IWU’s Roses, Bonnett earn CCIW honors

Brady Rose was named to the CCIW First Team on Wednesday. (WJBC file photo)

By IWU Sports Information

BLOOMINGTON — Illinois Wesleyan junior Brady Rose was named to the first team, junior Colin Bonnett was chosen for the second team and Ron Rose shared “Coach of the Year” honors as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coaches voted on all-league honors on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

The all-conference team, which was chosen by the CCIW’s head men’s basketball coaches, featured a team of 16 student-athletes (eight first team and eight second team) and included all nine conference institutions.

Brady Rose, who was also a first team selection in 2017, was second in the league in scoring (22.1) and fourth in both free throw accuracy (.855, 71 of 83) and 3-pointers per game (2.63).

Bonnett was third in the conference in 3-point accuracy at .481 (26 of 54) and was 17th in scoring (12.4).

Ron Rose and Augustana’s Grey Giovanine were named the CCIW Co-Coach of the Year after leading their respective teams to a share of the conference regular season title. This was Giovanine’s eighth coach of the year honor, while Rose has now won three times with the others being in 2013 and 2014.

The Titans, who are 19-6 overall and shared first place with a 12-4 record in the conference, play North Central in the semifinals of the CCIW postseason tournament on Friday at 5 p.m. in Rock Island, Ill.

Wheaton junior guard Aston Francis became the first Thunder player since Tyler Peters in 2014 to win CCIW Fred Young Most Outstanding Player honors as he led the conference in scoring (30.0), was third in steals (1.44) and fifth in assists (4.06) in 16 CCIW contests this season.

Elmhurst freshman guard Jake Rhode became the first Bluejay to win CCIW Freshman of the Year honors as he averaged 12.8 points and 1.19 steals in 16 conference games. He was third in the CCIW with a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio and third in assists (5.0).

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