The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released its All-RMAC teams this morning and the Mavericks picked up some hefty awards.
Mesa State Senior Mike Dominguez was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Dominguez is averaging 21.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season. Dominguez becomes Mesa State's first RMAC Player of the Year since Jeff Boese won the award for the 2000-2001 season.
Dominguez was a five time RMAC Player of the Week honoree and scored in double digits in 26 of the Mavs 27 games. He scored 30-plus points five times this season and twice hit a career high 37 points against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. He recorded one double-double at Neb. -Kearney, finishing with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Head Coach Jim Heaps was named Coach of the Year for leading the Mavericks to a 22-5 record and the RMAC Championship, Mesa State's first since 1999. Coach Heaps previously won the award in 1999. Under his guidance the Mavs earned the school's highest ranking at No. 9 and were ranked in the top 25 National Association Basketball Coaches poll for 11 consecutive weeks. MSC held the No. 1 Central Regional ranking during the season and posted an 11-game win streak. The Mavs, 22-5 have the fewest losses in its history and the team is two wins away from tying most wins in a season.
Mike Dominguez and Senior Jase Herl were named 1st Team All-RMAC as well. Herl is averaging 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Dominguez and Herl are the first Mavericks since Stephen Soriano in 2007 to be named to the All-RMAC Team.
Jase Herl was also named West Division Defensive Player of the Year. The last Maverick to win that award was Mickey Schlagel in 2007.
Herl is a two-time RMAC Player of the Week selection and leads the team in rebounds and assists per game. He ranks third in the league in rebounds and assists per game. Herl recorded two double-doubles this season finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds versus Regis and recorded 16 points and a career high 20 rebounds against Western New Mexico. Herl is a First Team All-Academic selection.
The Mavericks are awaiting Sunday's Selection Show to find out who they will be playing in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. The Selection Show is set to begin at 7:30pm (Mountain Time) on Sunday March 7th.
RMAC All-Conference Teams