April 2, 2004

Los Angeles, CA (April 2) - Putting the caps on one of the best senior seasons in program history, Loyola Marymount men's basketball senior Sherman Gay was given the Pete Newell Award as the team's most valuable player for the 2003-04 season. Gay was named the Pete Newell Award winner at the annual postseason Men's Basketball Awards Dinner last week.

At the end of each season the men's basketball team honors seven awards given for achievements in the 2003-04 season. For the second straight season senior Jason Dickens was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Gay was named Defensive Player of the Year, sophomore Chris Ayer was given the Hank Gathers Award as the outstanding rebounder, sophomore Dustin Brown was given the Lion Award for most improved player, freshman Damian Martin earned the Tom Peabody Award for most inspirational player and senior Keith Kincade was given the Paul Westhead Award as the most outstanding offensive player.

Gay's honors for the 2003-04 were many as they included a first-team All-West Coast Conference selection. He was also named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year as he led the WCC in blocks for the second straight season and was 11th in steals. He is the first Lion to earn the honor in program history.

The Carson, Calif., native finished the season with 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game to lead the Lions. It was the highest point-rebound total by a senior since Gathers in 1990. His point total was fourth in the WCC and his rebound mark was ninth. He finished his career with one of the best games in WCC Tournament history for LMU with 30 points and 15 rebounds against Portland in the first round win. It was his ninth game with 20 or more points, the most in a single season since Terrell Lowery in 1992.

Gay's scoring partner in 2003-04 was Kincade as he earned the Paul Westhead Award as the offensive MVP. Kincade finished the season with seven games with 20 or more points, including 21 in his final game during the WCC Quarterfinals against Pepperdine. He finished the season with 12.4 points per game, a career best for the fifth-year senior. Kincade finished with career highs in points, rebounds (4.0 rpg), assists (55), steals (22) and three pointers (32).

Also earning WCC honors in 2003-04 was the freshman Martin. He was just the second freshman in LMU history to earn WCC accolades as he was named to the All-Freshman team. Martin's play reminded fans of Peabody, making it an easy choice for the honor. Peabody, who was nicked name the "human bruise" during his the Lions' run to the Elite Eight, was known for hitting the floor multiple times every game. Martin's style of play was similar jumping into stands and hitting floor often. He finished his first season of play as the all-time freshman steals leader with 44 and third all-time in freshman assists with 87.

Last year's winner of the Peabody Award was Ayer, who was given the Hank Gathers Award for rebounding. Ayer was second on the team with 5.5 rebounds while posting his first career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds against Colgate. Ayer finished the season with more double-digit rebounding games than any Lion with five. He had 13 twice to set a career-mark.

Coming off the bench for the Lions and providing important minutes in 2003-04 was Brown to earn the Lion Award honors. The sophomore earned tournament MVP honors at the Mohegan Sun Classic as he came of the bench to score 19 points with eight rebounds to help the Lions claim the tournament championship. He finished the season with 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Dickens finished his career with two straight Academic All-WCC selections as he will graduate with a 3.25 GPA. Dickens worked through an injury-plagued career to finish with 3.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in playing 21 games.

Team Award Winners 2003-2004
Scholar Athlete of the Year
Jason Dickens
Defensive Player of the Year
Sherman Gay
Hank Gathers-Outstanding Rebounder
Chris Ayer
The Lion Award for Most Improved
Dustin Brown
Tom Peabody Award for Most Inspirational Player
Damian Martin
Paul Westhead Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Keith Kincade
Pete Newell Award for Most Valuable Player
Sherman Gay

- GO LIONS -