March 1, 2005
MACON, Ga. - The UCF men's basketball team was well represented when the Atlantic Sun announced its all-conference squads on Tuesday, as senior Gary Johnson and sophomore Josh Peppers were both named to the second team. The Golden Knights have had at least one all-conference selection in each of the last four years.
Johnson ranks second on the in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. His is shooting 81 percent from the free-throw line, good for second in the A-Sun. The point guard ranks in the top-five in the league in three other statistical categories: steals (2.21 per game), three-point field goal percentage (40.5) and three-point field goals made (2.93 per game). He is also in the league top-10 in assists, dishing out 3.9 an outing.
He garnered the league player of the week award on Nov. 22 after earned MVP honors at the BP Top of the World Classic. Johnson led UCF to a 3-0 record at the event, averaging 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Peppers is the Golden Knights top scorer at 13.4 points per contest. He posted double-figures in scoring in 16 league games. This season, Peppers has paced UCF in scoring on 10 occasions.
The forward also claimed a player of the week honor on Feb. 21. He earned the award after averaging 22 points and nine assists, while shooting 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the floor in two Golden Knight victories.
UCF (21-8 overall) finished the A-Sun campaign at 13-7 and claimed a share of its first regular season title. The Golden Knights are seeded second in the league championship and play No. 7 Mercer in a quarterfinal game at 3:15 p.m. Eastern on Thursday in Nashville.
All-Conference First Team:
Mike Bell, Florida Atlantic
Marcus Brown, Georgia State
Brian Bender, Gardner-Webb
Haminn Quaintance, Jacksonville
Will Emerson, Mercer
All-Conference Second Team:
Tim Jennings, Gardner-Webb
Anthony Register, Stetson
Josh Peppers, UCF
Gary Johnson, UCF
Brian Fisk, Lipscomb
Player-of-the-Year: Mike Bell, Florida Atlantic
Defensive Player-of-the-Year: Tim Jennings, Gardner-Webb
All-Freshman Team:
Justin Hare, Belmont
Ruell Pringle, Campbell
Tywain McTyer, Florida Atlantic
Will Peeples, Belmont
Eddie Ard, Lipscomb
Freshman-of-the-Year: Justin Hare, Belmont
Coach-of-the-Year: Rick Scruggs, Gardner-Webb