ERIE, Pa. - Gannon's
Tanner Furno (Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone) has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Freshman of the Year released Wednesday morning. In addition,
George Johnson (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) was named to the All-PSAC Western Division first team.
Furno averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, but it was his stretch run that really impressed the voters. The freshman forward averaged 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds during the final eight games. He shot 59 percent (32-54) from the field during that stretch. For the season, Furno shot 56.7 percent (55-97) from the floor.
The Columbus, Ohio native was named PSAC Freshman of the Week four times this season, including three consecutive weeks February 1-22. Furno reached double digits in scoring six times, including a season-high 27 points during an 81-63 victory at Slippery Rock. He scored 10 points or more in five of the last eight contests.
Johnson joined Eric Brennan (Lock Haven), Maron Brown (Slippery Rock), Byron Knight (Edinboro), Darryl Webb (IUP) and Thomas Young (IUP) on the All-PSAC Western Division first team. The senior guard averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He ranked third among PSAC players in free throw percentage (81.6), third in three-pointers per game (2.4), seventh in assists per game, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), 12th in steals per game, 12th in scoring, 14th in defensive rebounds per game (4.8) and 19th in rebounding.
The Arlington, Va., native reached the 20-point plateau eight times, including a career-high 28 points against Daemen. Johnson was at his best in clutch situations this season. He hit two free throws with three seconds left during a 61-60 victory over Edinboro, one with 1.8 seconds left in a 54-53 win over Slippery Rock and hit the game-winning jumper as time expired in a 66-65 overtime victory against Clarion.
The complete 2010 All-PSAC men's basketball teams and major post-season awards can be found at
http://www.psacsports.org.
