Men's Basketball 3/4/2025 2:23:00 PM

Chandler, Vargas, Diarra, and McClease Named to NE10 All-Conference Teams

Men's Basketball 3/4/2025 2:23:00 PM

Chandler, Vargas, Diarra, and McClease Named to NE10 All-Conference Teams

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Southern Connecticut Men's Basketball placed four on the 2024-2025 Northeast-10 All-Conference teams. Albert Vargas and Antonio Chandler were named to the All-NE10 First Team, Cherif Diarra was named to the NE10 All-Defensive Team, and Christian McClease was named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team.

Antonio Chandler was dominant in his first season with the Owls after transferring from Jamestown. He averaged 17.2 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game, also adding just under a block and a steal per game. He recorded 16 double-doubles, which was second in the NE10 in sixth in all of Division II. He also held the top field goal percentage in the conference at 63.6%, which ranks 12th nationally. His 17.2 points per game was fifth in the conference, and his 261 rebounds was second. He was also second in the conference in defensive rebounds per game (6.57) and total rebounds per game (11.3), and was the third best offensive rebounder in Division II at 4.78 per game. His best performance of the season came against American International, where he scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, also recording three steals and two blocks. He was named the NE10's Player of the Week for Week 12 of the regular season, and was named to the conference's Faces in the Crowd two times.

Albert Vargas was a major part of the Owls' success in his first year on the team after transferring from Monroe. He averaged a team-leading 17.5 points per game and 5.6 assists per game, also adding 3.3 rebounds and just under a steal per game. He finished the season ranked second in the NE10 in assists and assists per game, also ranking in the top-15 nationally in both categories. He was fourth in the conference in field goals and field goal attempts, and was also fourth in total points and points per game. He held the top three-point percentage in the conference at 40.8%. He recorded the top scoring game in the NE10 against Assumption when he scored 36 points and recorded 10 assists, shooting 12-23 from the field and going 9-9 from the free throw line. He finished the season with 11 20+ point games and three 30+ point games, and scored 32 and 27 in the Owls' two playoff games. He was also named the NE10 Player of the Week for Week 11 of the regular season and was named to the conference's Faces in the Crowd three times.

Cherif Diarra was as reliable as ever in his third season with the Owls. He finished the year averaging 11.2 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, and 1.9 blocks per game, all of which are career highs. He also knocked down three of his nine three-point attempts after not going 0-5 in his previous two seasons. He ranked second in the NE10 in blocks and blocks per game, and was seventh in assists per game. He was fourth in the conference in total rebounds, third in rebounds per game, and first in offensive rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 26 points against Mercy, also recording a double-double with 10 rebounds, adding two blocks and a steal. He finished the season with seven double-doubles, and recorded a block and a steal in 14 games. He recorded 17 games with multiple blocks, including six with three or more. It is his second straight year being named to the NE10 All-Defensive team.

Christian McClease was a standout as a rookie playing in his hometown of New Haven. He averaged 7.9 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and half a steal per game, starting 18 games. He scored a career-high 22 points against Pace, and finished the season shooting 37.2% from three, third best on the team among qualified shooters. He was named the NE10 Rookie of the Week twice.

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