D2CCA All-South Central Region Teams
 
SAN ANGELO, Texas – Colorado School of Mines graduate student guard earned more postseason plaudits Friday as he was announced as the South Central Region Player of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) ahead of the Orediggers' opening round matchup in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Athletic communication professionals from the NCAA Division II South Central Region schools and conferences selected the D2CCA All‐Region teams. The process concludes with All‐American selections that will be announced later this month. The NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners sponsor the All-Region teams. The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the
conferences as they discuss views, policies, and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics. It also works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
 
Eight of the 11 all-region selections will participate in this weekend's South Central Regional. Sports information directors from NCAA Division II South Central Region schools and conferences selected the D2CCA all-region teams. A total of eight institutions had student athletes named to one of the two All-Region teams, with Dallas Baptist leading the way with three selections while St. Mary's (TX) followed with two. The remaining six institutions all had one student athlete selected. Of the 11 players recognized on this year's All-Region teams, eight came from the Lone Star Conference while three came from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Deng, a second-year graduate transfer from Pepperdine, was named RMAC Player of the Year, First Team All-RMAC and RMAC Tournament Most Valuable Player this season and earns his second All-Region selection from the D2CCA, having garnered Second Team honors in his debut season last year. The 6-4 guard from Tucson led Mines to both the RMAC regular season and tournament titles this year to complete the sweep of the league titles for just the third time in program history. He led the team in scoring for the majority of the season and heading into the national tournament, is averaging 15.2 PPG and shooting .452/.407.885. He led the conference in free throws made and free throw percentage this season and is also among the league leaders in field goal percentage. Deng has also registered several career-best marks this season, recording 122 rebounds and averaging 3.9 per night and pocketing 28 steals along with seven blocks. 20 times this season he scored in double figures and registered nine 20-point performances, including outings of 22 and 23 points in the semifinals and championship of the RMAC Tournament while his season-high of 33 came against Adam State on February 1. He is on pace to finish his career in the top 10 all-time when it comes to career free throw percentage and career three-point percentage, as well as single-season free throw percentage.
 
Mines (27-4, 18-2 RMAC) begins play in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT as the #2 in the South Central Region, taking on #7 seed West Texas A&M.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's basketball on X and Instagram at @minesmbb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.