March 9, 2004

Branting Named RMAC Player of the Year

Jura Tabbed as Top Freshman

            Kearney, NE – North Platte senior forward Nick Branting has been named the RMAC Player of the Year while Columbus native Dusty Jura has been named the RMAC Freshman of the Year.

            The All-RMAC team was released yesterday, prior to the tourney title game between the Lopers and Metro State.

            Branting joins Nick Svehla (2002-03) and Eric Strand (1998-99) as Lopers to earn the RMAC's top honor. He is averaging a league-best 22.1 points per game while also pulling down 7.4 rebounds and blocking 1.5 shots per game

            Branting broke Strand's single season made free throws record (175) by sinking three free shots yesterday. He is now at 178 for the season.

            Branting also earned first-team All-RMAC and first-team All-East Division honors.       

            Jura, who redshirted last year at Division I Northern Iowa, leads the Lopers in rebounds (7.7) and steals (2.0) while ranking third in points (13.8) and second in blocks (1.0). The Columbus Lakeview product is also one point shy of becoming only the fifth Loper to reach 400 points in his freshman season.

            He joins Svehla (2000) as Lopers to be tabbed the league's top freshman. 

            Grand Island senior guard Brian Dunagan and Utah junior swingman Will Taukiuvea each earned second-team All-East Division.

            Dunagan, who was an honorable mention East-Division pick last year, leads UNK in 3's made (71) while ranking second in assists (4.0) and fourth in points (13.1).

            In his first year at UNK after transferring from McCook C.C., Taukiuvea is second on the team in points (15.5) and steals (1.7).

            Finally, Grand Island senior point guard Chad Sheffield was an honorable mention All-East Division pick. He leads the league in assists at an even 6.0 per game.

            The complete team can be found at www.rmacsports.org.