Michael Lofton Named to NABC Division III All-Northeast Region Team

2014-2015 NABC Division III All-Northeast Region Team (PDF)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior forward Michael Lofton has been named as a first team selection on the 2014-2015 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III Men's Basketball All-Northeast Region Team.

Lofton joins Nicholas Motta (2009-10, 2nd Team), Roland Millien (2008-09, 2nd Team) and Harry Grabert (2001-02, 2nd Team) as one of only four Bears to be named to the NABC All-Northeast Region Team. He is also the only first team selection in the history of the program.

Earlier this week, Lofton was named to the D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region First Team. He was also selected to play in the NABC Reese's Division III College All-Star Game which takes place on Saturday, March 21st (12:30 PM) at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.

In 26 games this season, Lofton averaged 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks.  The Mansfield, Massachusetts product also shot 57% (185-327) from the floor and produced 14 double-doubles.

Lofton, the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) player of the Year, led the MASCAC in scoring and rebounding. He also ranked third in the conference in field goal percentage, and fifth in assists, steals and blocks.

Among the national Division III leaders, Lofton is currently tied for tenth in double-doubles and tied for 16th in rebounding.

Lofton garnered MASCAC Player of the Week honors an impressive eight times this season and 13 times over the course of his career at Bridgewater State.

In 105 games over four seasons with the Bears, Lofton amassed 1,504 points, 905 rebounds, 195 assists, 156 blocked shots and 189 steals.  He ends his career as the Bears' all-time leader in field goal percentage (.609) and blocked shots, and is second all-time in rebounding. Lofton also ranks sixth among the team's career scoring leaders.

The BSU men's basketball team posted a record of 18-8 during the 2014-2015 campaign including a 10-2 mark in conference competition. Seeded second in the MASCAC Tournament, the Bears edge #3 Fitchburg State University, 93--85 in overtime, before dropping a 78-69 decision to top-seeded Westfield State University in the MASCAC Championship Game.

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches:

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest “Phog” Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today’s student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education.