The University of the Cumberlands Men's Basketball team has high expectations going into the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Friday.  Before that happens though, the league honored its best and brightest at its yearly banquet held on Thursday night at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort, KY. 

This season, two Patriots stood out in the minds of the coaches across the Mid-South Conference (MSC) as they were named to the First Team MSC All-Conference team.   

Zavion Neely (Chicago, IL) earned his first nod as an All-MSC player while Matt Daniel (Morehead, KY) earned his 2^ndFirst Team honor as an All-Conference player.  Neely led the team this year averaging 16.5 points per game while Daniel followed just behind with 14.0 points per game.

Daniel also was honored as an Academic-All Conference selection.  Sixteen others joined Daniel in this group this season.  To earn Academic All-Conference honors, athletes must maintain at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be a sophomore or higher in academic standing.  This was Daniel's third time on this team as he earned Academic All-Conference honors in 2010-2011 as well as 2008-2009. 

The 5^thseeded Patriots will take on 4^thseeded University of Pikeville on Friday March 2^ndat 4:00 pm. 

For more information on the Patriots Men's Basketball team along with other Patriot athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.