Worcester, MA --- WPI senior Antoine Coleman (Everett, MA) has been named NEWMAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year while head coach Chris Bartley was tabbed Coach of the Year in voting by the conference coaches today at their annual postseason meeting at WPI.  Senior forward Jim Marois (Worcester, MA) distinguished himself by being selected to the all-conference second team.

It marks the third time in four years that a WPI player has won the POY award (Mike Pristileo - 2004, Ryan Cain - 2005 and 2007) while it's the third time Bartley has been honored by his peers. 

Coleman led the Engineers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.2 points to go along with 6.1 rebounds.  An first-team All-NEWMAC selection a year ago and preseason D3hoops.com All-American this season, the senior forward has his best offensive season while also adding 40 steals, 38 assists and 14 blocks.  The Crimson and Gray captured the NEWMAC regular season during all four of his seasons as the senior trio of Coleman, Marois and Ryan Bourque (Nashua, NH) were an eye-popping 41-7 in conference regular season contests including 22-2 the past two seasons.

Bartley, who also received the honor in 2004 and 2005, has guided the Engineers to a 21-6 overall record and a 11-1 mark in regular season conference play, four games ahead of its closest rival.  The Crimson and Gray earned a coveted at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championships where they will face Virginia Wesleyan in a first round game on Friday at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA.

Marois has had a standout senior campaign for the Engineers.  The Worcester native averaged 13.7 points, including a team best 14.1 in NEWMAC contests, while grabbing 5.1 rebounds per game.  He led the team in free-throw percentage (82.9%) while averaging a team-best 26.8 minutes per game.

WPI, winners nine of its last 10 games, will be making its fifth straight NCAA appearance.

2008 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team and Award Winners

NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Antoine Coleman, WPI

NEWMAC Rookie of the Year:
Anthony Coppola, Wheaton

NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Chris Bartley, WPI

NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
Clark University

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Kyle McDonald, Babson
Craig Johnson, Coast Guard
Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT
Al Sowers, Coast Guard
Antoine Coleman, WPI

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Mark Alexander, Clark
Jeff Prebeck, Coast Guard
Jamaal Gibbs, Springfield
Anthony Coppola, Wheaton
Jim Marois, WPI