March 5, 2012

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2011-12 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Honors

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State junior guard Jared Cunningham was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team for the first time in his career and the All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive season as selected by a vote of the 12 conference coaches, Commissioner Larry Scott announced on Monday.

Cunningham leads the Pac-12 in scoring (18.2) and steals (2.6) and could become just the sixth player in conference history to lead the league in both categories in the same season. He scored 30 or more points in three games this season, including a career-high 37 in a 100-95 overtime win over Texas in the TicketCity Legends Classic, and had a steal in 28 consecutive games dating back to last season, the third longest streak in Oregon State history.

He is the first Oregon State player to be named to the first team since David Lucas in 2005 and the first since Lucas to receive all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons as Cunningham was a second team selection last year.

Cunningham made the All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year after receiving the recognition last year when he led the conference in steals. It's the third straight year an Oregon State player has made the team as Seth Tarver was honored in 2009-10 when he was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Forty-three Oregon State players have earned All-Conference honors and the Beavers now have 61 total selections since the teams were first announced in 1916.

Cunningham became the 37th player in Oregon State history to hit the 1,000-point plateau and is currently 21st on the list with 1,173 points. He was named Pac-12 Player of the Week twice this season, was a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award and moved into the top-five on the Beavers' career steals (tied for second with 205), career free throws made (third with 407) and career free throws attempted (fifth with 533) lists.

In other Pac-12 honors, Jorge Gutierrez of California was named Men's Basketball Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Washington's Tony Wroten was named Freshman of the Year, Brock Motum of Washington State earned Most Improved Player of the Year and Washington's Lorenzo Romar was selected the Coach of the Year.

Oregon State opens the Pac-12 Tournament at noon on Wednesday against Washington State at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The Beavers are the No. 9 seed and the Cougars are the No. 8 seed and the game will be televised nationally on FSN.

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