Coward Named Second Team All-Region 10, Rookie of the Year, by D3hoops.com

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) of Willamette University has been selected Second Team All-Region 10 and Region 10 Rookie of the Year by D3hoops.com for the 2021-22 men's basketball season.

A total of just 11 players were chosen for the 2021-22 All-Region 10 Team. The First Team included five players, with six players named to the Second Team. Region 10 includes Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Players who are named to All-Region teams are eligible for selection to the D3hoops.com All-America Team.

As the Region 10 Rookie of the Year, Coward was one of three individuals in the region singled out for special honors. Josiah Johnson, a guard, from the Univerity of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) was named Region 10 Player of the Year. Head Coach Clif Carroll of UMHB was chosen Region 10 Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Region 10 selections were Johnson, Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) junior guard Brendan Mora, Linfield University senior guard Dempsey Roggenbuck, Pacific Lutheran University senior guard Seth Hall, and Trinity University (Texas) junior forward Enzo Sechi.

Coward was joined on the Second Team All-Region 10 list by LeTourneau University (Texas) senior guard Andrew Eberhardt, California Lutheran University senior guard Mason Johnson, Whitman College junior guard Nikola Trifunovic, Mary Hardin-Baylor junior guard/forward Ty Prince, and Pomona-Pitzer senior forward Matthew Eberle.

Second Team All-Region 10/Rookie of the Year

Cedric Coward (Fy., F) averaged 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game and was named First Team All-Northwest Conference and NWC Freshman of the Year. He tied for 11th in NCAA Division III in total rebounds during the regular season. In addition, he registered 91 assists (3.8 avg.) and 36 steals (1.5 avg.). He blocked a school record 67 shots (2.8 avg.) and ranked ninth in Division III in regular season blocks.

During the regular season, Coward ranked third in the NWC in scoring and led the conference in rebounding and blocked shots. He shot 60.8% from the field (174 of 286) and hit 29 three-point baskets and was successful on 45.3% of his shots from 3-point range. He achieved 19 double-doubles in the regular season to rank second in NCAA Divison III. He ended the year with 15 consecutive double-doubles.

Coward scored a career-high 30 points against Pacific University on Feb. 18, 2022, and scored 20 or more points 14 times. He grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds against Lewis & Clark College on Jan. 15, 2022. He registered double-digit rebounds 20 times, including each of the last 16 games. He blocked eight shots versus Whitworth University on Dec. 4, 2021.

"This is another in a long line of accolades that we are very proud of Cedric for achieving this past year," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said.

Willamette ended the season with a 6-18 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the NWC. The Bearcats, who did not have any players with senior eligibility, led the NWC on offense and ranked 29th in NCAA Division III in the regular season by averaging 83.8 points per game. Willamette ranked second in the NWC with 9.1 three-point baskets per game (219 total 3-pointers).