The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced today the NABC Division I All-District teams and UPS All-District coaches for 2014-15. Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, these student-athletes and coaches represent the finest basketball players and coaches across America.

For the fifth year in a row, the University of Evansville has received nods from the NABC. Juniors D.J. Balentine and Egidjijus Mockevicius were named to the First Team in District 16. They joined UNI’s Seth Tuttle along with Wichita State’s Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet. Colt Ryan was named to the second team in 2011 and first team in 2012 and 2013 while Balentine garnered second team honors a season ago.

A 9-for-9 start from the field against IPFW saw D.J. Balentine score 23 points in the first half before finishing with 35 as the Purple Aces defeated IPFW in the opening round of the CIT, it marked his best game of the season. He followed that up with a 22-point effort on a 9-18 shooting day at EIU before tying his season mark with 35 points at Louisiana. He has scored 92 points in the last three games.

He continues to rank amongst the national scoring leaders and checks in tied for 17th in the country, averaging 20.0 points per game. Balentine has recorded double figures in all but three of UE’s 34 games in 2014-15 and his scoring streak that dates back to the beginning of last season has seen him score 10 or more in 62 out of 69 games. The 2-time MVC Player of the Week this season continues to lead the conference in scoring.

For the first time in his collegiate career, Egidijus Mockevicius garnered First Team All-MVC honors; as a sophomore, he was named an honorable mention. Mockevicius was also named to the MVC All-Defensive Team for the 2nd straight season.

Mockevicius officially set the UE Division I double-double record with his 13th of the season at Missouri State, and now has 19 on the season which is tied for 6th in the NCAA. On Dec. 22, he was honored as the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week while also garnering College Sports Madness High Major Player of the Week honors. He had a career-best 25 points while hauling in 12 more caroms against Alabama State and became the first player since James Haarsma in 2009 to post 25 or more points and double digit rebounds.

From University of Evansville Sports Information Director, Bob Pristash

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