Southeast Missouri State's Stone voted second-team all-OVC in basketball

~ The sophomore also was named to the conference's all-newcomer team

Southeast Missouri State sophomore forward Tyler Stone has had an impressive rookie season with the Redhawks.

Stone's strong play was rewarded Tuesday when he earned second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference honors and was named to the OVC's all-newcomer squad.

The OVC's men's and women's postseason basketball awards, voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors, were announced on the eve of the OVC tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Stone, a transfer from the University of Missouri, leads Southeast and ranks ninth in the OVC in scoring with an average of 14.3 points per game. He has reached double figures in 25 of 29 contests.

Stone, named OVC newcomer of the week a league-high six times this season, also ranks among the league leaders in rebounding (third, 7.1), field-goal percentage (ninth, .522) and blocks (fifth, 1.2).

Southeast had a player earn all-conference recognition for the second consecutive year. The last time that happened was during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

OVC regular-season champion Murray State, which enters the tournament 28-1 and ranked ninth nationally, won three of the OVC's four major individual awards.

Junior guard Isaiah Canaan was named player of the year, first-year coach Steve Prohm coach of the year and senior guard Jewuan Long defensive player of the year.

Joining that Racers trio is Tennessee-Martin forward Myles Taylor, who garnered freshman of the year honors. Women's awards

Tennessee-Martin sophomore guard Jasmine Newsome was voted the women's player of the year.

Eastern Illinois junior guard Ta'Kenya Nixon was selected defensive player of the year, SIU Edwardsville's Katie Hempen was freshman of the year and SIUE's Amanda Levens coach of the year.

Levens led SIUE to a third-place OVC finish during its first year in the league.