Bryan Named MASCAC Player of the Year, Conner Byrne Earns Second Team Honors
WESTFIELD, Mass. — Guard Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) was named the 2021-22 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and headlines the MASCAC All-Conference Team which was announced Wednesday. Bryan, earns his second player of the year award, winning the honor previously in 2019. Senior Conner Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) was named to the ALL-MASCAC second team in his first season with the Vikings' program.
Bryan, led the league in scoring with a 20.8 ppg average, and topped the conference in points (499) and steals (51). His MASCAC-leading 139 assists are sixth most in a season in school history. He recorded two triple doubles this year and his 15 assists against Westfield State are the most by a Salem State player since 2005. The graduate-student ended his career as the second all-time leading scorer in Salem State history with 1,849 points. He ranks in the top-10 all time at Salem State in field goals made (582), three-point field goals made (159), free throw percentage (83.4%), assists per game (4.2) and steals (174). His 467 assists rank first all-time in program history and he is second all-time in made free throws (526).
Byrne was the team's top rebounder, securing 9.4 rebounds per game and was second on the team with a 13.0 ppg scoring average. He ranked sixth in the conference in scoring with 311 points and was fourth overall in the MASCAC in total rebounds (225) and field goal percentage (52.4%). Byrne finished second in the conference with 42 blocked shots while recording nine double-doubles this season.
For full release, please visit www.mascac.com
2021-22 MASCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) Salem State, Graduate, Guard
Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, Mass.) Westfield State, Junior, Forward
Justin Rennis (Springfield, Mass.) Westfield State, Senior, Guard
Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) Worcester State, Senior, Forward
Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) Worcester State, Graduate, Guard
SECOND TEAM
Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.) Fitchburg State, Junior, Forward
Hayden Bird (Clarksburg, Mass.) MCLA, Senior, Forward
Quentin Gitten (Pittsfield, Mass.) MCLA, Junior, Guard
Noah Yearsley (Averill Park, N.Y.) MCLA, Graduate, Guard
Conner Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) Salem State, Senior, Forward/Center
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) Salem State, Graduate, Guard
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, Mass.) Westfield State, Junior, Forward
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) Worcester State, Freshman, Forward/Center
CHAMPION'S CHOICE COACH OF THE YEAR
Rich Sutter, Westfield State
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as a football affiliate member in 2013. Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College and Springfield College joined as men's golf affiliates in 2019 and New England College in 2021.