Steyn named Most Outstanding Player in D2 all-Star game

From SBUniv.edu

Basketball (Men's)
Steyn named Most Outstanding Player in D2 all-Star game
By
Mar 24, 2006, 21:41

Frans Steyn was the Most Outstanding Player for the West Team in the inaugural NCAA Division II All-Star game.

[box vs. East All-Stars]

SPRINGFIELD, MA. ... In the inaugural NCAA Division II All-Star game at the National Championships, Southwest Baptist University made their presence known. Both Frans Steyn and Sheldon Pace scored in double figures.

Steyn, the 7'2" center from Pretoria, South Africa, posted 18 points and 11 rebounds for the West Team en route to being named the all-Star game Most Outstanding Player for the West Team along with teammate Ryan Diggs from Western Washington. Pace finished the game wtih 14 points and seven assists.

Scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds in the second half, Steyn helped to guide the West Team to a 12-point win after only being up by four at the half, 62-58. Eight of the 10 players on the West Team scored in double figures with Diggs' as the leading scorer with 25 points. Central Missouri State's Michael Hicks had 20 points in the win.

In the second half, the East Team tied the game at 65 just 1:08 into the half when Diggs nailed a three-pointer to start a 26-11 run to give the West Team a 12-point lead. Pace had one of his seven assists on the three-pointer that started the run. The West Team never trailed again as they went on for a 12-point win.

Sheldon Pace had 14 points and 7 assists in helping the West to a victory.

The NCAA Division II All-Star game is in its first year and highlights the talent that is at the NCAA Division II level. The game was played at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and National Championship weekend.

Both Steyn and Pace finished the year at SBU guiding the Bearcats to the outright title for the regular season in the MIAA and the MIAA Tournament title. SBU was also the #1 seed and hosted the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Bolivar, Missouri. SBU finished the year at 27-5. Both titles and NCAA Tournament berth for the Bearcats were a first in 15 years.

Pace and Steyn both put their name in the career record books as Pace broke the SBU single season record for steals (70) and assists (265) while Steyn finished 2nd overall in career blocks with 67.