varsity news

Durham Lords Media Release
Thursday, March 04, 2010

Pelley named OCAA defensive player of the year – Smith receives all-star recognition

LONDON, Ont. – The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) announced on Thursday that Tyler Pelley (Ajax, Ont.) of the Durham Lords men’s basketball team is the recipient of the 2009/10 OCAA defensive player of the year award. Pelley’s teammate Eric Smith ( Ajax, Ont.) also took home some hardware at the OCAA Championship banquet in London as he was named an east region first team all-star.

Pelley, who is known for his intensity on the court, led the OCAA with 90 steals this year, 36 more than Adrian Tomlinson of St. Lawrence who finished in second place with 54. The remarkable total gives Pelley the record for the most steals in a single season, passing the previous mark of 67 set back in 2007/08 (steals have been an official statistic of OCAA men’s basketball for three seasons).

In the past two years, Pelley has recorded 136 steals, the most of any player in the OCAA. In twenty games in 2009/10, he averaged 4.5 steals per game, finished in ninth in the OCAA in total assists (50) and third in team scoring (186 points).

Eric Smith received provincial recognition once again as he was named an OCAA east region first team all-star. The sophomore was one of the league’s top big men as he averaged an impressive 19.2 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Smith led the entire province in rebounds with 188 on the year and finished near the top of the OCAA charts in several other statistical categories including scoring (third – 384 points), steals (third – 49) and blocks (ninth – 14). Last season, Smith was named to the OCAA all-rookie team and an OCAA second team all-star.

Both players hope to have a big part in Durham’s quest for a national title in 2011 as they return to the Lords lineup. Durham will be hosting the 2011 CCAA National Basketball Championship in March 2011 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre.
 
For the complete list of OCAA all-stars and for any information on this weekend’s OCAA basketball championships, please visit www.OCAA.com.

DURHAM COLLEGE - OCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS

Tyler Pelley – OCAA defensive player of the Year
Eric Smith – OCAA first team all-star

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca