February 22, 2006
Monarchs place two on All-USA South team for men’s basketball
Thomas selected first team, Grant selected second team

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist Monarchs placed two players on the 2005-06 All-USA South Athletic Conference team for men’s basketball on Wednesday. Guard Seth Thomas was selected first team All-USA South, while guard Eugene Grant was selected second team All-USA South, as voted on by the conference head coaches.

Thomas was selected first team All-USA South for a second straight season, while Grant moved up a spot after being selected honorable mention All-USA South last season.

Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound senior from Jacksonville, N.C., is leading the Monarchs in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds a game. In addition, he’s shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. In the Monarchs’ 26 games this season, Thomas has scored in double-figures in 19 games, including a career-high 33 points against Sewanee and 32 points against Piedmont.

In conference games, Thomas is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game. This season, Thomas became the 18th player in the history of Methodist men’s basketball to reach 1,000 points for his career.

Grant, a 6-2, 200-pound senior from Rockingham, N.C., is ranked second on the Monarchs in scoring, averaging 11 points a game. He also leads the team in assists with 93. In Methodist’s 26 games this season, Grant has reached double-figures in scoring in 16 games this season, including 24 points against North Carolina Wesleyan.

In conference games, Thomas is averaging 12 points and five rebounds a game. This season, Grant became the 17th player in the history of Methodist men’s basketball to reach 1,000 points for his career.

Methodist (10-16) plays Averett in the semifinals of the 2006 USA South Tournament on Friday at 2 p.m. at Christopher Newport’s Freeman Center.