By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University first-year forward Cedric Coward (Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS) has been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference and NWC Freshman of the Year for the 2021-22 men's basketball season as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Coward ranked third in the NWC in scoring and led the conference in rebounding and blocked shots.

A total of 17 players were selected for the 2021-22 All-NWC Men's Basketball Team. The First Team included six players, with five players chosen for the Second Team, and six players earning Honorable Mention.

Seth Hall, a senior guard at Pacific Lutheran University, was named NWC Men's Basketball Player of the Year. PLU Head coach Chad Murray was chosen NWC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.

Willamette concluded the 2021-22 season with a 6-18 overall record and a 3-13 record in the NWC. The Bearcats, who did not have any players with senior eligibility on the team, led the NWC on offense and ranked 29th in NCAA Division III 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).

First Team All-Northwest Conference/NWC Freshman of the Year

Cedric Coward (Fy., F) provided the Bearcats with very strong all-around play. He averaged 19.4 points per game and grabbed 12.0 rebounds per contest. Coward tied for 11th in the nation in NCAA Division III in total rebounds. He contributed 91 assists (3.8 avg.) and registered 36 steals (1.5 avg.). He blocked a school record 67 shots (2.8 avg.), breaking the previous record of 63 blocks set by Kyle McNally '15 during the 2014-15 season. Coward ranked ninth in Division III in blocks.

During the season, Coward shot 60.8% on field goals (174 of 286) and connected on 29 three-pointers. He shot 45.3% from 3-point range. He earned 19 double-doubles to rank second in Division III and ended the season with a string of 15 in a row.

"We couldn't be more excited or proud of Cedric's achievements," Willamette Head Men's Basketball Coach Kip Ioane said. "From day one, it was evident not only the type of player he was, but more impressively, the humble, gracious person he is as well. On the floor, it was the most impressive first-year campaign I've had the pleasure of witnessing in all my time here at WU."