Staten Island, NY – Graduate student
Alex Morales of the Wagner College men's basketball team has been named to the 2022 Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List.
The award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball, honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Morales is the only Northeast Conference (NEC) player featured on the list.
The reigning NEC Player of the Year is the only player in the conference to have earned three NEC Player of the Week awards so far this season after picking up the award once more on Monday.
Morales led the Seahawks to a thrilling overtime victory over Bryant last Thursday, contributing 24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, one steal, with no turnovers. Morales went 7-14 (50%) from the field and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line in the contest, while scoring four of Wagner's nine points in the overtime period.
Morales became the first player in the nation this season to finish with at least 24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in a contest in Wagner's win over the Bulldogs.
On the season, Morales is averaging 16.8 points, seven rebounds, 3.8 assists, and two steals per game, all of which lead the team.
The Paterson, NJ native is the only player in the nation this season averaging at least 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.0 spg. There has not been a single DI player in the last three decades to finish with 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.5 spg and also achieve 50/40/80 shooting splits.
The award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach Lou Henson, who won 775 games in 41 seasons.
Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.
Henson, who is also the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams have made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.
As a team, Wagner will play host to St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday at 1:00 pm and Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday at 7:00 pm. For tickets, visit wagnerathletics.com/tickets.
Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.
2021-22 LOU HENSON AWARD MID-SEASON WATCH LIST