MOMENT #1: LIONS MAKE HISTORY WITH THREE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

The 2011-12 A&M-Commerce athletic season was filled with a number of impressive performance and memorable highlights achieved by the Lion student-athletes. To close out the athletic season, LionAthletics.com is looking back at the top-15 moments of the year, voted on by athletic administrators, media members and Lion fans. We thank all of the A&M-Commerce fans, alumni and supporters for their continued support and look forward to a memorable 2012-13 season, getting underway in just a few short weeks.

COMMERCE, Texas – After two months of reflecting back on great individual performances, memorable games and career milestones, we have reached the number one moment of the 2011-12 A&M-Commerce Top-15 countdown, capping the list with a trio that encompasses what it truly means to be “student-athletes.”

Three Lions were recognized for not only their work on their respective playing field, but also for their efforts in the classroom as men’s basketball’s Andrew Davis and Desmond King and football’s Taylor Fore were honored as Capital One Academic All-Americans for the 2011-12 season. The award aims to recognize those players who have proven to be one of the top athletes as well as an outstanding scholar.

In order to be eligible for consideration, a player must be a starter or significant reserve for their respective team and boast a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better. Voting is first done at the district level as players are nominated and voted on by sports information directors throughout the region. Those who achieve first team All-District status are then eligible for the national ballot, in which voting is done by sports information directors from across the country.

The three selections from A&M-Commerce were significant as it marks the first time in the program’s history that three Lion student-athletes were named an Academic All-American in the same season. Additionally, with both Davis and King being named to the men’s basketball All-Academic Team, A&M-Commerce was the only school in the country across all Divisions (I, II and III) to have a pair of student-athletes named to the squad.

King was named a first team Academic All-American after concluding another solid season for the Lions. The Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year, King led the Lions in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game despite being hampered by knee injuries for the majority of the season. He ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (fourth), rebounding (ninth), field goal percentage (sixth) and offensive rebounds (fourth), en route to being named an All-LSC honorable mention selection.

Fore was also named a first team Academic All-American for football after leading A&M-Commerce in receptions (58) and receiving yards (581) in 2011, tying the program’s single-season receptions record. Fore was also an honorable mention All-LSC selection, ranking third in the conference in catches and 10th in receiving yards and closed out his career fourth all-time in program history with 125 receptions. He was also tabbed the Lone Star Conference’s Academic Player of the Year for football.

Davis was a third team Academic All-America selection coming off his best season in a Lion uniform. He started all but one game in 2011-12, setting personal bests in nearly every statistical category while ranking among the LSC leaders in both total rebounds (4.9 rpg) and defensive rebounds (3.5 drpg). Davis was also named the Lone Star Conference’s Academic Player of the Year for men’s basketball and was recognized on the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for finishing the year with a perfect 4.00 GPA for the second consecutive season.

In addition, women's golf landed a pair of its student-athletes on another prestigious list as Sara Diaz and Holly Jenkins were both named All-America Scholar recipients by the National Golf Coaches Association, with Diaz being honored for the second time.

With the 2011-12 Top-15 countdown now in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to the 2012-13 season, which gets fired up in just a matter of days. Football reports back to Commerce for summer workouts on August 7 and hits the field for the first practice of the year on August 9 with volleyball and soccer reporting one week later.

The Lion Athletic Department is looking forward to an exciting season, so stay tuned to LionAthletics.com as we get primed for the first home games of 2012-13 in just a matter of weeks, beginning with soccer’s match against Ouachita Baptist at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 30, leading into football’s season opener against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m.

A&M-Commerce Top-15 Moments Countdown Schedule

Moment #1 - A&M-Commerce Makes History With Three Academic All-Americans
Moment #2 - Pair of Lion Women Qualify for NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships
Moment #3 - Brad Hambrick Cements His Legacy Among Lion All-Time Greats
Moment #4 - A&M-Commerce Takes Down Angelo State on Penalty Kicks in LSC Quarterfinals
Moment #5 - Pair of Lions Named Lone Star Conference Academic Players of the Year
Moment #6 - Marcus Graham Bursts into Lion Record Books on Senior Night
Moment #7 - Facing Match Point, Volleyball Rallies to Take Down Incarnate Word 3-2
Moment #8 - Chantry McMahan Finishes Second at LSC Golf Championships
Moment #9 - Men's Cross Country Ties Best Finish in Program History at LSC Championships
Moment #10 - Track and Field Notches A Pair of LSC Individual Champions
Moment #11 - Men's Basketball Wins Final Three Games to Qualify for LSC Tournament
Moment #12 - Football Takes to the Turf at Cowboys Stadium
Moment #13 - Pair of Men's Golfers Capture Individual Tournament Titles
Moment #14 - Women's Track and Field Sets Three School Records
Moment #15 - Women's Basketball Upsets Angelo State 64-61 in Season Finale