From University of Rochester
Senior guards Sam Borst-Smith and Mack Montague, plus head coach Luke Flockerzi, have received All-Region honors after balloting by members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Borst-Smith was voted First Team All-East Region honors. Montague was voted Second Team All-East Region honors. Flockerzi was chosen as East Region Coach of the Year.
Earlier in the week, the same three individuals received the same three awards from D3hoops.com with one exception: Borst-Smith was also named East Region Player of the Year.
Honors and victories have dominated the men's basketball season at the University of Rochester in 2016-17. The Yellowjackets compiled a 21-4 regular season record. They were 10-4 in the University Athletic Association and finished second behind Washington University of St. Louis.
Rochester received a Pool C (at-large) invitation to the NCAA Division III playoffs. In the first round, the Yellowjackets defeated Albertus Magnus College of New Haven, CT, 89-66. In the round of 32, Rochester outscored Union College of Schenectady, 82-60. That win pushed Rochester into the Sectional (Sweet 16) at Marietta College.
Based on regular season rankings, it may have been the toughest of the four Sectionals. All four participants were ranked #1 in their region just before the NCAA tourney began: East (Rochester), Great Lakes (Marietta), South (Hardin-Simmons), West (Whitman). Rochester defeated host Marietta, 85-80, in the Sectional semis. Whitman defeated Rochester, 91-87, in the Sectional final (Elite 8) to earn a berth in the Final Four. Rochester's final record was 24-5.
Montague scored in double figures in 22 of 29 games. He topped the 20-point barrier 10 times, twice in the NCAAs. He had 20 points against Albertus Magnus and scored 27 (two shy of his season's high) against Marietta. During the Sectionals, he broke Rochester's career record for three-point goals made. He finished his career with 240. For the season, he averaged 15.7 ppg., shooting 43.1% from the floor, 37.8% outside the arc (90-238), and .76.9% at the foul line.
Borst-Smith led Rochester in scoring at 16.3 ppg. He shot 49.8% from the floor, 41.4% outside the arc (65-157), and 76.5% at the line. He was second in rebounding at 5.5 rpg., compiled 99 assists (vs. 39 turnovers), blocked 16 shots, and had a single-season record 76 steals. He scored 10 or more points 25 times in 29 games. He topped the 20-point mark 10 times. His career high was 38 points as Rochester rallied past the University of Chicago on January 13. Earlier this week, he was selected to play in Saturday's Reese's Division III All-Star Game at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA. Borst-Smith finished his career as the all-time leader in steals.
Flockerzi just completed his seventh season at Rochester and his 10th overall. This was his third trip to the NCAA tournament with the Yellowjackets (2011, 2013). In addition to the D3hoops.com honor and the NABC honor, he was also named ECAC North Coach of the Year by the Eastern College Athletic Conference.