Three members of the Emory University men's basketball team were honored by the University Athletic Association Thursday afternoon as the All-Association teams were announced by the conference office.
Freshman Benjamin Pearce led all Emory selections with First Team honors and became the third Eagle in program history, joining Jake Davis (2011) and Romin Williams (2018), to be named the conference's Rookie of the Year. Senior Mason Johnson joined Pearce with his first-ever All-UAA selection, being tabbed to the Second Team. Freshman Jair Knight rounded out the Emory honorees with Honorable Mention acclaim.
Pearce is one of two players along with Johnson to start all 25 games for the Eagles this year, leading the team in scoring, assists and three-point shooting. Entering the postseason, Pearce is fifth among all Division III freshmen and second among all UAA scorers at 18.0 points per game and established a new Emory rookie scoring record with 449 points. He's been in double figures in scoring in 24 of 25 contests and had 11 games over 20 points, including a season-best 29 points against NYU on February 17. Pearce currently ranks third in the UAA and 57th nationally at 4.6 assists per game, second in the league in field goals made, second in free throw percentage, fourth in three-pointers made and ninth in the UAA with 34 steals.
Johnson has had a stellar senior season starting all 25 games and enters NCAA tournament action second on the team in both PPG (13.6) and rebounding (6.8 RPG) and is first with 25 blocked shots. Johnson scored 10 or more points on 20 different occasions, including 11 double digit efforts inside UAA play, and scored a career-best 26 points in the win at Colby on December 4. Johnson currently ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage (55.0%), third in offensive rebounding (2.4) and third with five double-doubles.
Knight is one of four Eagles averaging in double figures at 11.4 PPG while shooting 49.3% from the floor and leads the team with 38 steals. He has started 11 of the final 12 games in the regular season, while playing 20 minutes or more in all but one UAA game. In UAA action, Knight averaged 12.9 PPG and scored 12 points or more in 10 of 14 UAA games.
The Eagles will be on the road Friday night, taking on the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Tip off is scheduled for 7:20 PM.