• Academic All-America release (pdf)

TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore David Downs, the starting point guard for 24th-ranked Seattle Pacific, was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II men's basketball team that was announced Wednesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). 
 
A business administration major with a 3.80 grade point average, Downs was included on the five-man second team. He is joined on that squad by seniors Braydon Hobbs (Bellarmine) and Chris Johansen (Regis), junior Jonathan Morse (Metro State) and sophomore Mike Dentlinger (Nebraska-Kearney).
 
Downs leads the Falcons with a 15.6-point scoring average while distributing a team-high 94 assists (3.8 apg). He is the team's best 3-point shooter at 45 percent and his 88.7-percent free throw accuracy ranks No. 15 nationally.
 
The product of Bellevue (Wash.) Christian High School has 20 double-figure scoring games this season, including 10 games of 20-or-more points topped by a 33-point performance at BYU-Hawaii on Dec. 10.
 
Downs started all 25 games, helping SPU to a 20-5 record. The Falcons are in third place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 12-4 league ledger.
 
Seattle Pacific plays its final two regular-season games on the road, beginning with a visit to 14th-ranked Western Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
The Capital One first team features Academic All-American of the Year Nick Trull (Anderson) along with Rory Blanche (Western Washington), Ryan Dougherty (Southwest Baptist), Desmond King (Texas A&M Commerce) and Kramer Soderberg (Lindenwood).
 
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
 
Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
 
For more information about the Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.
 
 
2012 CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
(NCAA Division II)
 
First Team
Rory Blanche, Western Washington, Sr., Ashland, Ore., 3.74, Manufacturing Engineering Tech
Ryan Dougherty, Southwest Baptist, Sr., Fort Worth, Tex., 3.62, Biology
Desmond King, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., Alexandria, La., 3.73, Kinesiology
Kramer Soderberg, Lindenwood, Sr., St. Charles, Mo., 3.69, Mass Communications
Nick Trull, Anderson (S.C.), Sr., Charlotte, N.C., 3.90, Kinesiology
 
Second Team
Mike Dentlinger, Nebraska-Kearney, So., Omaha, Neb., 3.95, Business Administration
David Downs, Seattle Pacific, So., Kirkland, Wash., 3.80, Business Administration
Braydon Hobbs, Bellarmine, Sr., New Albany, Ind., 3.53, Criminal Justice
Chris Johansen, Regis, Sr., Albuquerque, N.M., 3.96, Business Management
Jonathan Morse, Metro State, Jr., Boulder, Colo., 3.55, Biology
 
Third Team
John Corrigan, Shippensburg, Sr., Harrisburg, Pa.,, 3.97, History
Andrew Davis, Texas A&M-Commerce, Jr., Richardson, Texas, 4.00, Accounting
Robert Huntington, Nova Southeastern, Sr., Perth, Australia, 3.77, Exercise & Sports Science
Matt Morris, Fort Lewis, Sr., Durango, Colo., 3.59, Business Administration
Steve Swiech, California (Pa.), Gr., Greenock, Pa., 3.70, Business Administration
 
Academic All-American of the Year:  Nick Trull, Anderson