ANGOLA, IND. -- Trine University sophomore Maurice Hunter (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) has been selected the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association "Defensive Player of the Year" and was a second-team All-MIAA pick to highlight the 2017-18 All-MIAA honorees for the Thunder.
It marks back-to-back seasons that the men's basketball team has had someone tabbed as "Defensive Player of the Year."
In addition to Hunter, junior Myles Copeland (Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo St. John's) represented Trine as a first-team selection. Joining Hunter as a second-team pick was junior Pete Smith (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) to round out the Trine award winners.
Hunter has played in all 25 games so far this season and started 21. He is one of four players to average double figures in scoring with 11.0 points per game while shooting 52.5 percent (116-of-221) from the floor. He leads the team, and is third overall in the MIAA, in rebounding average at 7.3 boards per game. Hunter has recorded seven double-doubles this season, including a stretch of four straight games with 10 or more points and rebounds in a single contest. Defensively, Hunter has posted a team and league-leading 34 blocked shots.
Copeland has had a standout season which includes his first All-MIAA selection. He has been one of the top scoring threats for Trine throughout the season, averaging a team-best 19.8 ppg. He has scored in double figures in all but five games this season with 11 games of 20 or more points, three games of 30 or more points and a career-high 41-point effort in a win against Calvin (Mich.) College. Copeland has been shooting 48.8 percent (179-of-367) overall from the field and 78.3 percent at the free-throw line, leading the team in both free-throws made (137) and attempts (175). In addition, Copeland is second on the team in rebounding at 6.3 rebounds per game and blocked shots with 16 to go along with 37 assists and 12 steals.
Smith, who transferred to Trine prior to the start of the season, has made an immediate impact for the Thunder as the starting point guard. He has started 24 out of 25 games to date and is second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg while shooting 43.9 percent (129-of-294) overall. He currently leads the Thunder, as well as the MIAA, in three-point shooting with 75 made triples in 175 attempts (42.9 percent). Earlier this season, Smith made 11 three-pointers in a win at Kalamazoo (Mich.) College to set a Trine single-game record. Smith finished with 33 points in the game against the Hornets which was a season-high and has scored in double figures in all but five games. He also leads the team in three other statistical categories including free-throw percentage (88.6), assists (91) and steals (31).
Trine will be the fourth seed in the MIAA Tournament that begins on Friday, Feb. 23. Olivet (Mich.) College will serve as host as the top-seeded team. The Thunder will take on the Comets on Friday with the game scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. in Olivet, Mich.
