men's basketball coaches.
Acker, who has started 24 games this season, becomes just the fourth Ball State freshman in school history to win the award. He joins Ray McCallum (1980), Bonzi Wells (1995) and Theron Smith (2000) as the only Cardinals to earn the honor.
"I'm excited," Acker said. "It's a great honor to win this award, especially to have my name listed with Ray, Bonzi and Theron. It's also a credit to my coaches and my teammates."
In Ball State's most recent action, Acker poured in 15 points and dished out six assists in Saturday's win at Eastern Michigan. The double-figure scoring effort was his 11th of the season and the eighth in league play, while his six assists marked the 14th game this season with at least five assists.
The 5-foot-8, 150-lb. guard poured in a career-high 23 points at Kent State in just his third conference game of the season Jan. 11, while adding 19 points and six assists against Bowling Green Jan. 21.
Acker has scored 251 points this season and needs one point for seventh on BSU's all-time freshman scoring list. He has passed Randy Zachary's 219 points as a freshman in 1993-94, Jeff Williams' 229 points in 1977-78 and the 233 from Shafer Suggs in 1973-74 for eighth all-time. Derrick Wesley (252, 1984-85) is seventh on the list, while Duane Clemens (275, 1996-97) is sixth.
"Maurice had an outstanding year," said BSU head coach Tim Buckley. "He is certainly deserving of this honor. Maurice keeps getting better every time he step on the court. He did a great job this season in a tough situation when Peyton Stovall went down. I am very proud of Maurice. Myself, our staff and his teammates congratulate him on this award."
The Cardinals open the 2006 FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday at No. 9 seed Buffalo. The winner advances to the quarterfinal round to meet No. 1 seed Kent State at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
2006 MAC Freshman of the Year
Maurice Acker, Ball State
2006 MAC All-Freshman Team
Maurice Acker, Ball State
Nate Linhart, Akron
Chris Kellermann, Central Michigan
Carlos Medlock, Eastern Michigan
Jerome Tillman, Ohio
