Bell Named as MASCAC Player of the Year; Manderson Earns Coach of the Year Honors

WESTFIELD, Mass. - Junior Jaleel Bell of Fitchburg State is the 2015-16 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year as well as a first-team all-conference selection, as voted on by the league's seven head coaches. In addition, Falcons' third-year Head Coach Titus Manderson was chosen by his peers as conference Coach of the Year, and seniors Givaughn Jones and Kwame Lee were named to the all-conference second team. 

Bell, a junior from Dorchester, Mass., helped lead the Falcons to the top seed in the MASCAC Tournament and a share of the MASCAC Regular Season Title. He finished second in the conference in points per game (17) and steals (46) while also being third in free-throw percentage (78.8). During the regular season, he was named the MASCAC Player of the Week three times. This is first time voted as a member of the All-Conference team. 

For his efforts in leading his squad to the top seed in the conference tournament and a 9-3 conference mark, Manderson was named the 2015-16 MASCAC Champion's Choice Coach of the Year. 

Joining Bell on the 2014-15 MASCAC first-team All-Conference squad were Bridgewater State's Fawaz Mass, Salem State's Marcus Faison and Worcester State's Paul Brooks and Bilal Shakir. 

The 2015-16 MASCAC second-team is comprised of Jones, Lee, Bridgewater State's Joseph Carty, Salem State's Shaquan Murray and Westfield State's Jesus Sanchez. 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's first 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 core 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 an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013. 

Click here to view the full MASCAC release