Jaguar Duo Lands National Honors

Senior center Siler, junior guard Madgen tabbed All-Americans
Web Posted 3/24/09


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Augusta State's tandem of Garret Siler and Ben
Madgen were each named an All-American on Tuesday, March 24 by the NABC
and Daktronics, respectively.

With the selections, the duo becomes the fourth and fifth All-America
selections for the Jaguar men's basketball program over the last three
seasons and the sixth and seventh different players in school history
to earn national accolades.

Augusta State was the only program in the nation and the first in Peach
Belt Conference history to have two players to garner All- America
honors in the same season. The Peach Belt Conference totaled three
All-America selections with the selection of USC Aiken's Chris Commons
to both squads.

A 7-0, 291-pound senior center from Augusta, Ga., Siler joins former
ASU All-American AJ Bowman as the only players in school history to
earn first-team, All-America honors by the NABC. Siler leads the nation
in field goal percentage for the third consecutive season (.795) and
ranks ninth in the nation in blocked shots at 2.7 bpg. On the season,
he's averaging 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds and was tabbed the NCAA
Southeast Regional's Most Outstanding Player after leading ASU to the
regional title in an 85-57 victory over USC Aiken in Christenberry
Fieldhouse on Tuesday, March 17.

The only player in the PBC to rank in the top five in scoring,
rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots, Siler has scored
in double figures in 21 consecutive games and registered 20 or more
points nine times. He has booked a team-best nine double-doubles and
led ASU in scoring on 12 occasions. He currently ranks eighth in school
history and PBC history with 1,573 points after 25-point effort in
Southeast Regional Championship game victory over USC Aiken.

Madgen, a 6-4, 185-pound junior guard from Williamstown, Australia, was
named to the Daktronics Third-Team, All- American squad. The 2009
Daktronics Southeast Region Player-of-the-Year, Madgen was also
selected first team All-Southeast Region and was a first-team All-Peach
Belt Conference pick. He was named to NCAA Southeast Regional All-
Tournament team after leading the Jaguars to the Southeast Regional
title on March 17. He was also voted the Peach Belt Conference
Tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading ASU to the PBC
Tournament Championship on March 8.

The league scoring champion at 19.1 ppg., Madgen also led the PBC in
three-point percentage (.462), ranked second in free throw percentage
(.869), third in minutes played (33.06) and fourth in 3-point field
goals made (2.39). He was the only player in the conference to rank in
the top 15 in scoring, field goal percentage (12th/.499) and assists
(14th/2.85). With 25 points vs. No. 16 USC Aiken in the Southeast
Regional Championship game, he moved into fifth place on the ASU career
scoring list with 1,642 points and into sixth place on the PBC career
scoring list.

He led ASU in scoring on 16 occasions, registered 20 or more points 14
times and cracked the 30-point barrier twice, including a career-high
33 points vs. USC Aiken on Jan. 5.

ASU (29-4) tips off the 2009 Elite Eight on Wednesday, March 25 when
the fourth-ranked Jaguars face No. 15 Christian Brothers (25-6) from
Memphis, Tenn., at 12 noon in the MassMutual Center.


2009 STATE FARM NABC ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Lucas Alves, BYU-Hawaii, 6-9, Sophomore, Center, Casa Branca, Brazil
Josh Bostic, Findlay, 6-5, Senior, Forward, Columbus, Ohio
Chris Commons, USC Aiken, 6-8, Senior, Forward, Toledo, Ohio
Tyrone Curnell, Valdosta State, 6-7, Junior, Forward, Ocoee, Fla.
Brandon Dagans, Lewis, 6-1, Senior, Guard, Harvey, Ill.
Ross Demasi, Southwest Minnesota State, 6-8, Senior, Forward, Swanton,
Vt.
Darren Duncan, Merrimack, 5-10, Junior, Guard, Briarwood, N.Y.
Larry Gordon, Cal Poly Pomona, 6-5, Senior, Forward, Pomona, Calif.
Joe Jones, Edinboro, 6-3, Senior, Guard, Erie, Pa.
Nick Kohs, Christian Brothers, 6-8, Senior, Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ted Scott, West Virginia State, 6-2, Senior, Guard, Columbus, Ohio
Kevin Ratzsch, Northern State, 6-7, Senior, Forward, Bloomington, Ill.
Nolan Richardson, Midwestern State, 6-2, Senior, Guard, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Matt Rogers, Southwest Baptist, 6-11, Junior, Center/Forward, Doniphan,
Mo.
GARRET SILER, AUGUSTA STATE, 7-0, SENIOR, CENTER, AUGUSTA, GA.
Jason Westrol, Bentley, 6-3, Junior, Guard, Brielle, N.J.
2009 DAKTRONICS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
First Team
Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
Lucas Alves BYU-Hawaii F 6-9 230 Jr. Casa Branca, Brazil
Laurence Ekperigin LeMoyne F 6-7 215 Jr. Cortlandt Manor, NY
LaVontay Ferguson Wisconsin-Parkside F 6-4 215 Sr. Racine, WI
Josh Bostic# Findlay F 6-5 230 Sr. Columbus, OH
Nick Kohs Christian Brothers C 6-8 215 Jr. Cincinnati, OH
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lucas Alves, BYU-Hawaii

Second Team
Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
Matt Rogers Southwest Baptist F/C 6-11 205 Jr. Doniphan, MO
Ted Scott% West Virginia State G 6-2 Sr. Columbus, OH
Thad McFadden Fairmont State G 6-2 175 Sr. Flint, MI
Stan Hall Alderson & Broaddus G 6-3 195 Sr. Canton, OH
Kevin Ratzsch Northern State F 6-7 180 Sr. Bloomington, ILThird
Team
Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
BEN MADGEN AUGUSTA STATE G 6-4 185 JR. WILLIAMSTOWN, AUSTRALIA
Darren Duncan Merrimack G 5-10 170 Jr. Briarwood, NY
Chris Commons@ USC Aiken F 6-8 215 Sr. Toledo, OH
Jesse Wagstaff Metropolitan State F 6-8 Sr. Canberra, Australia
Anthony Hilliard# Elizabeth City State G/F 6-4 205 Sr.
Fayetteville, NC

% -- denotes 2007 first team selection
# -- denotes 2008 second team selection
@ -- denotes 2008 third team selection


--------------------------------------
Robbie McKinlay

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Augusta State University
706-729-2449
South Atlantic Regional Champions 2008
National Finalists 2008