WALTHAM, Massachusetts — Bentley University senior forward Tyler McFarland of Rockport, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer earlier this month, has been selected to the 16-member National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-America Team.
McFarland was one of two players from the East Region to earn selection to the All-America team, a distinction he shared with Desmond Williams of Southern Connecticut State. He also was just one of two voted to the NABC All-America team and the CoSIDA Academic All-America team this season, with McFarland recognized last month as a second-team Division II Academic All-America.
McFarland also was named to the NABC Division II All-East first team, and Bentley guard Keegan Hyland of South Portland was chosen for the All-East second team.
McFarland led Bentley to a 21-9 record, the Northeast-10’s Northeast Division championship and an NCAA Division II East Region tournament berth. He led the Falcons in scoring and rebounding for the fourth straight year, averaging 22.6 points and 7.5 points.
McFarland’s 678 points this season was the second highest total in program history, as were his scoring average and minutes per game (36.4).
“This is a very special recognition for Tyler to receive and one that shows the respect he has earned from the coaches across the East Region, especially in a year where there were so many outstanding players to be considered,” longtime Bentley head coach Jay Lawson said in a news release. “We are very proud of the way Tyler has represented our program and university over the past four years and couldn’t be more pleased to see him chosen for this prestigious team.”
McFarland, who started all 112 games Bentley played over his career, ranks No. 1 in Bentley annals in points (2,118), field goals (785) and minutes per game (34.8). He also is second in program history in scoring average (18.9), free throw percentage (.867) and blocks (162), as well as third in total minutes (3,897).
Hyland, a two-time CoSIDA Division II first-team Academic All-America, was second to McFarland in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. He finished his Falcon career with a 17.8 scoring average, fifth best in program history and totaled 1,373 points, ranking 22nd in Bentley history.
Maine teams gain academic honor
The Husson University, University of Maine at Farmington and Thomas College field hockey teams have been selected to receive the 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III National Academic Team Award.
The National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that achieved a minimum team grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the first semester of the 2015-2016 academic year.