RELEASE DATE: 3/10/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OMARI PEARSON NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ALL-EAST REGIONAL FIRST TEAM HONORS – SENIOR BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR ALL-AMERICAN HONORS

MANSFIELD – Just one day after being named to All-PSAC East First Team honors, senior Omari Pearson showed why he is considered one of the nation’s best players by being named to First Team Daktronics NCAA Division II East Regional honors.

“I’m extremely pleased and happy for Omari,” said head coach Vince Alexander. “Since the day he got here, we knew Omari was an all-American type of person both on and off the court. He’s special and it’s rewarding to me and his teammates to see others share our opinion of him.”

The 6-9 Pearson is the only player from the PSAC to be named to First Team All-Regional honors, allowing him to become on of just 40 players nationwide to become eligible for consideration for All-American honors.

Pearson, a three-year letter winner at UNLV before transferring to Mansfield this season, led the PSAC in scoring this season averaging 19.7 points per game. The 6-9 forward also ranked second in the conference in rebounding (11.3 rpg) while ranking sixth in free throw shooting percentage (82.1%) and seventh in field goal shooting percentage (54.7%). He led the PSAC in double-doubles with 16 on the season and scoring in double figures in all 26 games he appeared.

Voting was conducted among the Sports Information Directors in the East Region.  The All-America teams will be announced in conjunction with the 2004 NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif. March 24-27.  The five first-team members of each region are placed on the national ballot, with all Division II sports information directors selecting a first, second, and third team of All-Americans.

2004 DAKTRONICS Division II All-East Region

First-Team

Brian Atkins, Concord (W.Va.)

6-8, Center, Senior, Winchester, Va. (18.3 ppg.)

Lewis Muse, Concord (W.Va.)

6-4, Forward, Junior, Rocky Mount, Va. (28.5 ppg.)

Omari Pearson, Mansfield (Pa.)

6-9, Forward, Senior, Chicago, Ill. (19.7 ppg.)

Mike Taylor, West Virginia State

6-2, Guard, Senior, Detroit, Mich. (24.1 ppg.)

Rasheim Wright, District of Columbia

6-4, Forward, Junior, Philadelphia, Pa. (26.9 ppg.)